Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) - Transition
ADMISSIONS

Students applying to the tDPT program at Temple University can determine whether they meet eligibility standards and admission requirements by clicking on the following link (eligibility grid).

Students deemed eligible for acceptance to the tDPT Program MUST hold a successfully completed Masters degree.  There is ONE exception to this rule and it applies to students from Temple University who received a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Physical Therapy.

In addition, ALL applicants MUST have received their physical therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited program.  A complete listing of CAPTE accredited programs can be found at APTA | CAPTE.

While the typical applicant from outside Temple University possesses a Masters in Physical Therapy (MPT) or Masters of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) degree, applicants who hold a entry-level bachelor’s degree in physical therapy may also apply to the tDPT Program ONLY IF he or she has successfully completed another non-Physical Therapy Masters degree.

ALL applicants accepted into the tDPT Program will be required to take a minimum of the four CORE courses:

DPT 8571 - Physical Therapy Diagnostics

DPT 8573 - Diagnostic Imaging/Pharmacology

DPT 8576 - Clinical Decision Making

DPT 8578 - Outcomes Measurement & Epidemiology

Additional tDPT coursework may be required by the student based on 2 factors; 1) the currency of previously completed academic coursework, and 2) the scope and depth of the curricular content related to any previous academic degrees.  A currency limit of 10 years exists for any previous coursework which means that students who received academic degrees 10 or more years prior to tDPT Program acceptance can expect an increase in the number of required courses beyond the typical four CORE courses.

Students who have received their Masters degree in Physical Therapy within the 10 year currency limit may click here (program list) to access the projected tDPT Program requirements associated with various other Physical Therapy programs from across the nation.  The program list was developed through an individual curricular review of that program by members of the tDPT Admissions Committee.

Based on in-coming tDPT Program applications, additional entry-level masters degree programs in Physical Therapy not on the program list are reviewed by members of the tDPT Admissions Committee on a semester-by-semester basis with an updated list then posted to the website. Applicants to the tDPT Program whose programs do not appear on the program list will be required to assist in securing official university documents such as course descriptions.

Please Note: The projected tDPT Program course requirements contained in the program list apply to only those applicants who received their entry-level Masters degrees in Physical Therapy within the 10 year currency limit. Graduates from programs contained within the program list, but exceed the 10 year currency limit can expect to take additional tDPT coursework beyond the typical four CORE courses. A student in this category can however petition the tDPT Admissions Committee for consideration of a course waiver based on life experience or job responsibilities.