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 94 credit hours spanning 36 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 UT is October 1^st 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 October 1, 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 3.3
• 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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PHYT 5000	Gross Anatomy	5
PHYT 5350	Intro to Examination	2
PHYT 5050	Analysis of Movement I	2
PHYT 5020	Lifespan I	2
PHYT 5060	Analysis of Movement II	3
PHYT 5110	Clinical Pathophysiology I	3
PHYT 5130	Evidence Based Practice	4
PHYT 6460	Teaching and Learning	2
PHYT 5450	Foundations of PT	2
PHYT 5270	Applied Exercise Physiology	3
PHYT 5090	Neuroscience	5
PHYT 5280	Therapeutic Interventions I	2
PHYT 5750	Clinical Reasoning	1
PHYT 5300	Principles of Therapeutic Exercise	2
PHYT 5900	Medical Imaging	2
PHYT 5290	Therapeutic Interventions II	2
PHYT 5120	Clinical Pathophysiology II	1
PHYT 5610	Orientation to Interprofessional Teaming	1
PHYT 5620	Leadership and Advocacy in Interprofessional Teaming	1
PHYT 5630	Evidence-Based Practice and Innovation in Interprofessional Teaming	1
PHYT 5640	Practicum in Interprofessional Teaming	2
PHYT 5650	Pharmacology of PT	1
PHYT 5850	Clinical Education Experience I	3
PHYT 6170	Scholarly Project I	2
PHYT 6020	Lifespan II	2
PHYT 6050	Health Care Policy and Delivery	1
PHYT 6180	Scholarly Project II	2
PHYT 6260	Cardiovascular-Pulmonary PT	3
PHYT 6500	Musculoskeletal Rehab I	3
PHYT 6510	Musculoskeletal Rehab II	3
PHYT 6600	Neuromuscular Rehab I	3
PHYT 6610	Neuromuscular Rehab II	3
PHYT 6620	Pediatric Rehabilitation	2
PHYT 6100	Health Promotion	2
PHYT 6700	Professional Issues	1
PHYT 6740	Clinical Seminar I	2
PHYT 6750	Clinical Seminar II	2
PHYT 6850	Clinical Education Experience II	5
PHYT 6990	Independent Study in PT	4
PHYT 7050	Practice Management	2
PHYT 7320	Medical Screening	1
PHYT 7890	Clinical Education Experience III	4
PHYT 7900	Clinical Education Experience IV	6
PHYT 5170	Evidence Based Practice I	2
PHYT 5180	Evidence Based Practice II	2
PHYT 6190	Scholarly Project III	1
PHYT 7200	Scholarly Project IV	1
PHYT 7100	Integrated Patient Management	3

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

Plan of Study Grid

First Term		Hours
PHYT 5000	Gross Anatomy	5
PHYT 5350	Intro to Examination	2
PHYT 5050	Analysis of Movement I	2
	Hours	9
Second Term
PHYT 5450	Foundations of PT	2
PHYT 6460	Teaching and Learning	2
PHYT 5110	Clinical Pathophysiology I	3
PHYT 5130	Evidence Based Practice	4
PHYT 5060	Analysis of Movement II	3
	Hours	14
Third Term
PHYT 5270	Applied Exercise Physiology	3
PHYT 5280	Therapeutic Interventions I	2
PHYT 5300	Principles of Therapeutic Exercise	2
PHYT 5750	Clinical Reasoning	1
PHYT 5900	Medical Imaging	2
PHYT 5090	Neuroscience	5
	Hours	15
Fourth Term
PHYT 5020	Lifespan I	2
PHYT 5290	Therapeutic Interventions II	2
PHYT 5120	Clinical Pathophysiology II	1
PHYT 5650	Pharmacology of PT	1
PHYT 6170	Scholarly Project I	2
PHYT 5850	Clinical Education Experience I	3
	Hours	11
Fifth Term
PHYT 6260	Cardiovascular-Pulmonary PT	3
PHYT 6020	Lifespan II	2
PHYT 6500	Musculoskeletal Rehab I	3
PHYT 6600	Neuromuscular Rehab I	3
PHYT 6740	Clinical Seminar I	2
PHYT 7050	Practice Management	2
	Hours	15
Sixth Term
PHYT 6180	Scholarly Project II	2
PHYT 6100	Health Promotion	2
PHYT 6510	Musculoskeletal Rehab II	3
PHYT 6610	Neuromuscular Rehab II	3
PHYT 6750	Clinical Seminar II	2
PHYT 6620	Pediatric Rehabilitation	2
	Hours	14
Seventh Term
PHYT 6850	Clinical Education Experience II	5
PHYT 7890	Clinical Education Experience III	4
PHYT 7320	Medical Screening	1
PHYT 6700	Professional Issues	1
	Hours	11
Eighth Term
PHYT 7900	Clinical Education Experience IV	6
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	95

1. Select the most accurate response to questioning that is supported by contemporary concepts and evidence-based practice.
2. Defend critical thinking used to justify competent decisions in patient management.
3. Develop safe and effective plans for management of physical therapy diagnosis and movement dysfunction in patients across the lifespan.
4. Weigh individualized psychosocial factors, diversity, and cultural competence to provide sensitive and effective patient management across the lifespan.
5. Select the best tests and measures to examine movement dysfunction and inform the patient management across the lifespan.
6. Design and implement safe and effective individualized plans for the management of physical therapy diagnoses and movement dysfunction in patients across the lifespan.
7. Practice and delegate responsibilities in a safe, ethical, and legal manner.
8. Formulate a question relevant to patient management to facilitate a search of the current body of literature.
9. Critique the body of knowledge guiding physical therapy practice.
10. Appraise the results in the literature to inform clinical reasoning for individualized, patient care decisions.
11.Facilitate effective, respectful discussions among patients, families, and team members.
12. Engage in effective collaboration for shared decision making.
13. Collaborate with the patient, family, or other health professionals to gather relevant clinical information to formulate a plan of care in a variety of practice settings.
14. Participate in activism that advances the profession of physical therapy.
15. Defend the need for physical therapy services in patients across the lifespan.
16. Generate a plan for community engagement in service beyond job responsibilities.
17. Deliver competent and compassionate services designed to meet the physical therapy needs of individuals and the community.
18. Support events to promote health and wellness in one’s community.
19. Self-assess to identify needs for continued personal and professional development throughout one’s career.
20. Plan for participation in continuing education to maintain life-long learning and continuing competence.