Frequently asked questions
1. What is a DPT?
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is an entry-level post-baccalaureate degree conferred upon successful completion of a professional clinical doctoral education program. Refer to the official American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) web site www.apta.org for further information on DPT education.
2. Is the DPT program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) accredited?
Yes. The DPT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the organization responsible for the accreditation of all physical therapy education programs.
3. What is the length of the DPT program at UTC?
The length of our professional physical therapy program is 3 calendar years (8 straight semesters, including 2 summers). Our 4 + 3 program model accepts students after completing an undergraduate (UG) degree. Therefore, the total length of prerequisite and professional coursework is a minimum of 7 years (4 + 3).
4. Is there a desired major for my UG degree?
Certain majors give background support for a career in health sciences. At UTC the majority of our applicants pursue UG degrees in Biology, Health and Human Performance (Exercise Science, Movement Science), or Psychology. Please check the UTC UG catalog for specific requirements for each of these majors. Assuming you meet all DPT application requirements, however, an applicant may hold an UG degree in any major.
5. Can I be accepted before I have completed all of my prerequisite courses?
Yes, however, there are a certain number of specific prerequisite courses required at the time of application. On the application is a section for you to document how the remaining prerequisite coursework will be completed prior to the start of the professional program. Refer to the Admissions section of our PT web site for details.
6. If I have completed a PTA or other medically-based professional degree, will I still be required to complete your prerequisite courses?
Yes. The pre-PT prerequisite requirements for our program are typically different from PTA and other medical program coursework.
7. Does UTC routinely accept transfer courses from regionally accredited colleges and universities?
Yes. Courses with a grade of D or higher submitted for transfer credits are equated on a course-by-course basis with the awarding of equivalent or elective credit. Refer to the Equivalency Charts in our Advisement section of the PT web site for details.
8. When can I apply to your program?
There are 2 deadlines for applying to our program -- Block 1: September 15th and Block 2: January 15th. The required prerequisite courses are slightly different for each application block. Refer to the Admissions section of the PT web site for details regarding those differences.
9. Is the GRE required?
Effective 2010 the GRE must be taken within 5 years of applying to the program. 3 GRE sections required are :verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. National Testing Web site: www.ets.org
10. How many students are accepted into your program each year?
Currently a maximum of 30 G students are accepted to begin the program at the start of each fall semester.
11. How are students accepted for the program?
Four criteria are used to select students for our program: cumulative UG GPA ≥3.0, pre-requisite science UG GPA ≥ 3.0, reference forms from 2 physical therapy clinicians under whom you have observed, and interview results. While a 3.0 GPA allows the application process to move forward, competitive students usually have higher GPAs.
12. What are the program pre-requisites?
We require 44 semester hours of UG pre-requisite coursework to include: general biology 1 & 2 (8), anatomy & physiology (8), general chemistry 1 & 2 (8), general physics 1 & 2 (8), introductory psychology & a 200-level psychology (6), statistics (3), and exercise physiology (3). Additional requirements include the GRE and proof of first aid/CPT certification.
13. How much does the program cost?
Please refer to the Prospective Student area of the UTC website www.utc.edu for G tuition and fees. There are a few additional costs associated with our program beyond UTC tuition and fees. These costs relate to travel and housing during clinical coursework, professional liability insurance, and professional organization fees.
14. How do UTC graduates perform on the PT state licensure exam?
Since the charter class graduated in 1992, the vast majority of UTC PT classes have exceeded the national pass rate average for all PT programs on the state licensure exam on their “first attempt”.
15. As a non-Tennessee resident, what are my chances of being admitted?
Although we are obligated to accept highly qualified Tennessee residents, as a graduate program we routinely accept out-of-state students. Both transfer and UTC students must meet the same criteria for admissions.
16. What kinds of scholarships or financial aid are available?
There are scholarships and financial aid opportunities for pre-PT students. Please refer to those sections under the Prospective Student area of the official UTC web site. G PT students are eligible to apply for Federal student assistance; however, the types of assistance available to graduate students are limited. Opportunities through internal and external funding sources are in the form of graduate assistantships and other scholarships. Refer to the UTC Financial web page and the UTC Physical Therapy web page for further information.
17. Can I work while going to physical therapy school?
The program is designed to be completed on a full-time basis. Typically classes meet between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM Monday-Friday. Working during the first year of the professional program is discouraged. Students with financial need, however, may choose to work part-time after classes.
18. What housing options are available to students?
UTC offers a variety of on-campus student housing for both unmarried and married students as noted on the UTC Housing web page. Many of our professional students, however, choose to live off-campus. There are numerous apartment complexes and rental properties within a 10-20 minute commute from campus.
19. What is the employment outlook for physical therapists?
The employment outlook for physical therapists is very bright. Our department receives job postings on a regular basis and our graduates have been successful in obtaining employment following receipt of their professional licensure. For more information please read the following article provided by the APTA:
PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL PROJECTS GROWTH FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY PROFESSION
