Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT

Program Information

• Course Descriptions
  View the UNF Course Catalog for detailed descriptions of our graduate courses. Please search using the following: Courses - Graduate, College - Brooks College of Health, Department - Physical Therapy.
• Admission Requirements

  Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the important dates page for the program, as well as the FAQs page.

  For specific information about admissions statistics, you can look at the program Fast Facts. For additional application information please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

  Admission Requirements

  Below you will find the basic requirements for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of North Florida. Please note that satisfaction of the below factors does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program as the application process is highly competitive. Applicants to the UNF DPT Program must have:

  1. Application
     • Completion of PTCAS Application is required to be considered for admission. All required documents must be sent by the application deadline. We are not responsible for receiving and processing times so please plan accordingly.
     • Applicants who are admitted into the UNF DPT program will also be required to complete an admissions process with the UNF Graduate School to enroll. Information on how to complete this process will be provided upon acceptance into the DPT program.
  2. Degree
     • A baccalaureate degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited college or university.
     • All official transcripts must be received by PTCAS for grade verification by the application deadline.
  3. GPA
     • 3.0 Cumulative GPA or higher for all terms consisting of the last 60 credit hours of degree-earning course work (undergraduate and/or graduate) is required to be considered eligible for admission.
     • 3.0 GPA or higher in all work attempted toward Science prerequisite GPA
     • 3.0 GPA or higher in all work attempted toward Non-Science prerequisite GPA.
     • Please note that all attempts at a prerequisite course will be averaged together when calculating the prerequisite GPA score.
  4. GRE
     • An Analytical Writing Score of 3.5 or higher is required to be considered eligible for admission.
     • GRE test scores must be within 5 years of application submission.
     • GRE General Test scores, including the analytical writing portion, are required to be sent directly to PTCAS. GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code 0994
     • GRE scores must be received by PTCAS prior to the application deadline. Please take this into consideration when selecting your test date as it can take a minimum of 14 days for GRE scores to be received by the recipient institution. We strongly recommend you take the GRE no later than October of the year you plan to apply. Consult ETS (the testing agency administering the GRE) on the frequency limits of testing.
     • UNF DPT does not super-score the GRE.
     • Competitive Verbal and Quantitative scores are generally in the 151 range. There is no minimum for these sections.
  5. Observation Hours
     • It is highly recommended that a minimum of 40 hours of observation under the direct supervision of physical therapists be completed before the application deadline. It is recommended hours be in at least three types of settings.
     • Verification of observation hours should be submitted directly to PTCAS.
     • UNF DPT does not have a specific document to be signed for observation hours. Any verification documentation provided by the organization you are conducting observation hours with should be sufficient and will need to be uploaded to your PTCAS application.
  6. Recommendation Letters
     • Two (2) Letters of Recommendation are required using the PTCAS recommendation forms and should be submitted through the PTCAS evaluation system.
     • Recommendation letters should come from the following individuals:
       • At least one (1) from a Course Instructor/Professor/Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in your major and identify the associated course you took.
         • It is preferred if the letter comes from your instructor in one of the following courses: Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
       • At least one (1) from a Licensed Physical Therapist with whom you have worked with, received treatment from, or completed Observation Hours with. 
       • Letters submitted to the UNF DPT will not be considered.
     • Letters of recommendation are subject to our application deadline. Give your recommenders plenty of time to write and post the letter. We recommend you start working on this in the summer and ask for the letter to be submitted at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
     • Make sure you communicate to your recommenders that they need to respond to the following questions in the "Evaluator Information" section:
       • Evaluator Detail Occupation
       • Select the role that best describes your primary action with the applicant.
       • If the evaluator is any type of instructor (see acceptable categories above), they must include either the course title or course # in the space for "If you selected 'Professor' or 'Professor in Major'; above, list all courses in which you have had the applicant." It is also a good idea for evaluators to reference the course in their actual letter.
       • If the evaluator answers 'yes' to, "Are you a licensed Physical Therapist?", they need to enter their PT licensure number in the space provided.
  7. Essential Functions
     • Applicants are required to have the ability to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations, each of the physical therapy essential functions in order to fully participate in the program and successfully complete the degree requirements.
  8. Interview
     • An interview may be required for competitive candidates. Candidates selected for an interview will be assigned by the admissions chair.
  9. Prerequisite Course Work
     • Completion of all prerequisite coursework must be within 7 years prior to application.
     • We will accept online coursework from any 2 or 4 year U.S institution accredited by an accepted institutional accreditor, however we STRONGLY RECOMMEND completing science and lab courses in person and at a 4 year university.
     • Applications with pending (in-progress) prerequisite course work by the application deadline will be accepted under the following conditions:
       • No more than three (3) UNF DPT Prerequisite Courses can be pending (in-progress or to be taken in upcoming term) at the time of application deadline, with no more than two (2) of the pending (in-progress) courses coming from the UNF DPT Science Prerequisites.
       • Applicants who apply while still enrolled or plan to enroll in prerequisite courses may be admitted contingent upon successful completion of all courses with a grade of B or higher in each course (a grade of a B- is not acceptable).
     • Courses in progress are not considered completed and will not be calculated into your GPA during the application review.
     • All prerequisites must be completed, and final transcripts received prior to entering the program, if admitted.
     • Introduction courses are not accepted in place of any Science Prerequisite Courses.
     • We only accept Test Credits toward the first sequence prerequisite courses.
     • Courses need to be taken within the department of the corresponding prefix.
     • It is strongly encouraged to take courses of a sequence at the same institution.

  Graduate School Admission Requirements

  For international admission requirements and information on how to apply, please visit

  The UNF Graduate School's Website

• Prerequisite Courses

  The requirements listed below are prerequisites for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The course numbers listed under each requirement are course numbers from the University of North Florida. Any substitutions to these requirements are made at the time of evaluation for admission into the DPT program. If you have a question regarding a possible prerequisite course substitution please reach out to ptadmissions@unf.edu. 

  Science Prerequisite Courses (32 credits):

  • CHM 2045/2045L General Chemistry I with Lab (4 credits)
  • CHM 2046/2046L General Chemistry II with Lab (4 credits)
  • PHY 2053C Algebra-based Physics I with Lab (4 credits)
  • PHY 2054C Algebra-based Physics II with Lab (4 credits)
  • BSC 2085C Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
  • BSC 2086C Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
    • We will accept Anatomy with Lab (4 credits) along with Physiology with Lab (4 credits) as a substitution for the Anatomy & Physiology courses.
  • BSC 1010C General Biology I with Lab (4 credits)
  • BSC1011C General Biology II with Lab (4 credits)

  Non-Science Prerequisite Courses (9-12 credits):

  • PSY 2012 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
  • DEP 3054 Lifespan Development Psychology or CLP4143 Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
  • STA 2023 Introductory Statistics (3 credits)
  • HSC 3537 Medical Terminology (3 credits) (optional, but encouraged)
• How to Apply

  To be considered for admission, students must submit all application materials following the below steps by the application deadline (received by). A complete PTCAS application is required to be considered for admission. Please note, if admitted into the DPT program a UNF Graduate School application will be required. Information regarding the UNF Graduate School application will be disclosed only to admitted applicants. We are not responsible for receiving and processing times so please plan accordingly.

  Applicants should follow each of the steps below: 

  • Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) Application
    • Complete the PTCAS application and submit the application fee at ptcas.org.
    • Submit all necessary items/documentation directly to PTCAS. Materials submitted to PTCAS may be confirmed online at ptcas.org. 
    • Submit official transcripts from all institutions at which you were ever enrolled (this includes AP, CLEP, IB, dual enrollment, grade forgiveness, transient enrollment, military, and foreign transcripts)to the PTCAS application.
    • Submit official GRE scores to the PTCAS application; scores are only kept by ETS for a 5-year period. GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code 0994
    • Submit Two (2) Letters of Recommendation using the PTCAS recommendation forms and should be submitted through the PTCAS evaluation system.   
    • Submit Observation Hours verification documentation provided by the organization to PTCAS application (if completed).
  • If you are having issues uploading materials to the PTCAS Application you will need to reach out to PTCAs Applicant Customer Support as they handle the background work for the PTCAS applications. You can reach them via phone or email: (617) 612-2040 or Ptcasinfo@ptcas.org
  • PTCAS Material Checklist:
    • All Official Transcripts
    • Official GRE Scores
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation
    • 40 Observation Hours (highly recommended)
    • Completed PTCAS Application

  Applicants who do not complete the PTCAS applications will be disqualified.

  All required documentation listed above must be submitted to the PTCAS application by the application deadline.

  Official GRE Scores should be submitted in applicants PTCAS application using GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code is 0994.

  Do not submit any materials directly to the UNF DPT program unless specifically directed to do so. Official transcripts sent here or to PTAdmissions@unf.edu will not be reviewed. 

  Be aware electronic submissions of information are not instantaneous and can often take 48 hours to populate.

  The following are exceptions to admission requirements due to COVID-19:

  • Pass/Fail coursework: Prerequisites for the DPT program taken as pass/fail during the Spring and/or Summer 2020 semesters will be accepted and will not negatively impact admissions decisions for prospective students.
  • GRE Testing: We will accept scores from GRE testing done remotely or on-site at a testing center.
• Application Process Overview
  June (Annually) – PTCAS Application Opens
  

  The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application portal becomes accessible, allowing prospective applicants to begin the submission process for the upcoming cycle.

  November 15th (Annually) – PTCAS Application Deadline
  

  All required application materials must be submitted by this date. Applications that are incomplete or missing documentation by the deadline will not be processed. After this point, applications are considered "frozen" to allow for a thorough review and evaluation.

  Mid-November to Late-January (Annually) – Application Review Process
  

  During this period, the admissions committee will review all submitted applications. This process involves a comprehensive evaluation of academic records, recommendation letters, GRE scores, and other relevant documentation.

  February (Annually) – Decision Letters Sent
  

  Admission decisions will be communicated to applicants beginning in early February. Decision letters will be sent electronically to the primary email address provided in the PTCAS application. We understand the anticipation that comes with awaiting your admissions outcome, and we want to provide clarity regarding how our decision letters are sent. Our team processes applications with great care and attention, and as such, we issue decision letters in batches to ensure a smooth and organized distribution. Below is an outline of how our decision notification process works.

  • Batch Distribution: We send decision letters in batches rather than all at once. This allows us to review each application thoroughly and ensure that every applicant receives the attention they deserve.
  • Denial Notifications: As part of our process, denial notifications are sent first. Applicants who are not offered admission will receive their decisions early in the batch distribution process.
  • Admission Notifications: Once all denials have been sent out, we move forward with sending the admission letters. Applicants who have been offered admission will receive their letters after all denials have been finalized.
  • Waitlist Notifications: We do not send out waitlist notifications until we have finalized our cohort. This means that you will only be notified of your waitlist status once we have completed the selection process. Please rest assured that being placed on the waitlist does not preclude you from being admitted to our program. Historically, we have pulled applicants from the waitlist each year, so even if you receive a waitlist notification, you still have a meaningful opportunity for admission. 

  Please note that all deadlines are firm, and late submissions will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to start their applications well in advance to ensure all documentation is complete and submitted on time.
• What does the program cost?

  The DPT program will likely carry a tuition rate that differs from other UNF graduate programs. The 2024-2025 total tuition plus fees rate will be $522.64 per credit hour for in-state students and $1132.60 for out-of-state students. View the 2024-2025 information on tuition and fees can be viewed. The below link will open a word document.

  Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Financial Fact Sheet 2024-2025

• Scholarship Opportunities
  For Scholarship and Graduate Assistantship Opportunities please visit the BCH Scholarship Website.

Additional Information

• Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles

  Mission

  The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of North Florida is to create a thriving learning community where exemplary education is provided at every stage of a physical therapist’s career which prioritizes both the head (critical thinking) and the heart (compassion); to pursue community-engaged scientific inquiry; and to be responsive to the needs of our profession, community, and patients we serve.

  Vision

  The University of North Florida Department of Physical Therapy aims, through the education of students, to achieve the highest ideals of the physical therapy profession where physical therapists, working in partnership with their community, enable individuals to live life free from barriers to effective and enjoyable movement.

  Guiding Principles

  • Integrity – We can be trusted to act in a manner consistent with our professional obligations and ethics. 
  • Courage – We do the right thing, even when it is hard; we accept the uncomfortable in the pursuit of growth.
  • Excellence – We aim to achieve the pinnacle in all our pursuits.
  • Justice – We believe that all people are deserving of equitable opportunities to pursue education and health.
  • Connection – We recognize there is no relationship in which there is only a single person, that all relationships can be transformational with reciprocal engagement and effective communication.
  • Lifelong Learning – We are committed to fostering an environment where learners recognize that education is a journey and not a destination.
• DPT Student Learning Outcomes

  Graduates of the UNF Physical Therapy Program:

  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relevant to physical therapy, both in fundamental context and in application to the discipline of physical therapy.
  • Understand, correlate, and apply theoretical foundations of knowledge to the practice of physical therapy, and evaluate and clarify new or evolving theories relevant to physical therapy.
  • Demonstrate the behaviors of the scholarly clinician by developing and utilizing the process of critical thinking and inquiry, particularly focused on the improvement of the practice of physical therapy and the delivery of healthcare.
  • Engage in reflective practice through sound clinical decision-making, critical self-assessment, and commitment to lifelong learning.
  • Demonstrate mastery of entry-level professional clinical skills. The provision of these services is based on the best available evidence and includes physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, prevention activities, wellness initiatives, and appropriate healthcare utilization.
  • Are prepared to influence the development and enactment of ethical, humane healthcare regulations and policies that are consistent with the needs of the patient and society.
  • Demonstrate leadership, management, and interpersonal skills to effectively participate in physical therapy practice and the healthcare team.
  • Demonstrate the professional and social skills to adapt to changing healthcare environments to effectively provide physical therapy care.

  DPT Outcomes Data

  2023 - 2024

  Year	Graduation Rate	NPTE Pass Rate/Ultimate	Employment Rate
  2023	100%	96.7%	100%
  2024	93.3%	88.9%	N/A
  Two-Year Average 2023-2024	96.6%	92.9%	N/A

• Graduate Academic Learning Compact
  Visit the Office of Institutional Effectiveness's website to view the DPT Graduate Academic Learning Compact. 
• Important Dates
  Students are encouraged to view the Important Dates website.
• Student Resources

  Essential Functions 

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Graduate Advising

  Scholarships

  Resources