Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy

Who is this program for?

The University of Kentucky’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is for individuals passionate about helping others achieve optimal movement, function, and quality of life through expert care.

Program Overview

To meet the healthcare needs of Kentucky and beyond, our program emphasizes person-centered care and clinical excellence across two unified campuses: one in Lexington, Kentucky and one at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, Kentucky.

Enrolled students will discover a supportive environment where inquiry, belonging, and professional growth are at the heart of the program. Students benefit from a comprehensive, research-informed education enriched by hands-on clinical experiences and meaningful community engagement, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Graduates are skilled clinicians, educators, advocates, and critical thinkers committed to improving health outcomes and advancing the profession.

Read more about the DPT program faculty, the curriculum, and our application and admission criteria on the DPT program webpage.

Our Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Kentucky is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. In order to take the licensure exam, you must have graduated from a CAPTE-accredited program.

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Credit Hours
137
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Credential
DPT
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Tuition / Full Time per Year
Resident $24,507
Non-Resident $50,638

Plan to Pursue Licensure Outside of Kentucky?

If you plan to obtain professional licensure outside of Kentucky, please refer to the Licensure page to confirm whether the program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure in your state of interest.

FIND OUT EXACTLY
What You'll Learn

You can view a year-by-year curriculum outline on the UK Physical Therapy website.


Degree requirements, course descriptions and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.

98%

licensing exam pass rate

5-year average

9th

Best Physical Therapy Program Among Public Institutions

U.S. News & World Report

21st

Best Physical Therapy Program in the Country

U.S. News & World Report

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Explore Funding Options

As a graduate student, there are additional opportunities for student funding. Once you are admitted into a degree-bearing graduate program at UK, you can apply for a wide variety of financial assistance, including assistantships and fellowships. These opportunities can be tied to your program’s availability, so you should inquire with your program director about opportunities available within your program!

Expand Your Learning

The DPT program embeds clinical education into the program curriculum. During a clinical experience, a student will be assigned to a facility and work with one or more clinical instructors to apply concepts and skills from classroom and laboratory to patient/client situations. Read more about Clinical Education on the DPT program page.

Students participate in a career fair.
Students meet with student org representatives at an outdoor involvement fair.

Get Involved!

Students who get involved in activities outside of the classroom tend to do better academically and develop meaningful relationships with others at UK. Our network of student organizations and activities has something for everyone, from academic to professional to fun!

Learn About Student Organizations & Activities
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Get More Information

Complete the form to get the latest updates on this program, including special events and application deadlines.

Hidden Conditionals





Things to do on this form:
Take away "Term" for Transfers - "Unknown Term"? As well as "Not in High School"
And the same for "Online"

Possibly remove the "Readmit" option.
Feel like it would be pretty easy to see if the person already exists in our system and has a program enrollment record associated with them, which would shift them from "Freshman" or "Transfer" to "Readmit"
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The University of Kentucky defines international applicants as those with citizenship other than the United States of America. Exception: Permanent Residents of the United States should complete a domestic application.

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