Physical Therapy DPT Requirements

Arcadia’s entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is 25 months in duration. The program is now offered through two different pathways - the residential program is composed entirely of on-campus learning experiences, while the hybrid pathway is composed of a combination of online and on-campus learning experiences. The Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is designed to create practitioners who can fulfill the American Physical Therapy Association’s vision of “transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience”.

Arcadia University is recognized as a leader in global education and provides interested students with international opportunities to study. Arcadia believes that to understand the world, students should experience it—and that can mean leaving the campus for a time. Whether it is for clinical education in Alaska or California or a service trip to Jamaica, Arcadia’s DPT students have several opportunities to experience the world as health care professionals.

The Profession

Physical therapy is a healthcare profession whose practitioners evaluate, treat and instruct individuals in order to prevent or overcome the effects of disease or injury. Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient centers, individual homes, skilled nursing facilities and the public school system. Patients of all ages, from newborn to older adults, may be encountered. Physical therapists also work as educators, researchers and consultants. Physical therapy is an integral part of today’s changing healthcare system. Practitioners serve in a range of capacities—they may be a patient’s entry point into the health-care system as they conduct appropriate screening and examination techniques and make professional assessments. Clinical practice is based on theory and/or evidence.

Physical therapy is a profession that offers a lifetime of satisfaction in helping people to function more effectively. Each patient presents a new challenge, and the constantly changing clinical situations provide for a stimulating and exciting career.

The entry-level DPT program at Arcadia University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703- 706-3245; Email: 

rofession that offers a lifetime of satisfaction in helping people to function more effectively. Each patient presents a new challenge, and the constantly changing clinical situations provide for a stimulating and exciting career.

The entry-level DPT program at Arcadia University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703- 706-3245; Email: accreditation@apta.org; or visit the CAPTE website.

A student accepted into the Physical Therapy program is expected to abide by the regulations set forth by Arcadia University and the written policies of the Physical Therapy program. For a discussion of the general academic policies and procedures for graduate students, see the Academic Policies section in this catalog and the Student Handbook. The policies of the Physical Therapy program are published in the DPT Student Handbook, revised annually, and address specifics regarding performance benchmarks that must be met in order to progress through the program.

To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in each semester. If a student receives less than a 2.7 for a semester, the student will be placed on probation. Failure to improve the grade point average to a 2.7 in the subsequent semester may result in dismissal from the program.

Successful completion of all clinical experiences is required in order to fulfill program requirements. If the student fails to meet minimum performance expectations in a clinical experience, the student will receive a grade of Unsatisfactory for the clinical education course and be dismissed from the program. If a student at any time during the course of an experience is performing in an unsafe manner causing a patient’s well-being to be jeopardized, or behaves in an unprofessional, unethical, or illegal manner, the student will be immediately removed from the clinical setting. The student then will receive a grade of Unsatisfactory for the clinical education course. 

If a student is dismissed or withdraws from the program, they may apply for provisional readmission. A decision to grant provisional readmission is made by the department chair in consultation with the student’s advisor and relevant faculty members. A student who is provisionally readmitted must still apply for full readmission into the program when appropriate. Decisions on full readmission into the program and required remedial work are made by the Physical Therapy Review Committee.

Essential functions are the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills necessary for a student to participate in the physical therapy program and become a physical therapist. Below are the “Clinical Performance Criteria for the Physical Therapist Student” as outlined in the “Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument for Students” developed by the American Physical Therapy Association.¹ Students must have the physical, mental and emotional capacity, with or without reasonable accommodations, to meet all of the below criteria. These essential functions apply in the classroom, lab, community, and clinical settings as part of the physical therapy program. Independent facilities used for clinical education may or may not be willing or able to provide the same reasonable accommodations provided by the university.

1. Practices according to the Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist; demonstrates respect for self, the patient/client, and colleagues in all situations.
2. Practices according to legal and professional standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
3. Accepts and is receptive to feedback; participates in planning and/or self-assessment to improve clinical performance; contributes to the advancement of the clinical setting through educational opportunities; seeks out opportunities to improve knowledge and skills.
4. Demonstrates professional verbal and nonverbal communication with all stakeholders (e.g., patients/clients, caregivers, intra/interprofessional colleagues); adapts to diverse verbal and nonverbal communication styles during patient/client interactions; utilizes communication resources (e.g., translators) as appropriate; incorporates appropriate strategies to engage in challenging encounters with patients/clients and others; facilitates ongoing communication with physical therapist assistants regarding patient/client care.
5. Delivers physical therapy services with consideration for patient/client diversity and inclusivity for all regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, or other characteristics of identity; Provides equitable patient/client care that does not vary in quality based on the patient’s/client’s personal characteristics (e.g., ethnicity, socioeconomic status).
6. Strategically gathers, interprets, and synthesizes information from multiple sources to make effective clinical judgments; applies current knowledge and clinical judgment leading to accurate and efficient evaluations including: selection of examination techniques, diagnosis, prognosis, goals, and plan of care; ensures patient/client safety via medical screening during the episode of care and when making discharge and progression decisions; presents a logical rationale for clinical decisions with all stakeholders (e.g., patients/clients, caregivers, intra/interprofessional colleagues).
7. Performs evidence-based initial and re-examination tests and measures that are relevant to the practice setting; rules out other pathologies and refers to or consults with other healthcare professionals as necessary; evaluates data from the patient/client examination (e.g., history, systems review, tests and measures, screening, and outcome measures) to make clinical decisions, including the determination of a diagnosis to guide future patient/client management.
8. Establishes a physical therapy plan of care that is safe, effective, patient/client-centered, and evidence-based while also considering prognostic factors; adapts plan of care as appropriate by utilizing test and retest measures, outcome measures, and caseload discussions to ensure patients/clients are progressing toward discharge goals.
9. Selects and performs appropriate physical therapy interventions (e.g., therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activity, neuromuscular re-education, application of modalities, manual therapy) that are evidence-based and completed in a competent and efficient manner; consults with interprofessional colleagues as appropriate (e.g., nurse, physician, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, orthotist-prosthetist) to seek advice or an opinion; educates patients/clients and caregivers using multimodal approach based on patient’s/client’s learning style; educates healthcare team on relevant topics by taking an active role in activities (e.g., journal clubs) or in-service opportunities.
10. Produces quality documentation that includes changes in the patient’s/client’s status, descriptions and progressions of specific interventions used, and communication among providers; maintains organization of patient/client documentation.
11. Identifies financial barriers and limitations to patient/client care (e.g., authorization limits, cost to patient); adjusts plan of care and schedule frequency based on the patient’s/client’s financial concerns or needs; understands nuances of insurance including copay, co-insurance, out-of-pocket max, deductible, etc.; appropriately bills patients/clients according to legal guidelines and insurance regulations; demonstrates appropriate understanding of other fiscally responsible behaviors, including time management and appropriate use of clinical supplies and equipment when providing physical therapy services.
12. Actively participates in caseload discussions with interprofessional colleagues to optimize patient/client outcomes; delegates tasks to support staff as appropriate; identifies patient/client complexity model of care when scheduling patients/clients with a physical therapist assistant versus a physical therapist.

Sample behaviors for each of the above performance criteria are available upon request.

¹Physical Therapist Clinical Performance Instrument (PT CPI) 3.0. Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association. *https://cpi.apta.org/dashboard*. Published May 15, 2023. Accessed June 6, 2023.

© 2023 American Physical Therapy Association. Used with permission.

Students must meet the following requirements:

1. A minimum of 63 weeks of classroom work. (Courses are listed below.)
2. A minimum of 32 weeks of full-time clinical study.
3. An overall minimum GPA of 2.70 maintained throughout the program. A grade below “C” is not acceptable toward the degree.
4. Continuous enrollment. If extenuating circumstances make additional time necessary, approval to continue beyond the expected 26 months must be obtained from the Department Chair and the Physical Therapy Review Committee. Students who withdraw for reasons other than academic or clinical performance may re-apply for admission. Departmental approval is necessary for re-admission.
5. Successful completion of all graduation requirements, including completion of the capstone project, as specified in the Student Handbook.

Fall (22.5 credits)

• PT 607 Intro to PT Theory & Practice 2 credits
• PT 661 Movement System Foundations I: Motion 5 credits
• PT 662 Movement System Foundations II: Force 5 credits
• PT 663 Movement System Foundations III: Energy 5 credits
• PT 664 Movement System Foundations IV: Motor Control 5 credits
• PT 658A Exposure to PT in a Health Care System I .5 credits

Spring (23.5 credits)

• PT 671 Integrated Patient Management I: Acute Musculoskeletal Injury 5 credits
• PT 672 Integrated Patient Management II: Acute Medical Conditions 5 credits
• PT 673 Integrated Patient Management III: Progressive Neurological Conditions 4 credits
• PT 691 Differential Diagnosis & Intervention – Extremity 1 4 credits
• PT 692 Differential Diagnosis & Intervention – Extremity II 5 credits
• PT 658B Exposure to PT in a Health Care System .5 credits

Summer (22 credits)

• PT 761 Movement System: Advanced Analysis & Intervention I 5 credits
• PT 793 Differential Diagnosis & Intervention III: Spine I 5 credits
• PT 794 Differential Diagnosis & Intervention IV: Spine II 5 credits
• PT 737 Clinical Simulation Experiences 3 credits
• PT 774 Integrated Patient Management IV: Chronic Medical Conditions 4 credits

Fall (14 credits)

PT 758 Clinical Education Experience I 4 credits

PT 775 Integrated Patient Management V: Non-progression Neurologic Conditions 5 credits

PT 795 Differential Diagnosis & Intervention V: Pain 5 credits

Spring (22 credits)

PT 824 Management Leadership Principles in a PT Setting 3 credits

PT 862 Movement System: Advanced Analysis & Intervention II 5 credits

PT 835 Enhancing Activity & Participation 5 credits

PT 846 Health Promotion 2 credits

PT 787 Experiential Learning 1 credit

PT 858 Clinical Education Experience II 6 credits

Summer (6 credits)

PT 859 Clinical Education Experience III 6 credits

• PT 887A Independent Study- Research
• PT 887B Independent Study- International Pro Bono Experiences