Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Washington offers an exceptional, well-rounded, in-person education for students who want to graduate as physical therapy generalists. The program is fully accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Academic Experience

The mission of the University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is to graduate outstanding physical therapists capable of specializing in any of the different areas of PT practice. Through coursework and clinical education experiences, students develop a broad foundation of physical therapy knowledge and skills, as well as critical thinking and clinical reasoning abilities.

Curriculum and Format

The DPT program is a full-time, three-year (11-quarter) program. The first two years, or eight quarters, are focused primarily on classroom instruction, progressing from developing foundational knowledge to applying skills in clinical evaluations and showing a beginning mastery of examination, evaluation, and intervention strategies.

Program Details

• Credits: 165–167
• Format: Classroom and clinical education
• Length: 3 years (11 quarters), full-time
• Cost: $9,269/quarter for WA state residents, $14,487/quarter for nonresidents (2025–2026)

Degree Requirements

To earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Washington, students must complete 165–167 credits, including 34 credits from clinical internships and a 12-credit capstone project.

Course Sequence

The program plan for students includes a variety of courses, such as:

• REHAB 504: Procedures I: Basic Physical Examination of the Extremities
• REHAB 509: Rehabilitation Procedures: Functional Skills Assessment – Part A
• REHAB 517: Physical Therapy Seminar I
• REHAB 521: Physiology and Pathophysiology for Physical Therapy
• REHAB 544: Functional Anatomy for Rehabilitation of the Extremities

Clinical Experience

University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy students participate in a total of four clinical experiences:

• One four-week clinical experience, in any setting, at the end of the first year
• Three full-time clinical experiences, in a variety of settings and geographic locations, in the third year

Service Learning

Service learning is a structured learning experience that combines community-based service or research with preparation and reflection. The University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy program strives to provide students with a sustainable program of diverse service learning experiences that complement the academic curriculum and meet the specific identified needs of individuals and communities.

Admission Requirements

To apply for admission, applicants must have:

• A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or its equivalent from a foreign institution
• An overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• A minimum of 25 hours of PT-related work or volunteer experience
• Demonstrated English Language Proficiency (ELP) for applicants whose native language is not English

Application Process

The application process involves submitting the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) online application and the UW Graduate School online application.

Costs and Financial Aid

The estimated total program expenses are:

• Resident: $101,959 (tuition), $4,700 (fees), $1,500 (books and copies), $500 (immunization), $10,000 (clinical experience-related expenses)
• Nonresident: $159,357 (tuition), $4,700 (fees), $1,500 (books and copies), $500 (immunization), $10,000 (clinical experience-related expenses)

Research

The University of Washington Division of Physical Therapy supports a variety of innovative research programs designed to lead advances in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Research areas include musculoskeletal, neurologic, and aging populations.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy program are eligible to sit for the national physical therapist licensure examination. The program has a high acceptance rate, matriculation rate, graduation rate, licensure exam pass rate, and employment rate.

Facilities Tour

The program offers a facilities tour, which provides a brief look at some of the facilities used by the program.

Program Faculty

The UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine’s Division of Physical Therapy has an outstanding faculty with extensive clinical and research expertise in physical therapy.

Alumni Stories

Graduates of the University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy program pursue a variety of career paths in physical therapy, from work in acute care and inpatient rehab to outpatient clinics, pediatric facilities, and more.

Important Dates

• June 16, 2025: Application Opens
• October 15, 2025: Application Deadline
• Late January 2026: Admission Offers Made
• September 30, 2026: Program Begins

Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Washington is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).