Marshall University’s School of Physical Therapy became accredited on April 28 2015. The school received its accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The School of Therapy only applied to become an accredited program last fall.

For those looking to become a physical therapist, you need to take a board exam and in order for that to happen, those people need to graduate from accredited programs.

Without being able to take the board exam, the students would not be able to practice physical therapy.

“West Virginia has an abnormally high list of chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes and a whole mess of other chronic diseases,” Chair of the School of Physical Therapy Penny Kroll said. “There is a slew of students who are set to graduate who will be able to fulfill those jobs.”

Many of the students in the School of Physical Therapy are primarily from West Virginia, although Kroll says many other students are from other Appalachian states.

West Virginia has one of the highest obesity rates in the country and according to Kroll, there is a shortage of physical therapists in the area.

According to the National Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the job market for physical therapists is estimated to grow 36 percent from 2012 to 2022. The national job growth is estimated at 11 percent.

“We are beginning to put out students who can take those jobs and address some of those discrepancies.” Kroll said.

They applied for candidacy in spring 2012 and then achieved candidacy in May of the same year. Soon after, the program admitted their first students.

Matthew Prandoni can be contacted at [email protected]