Through education, scholarship, and service, the mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is to prepare students to be leaders in contemporary practice and to improve the human condition and the profession.

The doctor in physical therapy (DPT) program at The University of Toledo is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The degree consists of 95 credit hours spanning 30 months beyond the bachelor’s degree. Upon successful completion of the doctor of physical therapy program, graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination. 

The deadline for applications for the DPT program at UToledo early October prior to the year of anticipated matriculation into the program (the program begins with summer enrollment). 

Seven out of the ten prerequisite courses MUST be completed at the time of application (see list below). Since the deadline to apply to UT's DPT Program is early October, the 7 out of 10 prerequisite courses must be completed BEFORE fall semester.

The University of Toledo participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application System (PTCAS). Please use their website to apply to our program (www.ptcas.org).

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30
• Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
• Prerequisites include:
  • One course in each of the following:
    • Human Anatomy with lab¹
    • Human Physiology with lab¹
    • General Psychology
    • Statistics
  • Two (2) courses on a semester-based system in each of the following:
    • Biology for science majors with lab
    • Chemistry for science majors with lab
    • Physics (algebra-based)
• The following courses are highly recommended: Exercise Physiology with lab, Technical Writing
• Three letters of recommendation; one must be from a physical therapist and one from a professor (or employer if you are not currently a student)
• Interview
• Knowledge of the field of physical therapy
• Shadowing a physical therapist is highly recommended to obtain knowledge of the field; however, there is not a minimum number of hours of observation or shadowing required

¹

Or two course sequence in Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Criminal Background Check Policy

All incoming physical therapy students are required to complete both an Ohio BCI&I check and a FBI criminal background check. In the event that the background check report identifies a history of criminal activity, the student may be at risk for not being able to successfully complete the required clinical education requirements of the DPT program. Successful completion of all designated clinical practicums and clinical internships is a graduation requirement for a DPT degree. Further, students with a criminal background may be “at risk” for not meeting Physical Therapy licensure eligibility requirements in some states due to a felony conviction. 

Each student, while enrolled in the didactic and clinical portions of the physical therapy curriculum, is required to complete various immunizations, titers, tests, and a physical examination each year as specified in the Student Health Form Packet in the DPT Program Student Handbook. Students are prohibited to engage in laboratory activities or to attend clinical facilities if this information is not on file for the current year. 

It should also be noted that some clinical education sites have additional health requirements (flu shots, drug screens, etc.). When these are known in advance, the program will inform the student of any additional health requirements. However, during preparations for upcoming clinicals, the student is responsible for checking with the Clinical Coordinator for Clinical Education to determine if there are any additional health requirements. It is recommended that this process be initiated approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the clinical to allow adequate time for completion of any additional health requirements. If the student does not complete the additional requirements of the clinical site, the student is prohibited from attending that facility for their clinical education experience.  

All expenses incurred in obtaining a physical, necessary laboratory tests, immunizations and additional health requirements are the responsibility of the student. 

Essential Functions

The University of Toledo admits and matriculates qualified physical therapy students in accordance with the UT Policy of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of a Disability – The Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The State of Ohio Revised Code, and other applicable statutes and regulations relating to equality of opportunity. UT prohibits discrimination against anyone on the basis of disability and is committed to equal access for all qualified applicants and students. 

A physical therapist must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of patients/clients. Performing successfully as a student physical therapist involves completing significant intellectual, social and physical tasks throughout the curriculum. Students must master a broad array of basic knowledge, skills, and behaviors, including abilities in the areas of judgment, integrity, character, professional attitude and demeanor. To master these skills and behaviors, candidates/students must possess, at a minimum, abilities and skills in observation, communication, motor function, intellectual-conceptualization, behavioral and social skills. These abilities and skills comprise the categories of UT physical therapy program’s ‘Essential Functions of a Physical Therapy Student for Matriculation, and Graduation’ which are further described and defined in the Student Handbook located on the DPT program website.

The essential functions provide information to allow a candidate to make an informed decision for application and are a guide to accommodation of students with disabilities. Academic adjustments can be made for disabilities in some instances, but a student must be able to perform the essential functions of the physical therapy program independently either with or without reasonable accommodation. 

In adopting these standards, the UT physical therapy program believes it must keep in mind the ultimate safety of both students and patients who may be involved in the course of a student’s education. The essential functions reflect what the physical therapy program believes are reasonable expectations for physical therapy students learning and performing patient care.

This three year full-time degree includes integrated clinical experiences and internships as well as a scholarly project.

• PLO 1. Demonstrate satisfactory performance on all written and practical examinations.
• PLO 2. Demonstrate satisfactory performance during clinical experiences.
• PLO 3. Develop skills needed to critically evaluate evidence to justify clinical decisions.
• PLO 4. Develop skills needed to communicate and collaborate with patients, families, and members of other professions to optimize PT outcomes in healthcare.
• PLO 5. Participate in advocacy experiences.
• PLO 6. Participate in professional or community service experiences.
• PLO 7. Pursue professional development opportunities at local, state, and national levels.