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However, a positive change of the profession lined to a greater prevalence of a PhDs will certainly be evident, as the field places more emphasis on research and evidence-based practice than ever before. The prevalence of the doctoral degree amongst professionals will add to the evidence-based research conducted by doctoral and post-doctoral candidates and will convey added legitimacy to physical therapists and enlarge the scope of the field. Postgraduate doctoral study has continued to grow: "More physical therapists are pursuing non-clinical doctoral degrees, such as PhDs, in an effort to obtain the skills necessary to conduct original research and add to the foundation of literature upon which we base our practice. In 2002, the number of American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) members reporting a non-clinical doctorate as their highest earned degree was 30% higher than in 1996."

Will the changes in any way be affected by Federal and State activities and events?

Of course, decreased funding for extended schooling may impact the ability of many students to pursue such higher learning. But the increasing bureaucracy of the health care system may also drive persons to seek out more physical therapists, rather than other health care practitioners, for their medical woes. Also, any changes in federal or state policies regarding insurance coverage of physical therapy and a reduction or increase in demand may also have an impact. True, graduates who need to pay off loans quickly and faced with increased demand may be more apt to practice, and thus reduce the number of doctoral fellows and changes created by the added presence of research in the field, while individuals seeking to gain a degree to better their job chances