Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a full-time, three-year professional graduate program composed of 114 credit hours instructed across nine consecutive semesters. The program is designed to prepare students for a career in physical therapy, with a focus on academic excellence, clinical experience, and research.

General Program Information

Program Overview

The DPT program at UCF is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent physical therapists. The program includes coursework, clinical experiences, and research opportunities, with a focus on preparing students for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and for a successful career in physical therapy.

Program Location

The DPT program is offered on the main campus of UCF, with courses primarily offered on the second floor of Health Sciences I (HS 1).

Program Format

The DPT program is primarily offered face-to-face in a lecture or lab format, with some faculty members incorporating mixed-mode content. The coursework is taken in a prescribed sequence over nine semesters, as outlined in the Graduate Catalog, and all coursework is required.

Program Length

The DPT program is a full-time, three-year professional graduate program.

Program Start Date

Admissions decisions are made only once per academic year, and incoming students begin the program in the summer C semester.

Admissions

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) cycle is October 15, 2025. The PTCAS application will open to applicants on June 16, 2025.

Application Requirements

To be considered for admission to the DPT program, applicants must submit a completed application through PTCAS, including:

• Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended
• GRE scores (sent directly to PTCAS using the UCF DPT program code: 3871)
• Prerequisite coursework (with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours of degree completion and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the required prerequisite courses)
• Observation hours (a minimum of 25 hours of observation/work experiences under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist)

GPA Requirements

The DPT program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours of degree completion and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the required prerequisite courses.

Prerequisite Coursework

The DPT program requires the following prerequisite courses:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Psychology
• Statistics

Observation Hours

A minimum of 25 hours of observation/work experiences under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist is required.

Prerequisite Course Requirements

Prerequisite Courses

The DPT program requires the following prerequisite courses:

• APK 3200 Motor Development & Learning, 3 credit hours
• APK 3321 Exercise is Medicine, 3 credit hours
• APK 4103 Kinetic Anatomy, 3 credit hours
• APK 4112 Exercise Physiology I, 3 credit hours
• APK 4119 Exercise Prescription for Special Populations, 3 credit hours
• APK 4125C Assessment & Evaluation in Kinesiology, 3 credit hours
• APK 4134C Exercise Physiology II, 3 credit hours
• APK 4163 Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 3 credit hours
• APK 4220C Applied Biomechanics, 3 credit hours
• ATR 4132 Human Injuries: Mechanisms & Prevention, 3 credit hours
• HSC 4501 Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases, 3 credit hours
• HSC 4555 Pathophysiology I, 3 credit hours
• HSC 4558 Pathophysiology II, 3 credit hours
• HSC 4730 Applied Health Research Methodology, 3 credit hours
• ZOO 3744 Neurobiology, 3 credit hours
• ZOO 4743C Clinical Neuroanatomy & Neuroscience, 4 credit hours

Prerequisite Course Expiration

Courses older than ten years will not be accepted.

PT Observation Hours

Observation Hours Requirements

A minimum of 25 hours of observation/work experiences under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist is required.

Observation Hours Verification

Documentation verifying the observation hours must be submitted through PTCAS.

Financial Aid & Assistance/Residency Information

Financial Aid

For information regarding graduate fellowships, please refer to the UCF College of Graduate Studies Fellowship web page.

Residency Classification

For all questions relating to residency for tuition purposes, please refer to the UCF College of Graduate Studies.

Conclusion

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Central Florida is a comprehensive and rigorous program designed to prepare students for a successful career in physical therapy. With a focus on academic excellence, clinical experience, and research, the program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent physical therapists.