DPT Admissions

Application to the DPT program application is conducted through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service and is now open for the 2025-2026 application cycle. The program will be utilizing a rolling admissions process, in which applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. The first DPT student cohort is expected to begin in Fall 2026.

Application Requirements

U.S. bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) awarded by an accredited college or university, or is expected to be awarded within one term of enrollment.
- We do not require a specific undergraduate major or minor of study.
Transcripts from all attended higher education institutions
Two letters of recommendation
- At least one from an academic source (e.g., instructor within your major/minor area of study or from one of your prerequisite courses, academic advisor)
- And, at least one from a coach, employer/supervisor, or other supervising source who has observed your professional behavior
Responses to application essay questions
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in prerequisite coursework
- Online courses are accepted, in-person courses are highly recommended.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of “C” or better prior to enrollment.
- Grade forgiveness for repeated prerequisite courses accepted up to eight credit hours.
Competitive GRE score on verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections
Minimum of 40 clinical observation hours in a physical therapy practice setting.
- Experience in a variety of physical therapy practice settings is highly recommended (hospital-based, outpatient orthopedics, pediatrics, skilled nursing facility, aquatics, etc.).

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

Transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (an approved credentialing agency) if courses were completed at an institution outside of the United States. Documentation must include the U.S. equivalency of course names, grades and credits.

International students must provide evidence of English Language Proficiency (ELP) through one of following:

Citizenship from an approved English-speaking country
Baccalaureate or master’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or institution in an approved English-speaking country
Successful completion of an Intensive English Language course through the University of Memphis IEI program
Completion of an English Proficiency Exam
- Test scores expire after two years. Tests must be taken within two years prior to applying.
- TOEFL - minimum acceptable score: 550 on in-person test, 80 on online test
- IELTS (academic) - minimum acceptable score: 6.5 overall
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) - minimum acceptable score: 59
- DET (Duolingo English Test) - minimum acceptable score: 110

Prerequisites

Biological Sciences (8 credit hours)

Includes lecture and lab instruction
Course content should include topics such as cell structure, cell function, heredity, development, evolution and ecology.

Anatomy & Physiology (8 credit hours)

Includes lecture and lab instruction
Human, mammalian or vertebrate anatomy and physiology (A&P); combined or separate A&P courses are acceptable based on course syllabus
Should be provided by the biology or anatomy department

Chemistry (8 credit hours)

Includes lecture and lab instruction
Course content should include topics such as laws of chemistry, atomic theory and bonding, ionic and molecular compounds, states of matter, oxidation-reduction reactions, acid-based reactions, thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium.

Physics (8 credit hours)

Includes lecture and lab instruction
Course content should include topics such as mechanics, heat, sound, magnetism, electricity, light and modern physics.

Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)

Must include one course in general/introductory psychology
Additional course may include psychology, sociology, anthropology or other areas that focus on human behavior (Life Span Psychology, Child Psychology, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psyc Learning/Memory, Health Psychology, Multicultural Psychology, Sociology of Poverty, Sociology of Aging and the Life Course, Medical Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Psychological Aspects of Exercise, Health & Lifestyle Counseling)
AP/CLEP credit accepted

Statistics (3 credit hours)

May be taken in any department; content should include utilization and interpretation of statistical methods, frequency distributions, central tendency, linear regression, probability, hypothesis testing via t-test and chi-square
AP/CLEP credit accepted

Math (3 credit hours)

Level of pre-calculus or higher
AP/CLEP credit accepted

Out-of-state Students

Opportunity just got more accessible. Qualifying out-of-state students are eligible for a tuition difference scholarship, which reduces their fees to an in-state rate. Must have 3.5+ GPA to qualify. Scholarship available to all states; not available internationally. Contact our team to learn more.

Articulation Agreements

The University of Memphis established formal articulation agreements with the following institutions, offering eligible students enhanced consideration for an interview.

To qualify for admission through these articulation agreements, applicants must satisfy specific criteria that have been mutually defined and approved by both institutions. Students enrolled in the educational institutions listed below are encouraged to reach out to their respective advisors for additional details.

University of Memphis
Union University
Lane College
LeMoyne Owen College

Admissions Contact

Tom Long

For more information on admissions:
Tom Long, Admissions Director
tom.long@memphis.edu
901.678.4316

CAPTE Statement

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered by CAPTE to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) cohort should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) or specific state boards. A list of state boards and contact information is available on the FSBPT website. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085 703.706.3245 | accreditation@apta.org The University of Memphis is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program plans to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, in Nov. 2025. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.