Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is offered on the Emory & Henry College School of Health Sciences campus in Marion. The DPT is a three-year program, consisting of nine consecutive semesters, including three full-time clinical rotations. 

Program Mission: To prepare competent, caring and ethical entry-level physical therapists who are able to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care in an ever-changing health care system. Our program promotes academic excellence as well as civic and professional engagement at all levels, including the college, local, national and international communities.

Requirements For Admission/Admission Policy: Applicants who meet the following minimum eligibility requirements for the DPT program at E&H may be invited for a formal interview (based upon competitiveness with other applications) pending:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with either a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale) or last 45 hours cumulative GPA of 2.75.
• A minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (see required prerequisite course list below).
• A minimum of 40 hours of clinical experience (volunteer or work-related) with a licensed physical therapist. A variety of setting is highly recommended. 
• Completion of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) taken within five years prior to application. 
• Three letters of recommendation: One (1) must be from a physical therapist; One (1) must be from a professor or instructor familiar with the applicant's academic work; the third can be from multiple accepted sources (see PTCAS website).
• Proficiency in verbal and written communication (will be determined via interview and PTCAS application essay).
• Foreign Applicants whose native language is not English must achieve a minimum of 79 on iBT TOEFL examination or a Band 6 on the IELTS. Also, please submit an approved credential report for coursework completed outside the United States. 
• Emory & Henry College has a strong history and reputation for preparing students to be critical thinkers and to be civically engaged. Emory & Henry College espouses serving the rural community in which it is located and the underserved throughout the area. As such, applicants are required to provide an example (in 1-2 paragraphs) of how they have worked to improve lives in their communities, and how this has impacted their personal growth in School-specific Questions #3 on PTCAS.
• Early decision requirements include: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

The prerequisite courses are shown below. Applicants should have successfully completed all of the prerequisites, either as part of their baccalaureate degree or independently, prior to being admitted into the Program. 

*All science courses must have a lab component and be intended for a science major. 

Transfer Credit: The Physical Therapy Program may accept up to nine (9) credits of program-specific courses that will be considered on a case by case basis. The coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution and also from a program currently accredited by the program's accrediting body and taken within the two years prior to requesting consideration for transfer. The courses will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee of the program, including a faculty member with knowledge/expertise in the content area of the course being considered, to determine equivalency to program courses in the Physical Therapy Program at Emory & Henry. 

In order to consider transfer of credit to these programs, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

1. An applicant cannot have been dismissed by another program secondary to not meeting academic or professional standards. 
2. An applicant seeking transfer to the DPT program must meet the minimum standard requirements for acceptance into the program. 

Academic Policies/Requirements For Promotion and Graduation: Attaining the DPT degree requires the successful completion of all didactic courses and clinical immersion/rotations as sequenced into nice consecutive semesters. The three full-time, clinical rotations are completed at off-campus sites, and students are responsible for all travel and living expenses during the internships. Satisfactory progress through the Program requires a GPA of B (3.00) in each semester. The minimum passing grade in each course is a C (2.00) as long as the semester GPA is maintained at a grade of B (3.00). Students are assigned an academic mentor within the program to monitor their progress and to recommend resources for students experiencing academic difficulty. Students who fail to maintain the academic requirements are subject to probation or dismissal. Students dismissed from the Program may have the opportunity to apply for readmission after one year. Please refer to the Program's Student Handbook for details on all academic policies. 

Accreditation: Graduation from a physical therapy education program accredited by the Commission on accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

The Physical Therapy Program at Emory & Henry College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org.