Unlock Your Future as a Physical Therapist

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Train for a career empowering patients and advocating for their health and independence.

2.5 Years

Take advantage of Lynchburg's accelerated DPT curriculum.

Service Learning

Service is at the heart of our curriculum.

Specialty Facilities

37,000 sq ft. dedicated to physical therapy.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

The University of Lynchburg’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program provides students with the comprehensive knowledge and skills necessary to enter practice as a physical therapist. Our new accelerated curriculum consisting of 98 credit hours is designed to meet the growing demand for physical therapists. It has been carefully made to include a student-centered approach, evidence-based focus, and case-based integrated instruction.

Under the new curriculum, Lynchburg DPT students complete 32 weeks of supervised clinical experiences at various health care facilities across the U.S., allowing them to gain real-world experience. Faculty members are dedicated to student success and provide personalized instruction and mentoring through one-on-one office hours, small group sessions, lab work, and seminars.

Our comprehensive, progressive curriculum covers the full range of fundamental sciences and physical therapy practice areas while highlighting the importance of a patient-centered approach. Clinical decision-making skills and active learning strategies are emphasized throughout the curriculum.

At Lynchburg, we believe in providing a high-quality education with practical experiences for our DPT students so that they may become the highest-quality clinicians.

Why choose the Lynchburg DPT program?

You’ll receive an education rooted in exceptional teaching, resources, and experiences — all designed to prepare you for success.

Lynchburg’s DPT program provides an unparalleled experience for aspiring physical therapists. With evidence-based instruction, student-centered learning environments, and a close working relationship with faculty, students can access the most current and up-to-date research and clinical information. The University also offers state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratory facilities, as well as onsite dedicated physical therapy research areas. Additionally, our health care partnerships offer unique clinical experiences that will prepare students for future practice.

J.T. Podell '15 DPT and Jeff Taylor Jr. ’11, '15 DPTf Taylor Jr. '1

Employment

100% of graduates who sought employment as physical therapists were employed within one year of graduation.

Two students practice a physical therapy maneuver on a student volunteer. The center female student lies on the bed. The femal student in the foreground kneels on the bed and has hands placed under the other female student. The male student stands opposite the kneeling students. Multiple students observe in the background.

Exam Pass Rate

96% ultimate National Physical Therapy (NPTE) exam pass rate.

A man lifts a woman wearing doctoral regalia into the air. She is holding her diploma.

Graduation Rate

94% graduation rate.

Learn more about our outcomes and successes.

What makes the Lynchburg physical therapy program unique?

Amazing Facilities

Lynchburg offers an impressive 37,000-square-foot facility dedicated to physical therapy. Open 24/7, the building includes research lab space, classrooms, and a specialized graduate cadaver lab where students can gain hands-on experience working with human cadavers and anatomic models Additionally, the on-site University of Lynchburg Community Health Center allows students to apply their classroom knowledge treating real-life patients with a variety of health conditions.

Dedicated Faculty

Our institution has outstanding faculty who are committed to teaching and providing excellent patient care. Our faculty members are experts in their respective fields, many with active research projects that expand the knowledge base for physical therapy students. All faculty members are passionate about promoting student success through comprehensive instruction and fostering practical experience to prepare students for a successful career in physical therapy.

Community Health Center

The University of Lynchburg Community Health Center is an on-site clinic that’s run and staffed by DPT students. This clinic provides free physical therapy services to residents of Central Virginia who are either uninsured, underinsured, or have used up their insurance benefits. It offers an array of treatments such as strengthening, conditioning, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, balance training, wellness services, and patient education. The center fosters collaboration among students and professors so they can learn how to become effective practitioners in providing quality care.

Service-Integrated Curriculum

The service-oriented curriculum provides students with opportunities to gain experience by helping underserved communities. The Student Professional Involvement program plans service opportunities in the community and is involved in programs like Wheels on the James and the Special Olympics.

DPT and AT Dual Certification

DPT students can opt to add an extra year of study at the end of their Doctor of Physical Therapy Program to pursue a Master of Science in Athletic Training. This program provides additional expertise in the fields of sports injury management, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. This specialized dual degree prepares PTs for positions as clinicians in sports medicine clinics, universities, or professional teams. With such a dual certification, DPTs can be well-equipped to prevent and treat athlete injuries, as well as provide care for those suffering from disabilities or chronic diseases.

200+ Clinical Sites

The University of Lynchburg DPT program allows students to access a variety of clinical sites, locally, regionally, and nationally. With more than 200 different clinical sites and partnerships, students have an extensive range of choices for their rotations. Each site provides varied learning experiences in physical therapy, allowing students to learn from experienced clinicians as they develop their skills and practice patient care. Clinical sites are carefully chosen based on the quality and scope of their services so that students can experience different settings and contexts in physical therapy.

International Opportunities

Study abroad and service learning opportunities in the DPT program offer a unique opportunity for nontraditional learning. As a student in the University of Lynchburg’s DPT program, you’ll have the opportunity to study abroad in places like Italy, where you’ll experience the close connection between art and anatomy. You’ll also have several opportunities to travel to Central American or Caribbean nations to provide care to individuals who don’t have access to physical therapy.

Curriculum and Resources

The DPT curriculum is constructed to meet the needs of the health care community by producing graduates who are readily able to diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.

To accomplish this purpose, the curriculum contains components of didactic and clinical education, leading the entry-level clinician to an understanding and demonstration of competence in his/her ability to engage in specific and complex cognitive, psychomotor, and affective behaviors when providing professional service to patients/clients, families, and caregivers.

The DPT curriculum is a rigorous and progressive course of study, comprising first of foundational sciences and followed by study in the clinical sciences.

Clinical education experiences allow students to practice and incorporate information learned through didactic instruction and to further develop the skills necessary to become efficient and effective practitioners.

The new curriculum will include a clinical aspect that will integrate clinical practice in various patient/client management venues, culminating in a multi-week clinical experience. The student then returns to campus for the remainder of their coursework and preparation for the National Physical Therapy Exam.

The entire curriculum has been designed with the learner in mind, with each course carefully designed to accomplish the mission of the DPT program: to educate entry-level physical therapists to assume the role of health care practitioner through the provision of competent, evidence-based practice in a variety of clinical settings; and to promote active participation and effective leadership in all aspects of personal and professional life.

Accelerated Curriculum (For Incoming Students Beginning Fall 2025)

Year 1

Semester 1: Fall, August-December

DPT 700: Applied Clinical Anatomy I (5 cr) – lab course
DPT 708: Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Management of Disease I (3 cr) – lab course
DPT 724: Neuroscience (3)
DPT 726: Foundations in Skilled Care I (5)
DPT 731: Professionalism in Physical Therapy I (3)

Semester 2: Spring, January-May

DPT 701: Applied Clinical Anatomy II (5)
DPT 705: Clinical Inquiry (3)
DPT 709: Pathophysiology and Pharmacological Management of Disease II (3)
DPT 727: Foundations in Skilled Care II (4)
DPT 732: Professionalism in Physical Therapy II (3)
DPT 750: Physical Agents (1)

Semester 3: Summer, June-August

DPT 800: Therapeutic Interventions in Skilled Care (2)
DPT 839: Clinical Experience I – 8 weeks (4)

Year 2

Semester 4: Fall, August-December

DPT 812: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction I (4)
DPT 814: Diagnosis & Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Dysfunction I (4)
DPT 818: Exercise Physiology and Health Promotion (3)
DPT 831: Professionalism in Physical Therapy III (3)
DPT 836: Differential Diagnosis I (2)
DPT 840: Introduction to Pediatric Practice (3)

Semester 5: Spring, January – May

DPT 822: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Dysfunction II (4)
DPT 824: Diagnosis & Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Dysfunction II (4)
DPT 826: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction (3)
DPT 827: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Integumentary Dysfunction, Prosthetics, and Orthotics (3)
DPT 832: Professionalism in Physical Therapy IV (3)
DPT 837: Differential Diagnosis II (2)

Semester 6: Summer, June-August

DPT 900: Therapeutic Interventions in Outpatient Care (1)
DPT 920: Clinical Experience II – 10 weeks (5)

Year 3

Semester 7: Fall, August – December

DPT 923: Grand Rounds (1)
DPT 930: Clinical Experience III – 14 weeks (7)
DPT 948: Comprehensive Review (1)
DPT 950: Specialty Elective (1)

Total Hours: 98

Clinical Experience

The curriculum’s clinical aspect integrates 32 weeks of clinical practice in various patient/client management venues, culminating in a 14-week clinical experience. The student then returns to campus for the remainder of their coursework and preparation for the National Physical Therapy Exam.

Traditional Curriculum (For Previously Enrolled Students)

Year 1

Semester 1: Summer, June-August

Semester 2: Fall, August-December

Semester 3: Spring, January-May

Year 2

Semester 4: Summer, May-August

Semester 5: Fall, August-December

Semester 6: Spring, January-May

Year 3

Semester 7: Summer, May-August

Semester 8: Fall, August-December

Semester 9: Spring, January-May

Total Hours: 115

Clinical Experience

The curriculum’s clinical aspect integrates 40 weeks of clinical practice in various patient/client management venues, culminating in a 16-week clinical experience. The student then returns to campus for the remainder of their coursework and preparation for the National Physical Therapy Exam.

Ability and Accommodation

The DPT program at the University of Lynchburg, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. A person qualified for the DPT program has met academic standards and can meet the Technical Standards and Essential Functions of the DPT Program with or without reasonable accommodations.

Academic Resources

Additional Resources

Admission Information

University of Lynchburg’s DPT program subscribes to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), available through the American Physical Therapy Association. All applicants must apply through the PTCAS website.

Applications for the DPT Class of 2027 are now being accepted through PTCAS. The deadline to apply to the program is May 1, 2025. After this date, applications not verified by PTCAS will not be reviewed. The DPT Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications for admission in October. You can view our PTCAS directory page for additional information.

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a CHEA-recognized regional accrediting organization
Official transcripts of all coursework
Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA overall and 3.0 cumulative GPA when factoring only prerequisite science coursework
GRE scores sent to PTCAS; GRE Code: 7582
Personal essay as described on PTCAS
80 hours of practical experience under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist with verification
Two recommendation letters; one from a licensed physical therapist and the other from someone who can speak to your academic ability, such as a college professor

Upon successful admission to the DPT program, all individuals are required to complete a background check prior to the start of classes.

Health Forms

All admitted DPT students must complete the health forms available in their Student Health Portal. Questions about health forms should be addressed to the Health Center.

International Applicants

In addition to the admission requirements above, international applicants must submit official TOEFL scores.

Your TOEFL iBT score must be consistent with the standards established by the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) as acceptable for physical therapists from a foreign country desiring to enter practice in the United States.

The minimum total score is 89, and the minimum score for the Speaking section is 26.

Prerequisites

Sciences (31 credit hours)

4 credit hours of Biology with lab
8 credit hours of Chemistry with lab
8 credit hours of Physics with lab
4 credit hours of Human Anatomy with lab
4 credit hours of Human Physiology with lab
3 credit hours of Advanced Biology (includes Histology, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Exercise Physiology; other courses which satisfy this requirement may be considered)

These courses should be equivalent to courses required in the science majors.

Academic institutions offering Human Anatomy/Physiology combination courses will suffice if both courses of the sequence are completed. Example: 4 credit hours of Human Anatomy/Physiology I and 4 credit hours of Human Anatomy/Physiology II.

Psychology (6 credit hours)

3 credit hours of General Psychology
3 credit hours of Advanced Psychology (200-level and above)

Writing-Intensive Courses (9 credit hours)

Freshman composition and other writing-intensive courses accepted

Mathematics and Statistics (6 credit hours)

Pre-calculus or above
3 credit hours of Statistics

Questions?

If you have questions regarding the verification of prerequisite courses, please send the official website link for the college course, including the course description and course number, to [email protected].

The DPT admissions committee will review applicants’ courses/coursework older than seven years to determine eligibility and approval for meeting the prerequisite requirements. This will ensure that applicants with previous coursework have the necessary knowledge/skills to be successful in the DPT program.