Physical Therapy School: The DPT Degree and PTCAS Application
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 04, 2026 • Graduate & Professional School
Physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), a 3-year doctoral degree that follows a bachelor's degree. Almost every program requires prerequisite science courses, observation hours with a licensed PT, and an application through PTCAS, which costs 175 dollars for the first program and 75 dollars for each additional one.
🎓 DPT: 3 years full time, required for licensure
📩 Apply through PTCAS: 175 dollars first program, 75 dollars each additional
Observation hours with a licensed PT required, commonly 40 to 50 hours minimum
GRE requirement varies by program, more schools are dropping it
What physical therapists do
Physical therapists evaluate movement, diagnose physical dysfunction, and design treatment plans to restore function after injury, surgery, or illness. They work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, sports settings, and home health, and every one of these paths runs through the same DPT degree and licensing exam.
The DPT is the entry-level degree
Every physical therapist practicing in the United States holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The degree follows a bachelor's degree and takes about 3 years of full-time study, combining coursework in anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical sciences with supervised clinical rotations.
Program format and length
Most DPT programs run 3 academic years on a continuous, year-round schedule rather than the traditional two-semesters-plus-summer-off calendar. Clinical education makes up a large share of the final year, with full-time clinical rotations in different practice settings under a licensed PT's supervision.
Choose an accredited program
Only graduates of a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) qualify to sit for the licensing exam. Check a program's CAPTE accreditation status directly before applying, especially at newer schools still building a track record.
Prerequisites before you apply
DPT programs expect specific coursework finished before you apply, typically anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, plus statistics at many schools. Exact courses and minimum grades vary by program, so check each school's prerequisite list directly rather than assuming one set applies everywhere.
Programs also require documented observation hours with a licensed physical therapist. University of South Alabama requires a minimum of 50 hours. Duke requires 50 verified hours with a licensed PT. Tufts asks for a minimum of 40 hours of observation, volunteer, or work experience. Most programs want hours spread across more than one practice setting, such as an outpatient clinic and a hospital.
The GRE, required less often
GRE requirements now vary by program. The University of Colorado Anschutz does not require the GRE for the 2026-2027 application cycle . Other schools keep it optional, and a handful still require it. Check each program's current policy before deciding whether to sit for the test.
Applying through PTCAS
Almost every DPT program accepts applications through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) , run through the American Physical Therapy Association. One application and one set of transcripts and letters reach every program you select. The PTCAS fee runs 175 dollars for your first program and 75 dollars for each additional program, on top of whatever supplemental fee an individual program charges. Verification of a complete file takes up to 5 weeks, so submit well before a program's deadline, not on it.
What programs look at
Prerequisite GPA and overall GPA
Observation or work hours with a licensed PT
Personal statement and letters of recommendation
GRE score, where a program requires it
Interview, for most programs that advance your application past the first review
Application timing
Most applicants submit PTCAS in the summer before their intended fall start. Many programs review applications on a rolling basis, so an early complete file gets read before the formal deadline arrives, even though the deadline itself sits months out.
Where PTs work
DPT graduates take jobs across outpatient orthopedic clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing and rehab facilities, home health agencies, and sports and performance settings. Clinical rotations during the final year often expose you to more than one of these settings before you choose where to start your career.
Specializing after licensure
Once licensed, PTs add board certification in areas like orthopedics, sports, neurology, or pediatrics through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). These specialty credentials come after you already practice, on top of the DPT, and require additional clinical hours or a residency plus a specialty exam.
Cost
DPT tuition varies widely between public and private programs and by state residency status. Check each program's published cost of attendance and compare it against average starting PT salaries in the state where you plan to work before committing to a specific school.
After the DPT
Graduating from a DPT program does not license you to practice. You still sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and meet your state's licensing board requirements before your license lets you practice as a PT.