Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Admission Requirements
Admission to the DPT program is competitive. Here's what you'll need to apply.

• A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution may be in progress at the time of application. However, the degree must be awarded prior to matriculation into the Florida Southern College School of Physical Therapy Program.
• Minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in the last 60 credit hours of college coursework. The average GPA for our accepted students in the last 60 credit hours is 3.54.
• Minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better (C- does not meet this requirement). Please see the Prerequisite Requirements section below for additional details. The average prerequisite GPA for our accepted students is 3.35.
• A minimum of 25 hours of demonstrable exposure to PT as evidenced by volunteer or paid work experience in a PT setting. Include the physical therapy license number of the physical therapist verifying your observation hours. Please note, we do not accept observation hours verified by a PTA. The average number completed by all PTCAS applicants last year was 198.4.
• Two letters of recommendation. One from a licensed physical therapist (from your volunteer or work experience in a PT setting). One from a college-level faculty member who had you in a class or was your program advisor, a supervisor or employer, a teaching assistant, a pre-PT advisor, or a collegiate-level coach.
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission, taken within five years prior to the time of application. GRE scores must be received by the application deadline for an application to be considered complete. Our program superscores the GRE if multiple attempts have been taken. Send all GRE results directly to Florida Southern using the GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code 4525.
• An interview by invitation only.
• If admitted, a background check is required prior to matriculation. Our program participates in the PTCAS Background Check process through Certiphi Screening.

Application materials should be submitted electronically via PTCAS.

Applicants failing to meet all of these minimum requirements will not be considered for admission. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission. All applicants and admitted students must certify in writing that they can perform certain Essential Functions in order to participate in and complete program requirements.

Helpful forms and tools:

• GPA Calculation Spreadsheet
• Clinical Observation Form
• Essential Function Requirements Form

No more than two prerequisite courses may be in progress during the spring semester prior to FSC School of Physical Therapy's start date. Courses older than ten years will not be accepted.

Minimum Required Semester Hours	Prerequisite Courses	Acceptable Courses	Florida Southern Course Equivalent
4	General Biology I with Lab	Cell Biology or General Biology I	BIO 1500 Biology I: Biological Essentials
4	General Biology II with Lab	Cell, Embryology, General Biology II, Genetics, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular, Zoology, Botany	BIO 1600 Biology II: Biological Diversity
4	Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab OR Human Anatomy with Lab	Human Anatomy and Physiology I OR Human Anatomy (must be completed in biology, neuroscience, anatomy, or integrated physiology department)	BIO 2215 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4	Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab OR Human Physiology with Lab	Human Anatomy and Physiology II OR Human Physiology (must be completed in biology, neuroscience, anatomy, or integrated physiology department)	BIO 2216 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4	General Chemistry I with Lab	General Chemistry I	CHE 1111 Principles of Chemistry I
4	General Chemistry II with Lab	General Chemistry II, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, OR Organic Chemistry	CHE 1112 Principles of Chemistry II OR CHE 2221 Organic Chemistry I
4	Physics I with Lab	Physics I	PHY 2010 General Physics I (algebra-based) and PHY 2051 General Physics Lab I OR PHY 2110 General Physics I (calculus-based) and PHY 2051 General Physics Lab I
4	Physics II with Lab	Physics II	PHY 2020 General Physics II (algebra-based) and PHY 2052 General Physics Lab II OR PHY 2120 General Physics II (calculus-based) and PHY 2052 General Physics Lab II
3	General Psychology	General Psychology	PSY 1106 Psychology and The Social World
3	Additional Psychology course	Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Lifespan Development, etc. (must be taken in the Psychology department)	PSY 2209 Developmental Psychology OR refer to the current FSC Academic Handbook for other Psychology department courses
3	Statistics	Math Statistics, Biostatistics, OR Psychology Statistics (course must include both descriptive and inferential statistics)	MAT 2022 Elementary Statistics; MAT 2032 Biostatistics; PSY 2210 Tests and Measurements

Coursework Petitions

An applicant may petition any previous coursework for acceptance to the School of Physical Therapy Admissions Committee using the following procedure:

1. Write a formal letter to the School of Physical Therapy. Submit the letter and any supporting documentation as an attachment to an email to FSCDPTAdmissions@flsouthern.edu. Supporting documentation may include course syllabi, course assignments, and letters from the course instructor. The GPA calculation spreadsheet (available on the FSC website) must be included for Last 60 and Prerequisite GPA completed to date. Note: only the formal letter and accompanying attachments will be reviewed; any requests made in the body of an email will not be considered.
2. The letter and attachments are presented to the Admissions Committee at the next meeting (meetings typically convene every two weeks, depending on the time of year).
3. Each letter is reviewed case by case, and a decision is communicated to the applicant via email.

If you have questions about how your individual coursework applies to our policy, contact FSCDPTAdmissions@flsouthern.edu for further review.

Year 1

Fall: 18 Credit Hours (16 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7110	Human Anatomy for Physical Therapy	6
DPT 7120	Kinesiology/Biomechanics for Physical Therapy	3
DPT 7130	Physical Therapy Clinical Assessment I	3
DPT 7140	Pathophysiology for Physical Therapy	3
DPT 7150	Evidence-Based Physical Therapist Practice I	1
DPT 7160	Integrated Professional and Community Education (IPCE) I	2
	Information Hour I	0

Spring: 16 Credit Hours (16 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7210	Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy I	5
DPT 7220	Physical Therapy Clinical Assessment II	3
DPT 7260	Integrated Professional and Community Education (IPCE) II	2
DPT 7270	Neuroscience for Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7290	Neuromuscular Physical Therapy I	4
	Information Hour II	0

Summer 1: 8 Credit Hours (8 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7330	Administration for Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7340	Pharmacology for Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7370	Acute Care Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7390	Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy	2

Summer 2: 6 Credit Hours (6 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7315	Applied Neurologic Interventions for Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7350	Evidence-Based Physical Therapist Practice II	2
DPT 7380	Physical Therapy Clinical Education Theory	1
DPT 7395	Applied Therapeutic Interventions for Physical Therapy	1

Year 2

Fall 1: 10 Credit Hours (10 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7480	Physical Therapy Clinical Education Practicum I	10

Fall 2: 5 Credit Hours (5 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7410	Neuromuscular Physical Therapy II	4
DPT 7460	Integrated Professional and Community Education (IPCE) IV	1

Spring: 18 Credit Hours (16 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7510	Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy II	4
DPT 7520	Geriatric Physical Therapy	2
DPT 7530	Pediatric Physical Therapy	4
DPT 7540	Advanced Clinical Lifespan Problem Solving	3
DPT 7550	Evidence-Based Physical Therapist Practice III	3
DPT 7560	Integrated Professional and Community Education (IPCE) V	1
DPT 7570	NPTE Review	1
	Information Hour V	0

Summer: 12 Credit Hours (10 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7680	Physical Therapy Clinical Education Practicum II	12

Year 3

Fall: 15 Credit Hours (16 Weeks)

Course	Title	Credit Hours
DPT 7780	Physical Therapy Clinical Education Practicum III	14
DPT 7790	Physical Therapy Seminar	1

Program Total: 108 Credit Hours

On-Campus. State-of-the-art physical therapy practice labs and classrooms can accommodate 36 to 39 students.

Florida Southern's DPT program bills tuition by semester, based on your enrollment hours. Because enrollment varies by term, your cost of attendance differs each semester, which also sets the maximum you can borrow in loans for that term.

Estimated Tuition, 2026-2027

Semester	Enrollment Hours	Tuition Charge
Fall	18	$18,010
Spring	16	$16,020
Summer	14	$14,030

Tuition is due at the beginning of each semester. For a full semester-by-semester breakdown across the program, see the DPT Curriculum.

Paying for Your DPT

Most DPT students use a combination of federal loans, private loans, and out-of-pocket payment. A few things to know:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans allow eligible students to borrow up to $10,250 per semester, though your limit depends on your prior loan history and FAFSA review. File the FAFSA each year at studentaid.gov.
• Because of program tuition, the unsubsidized loan alone won't fully cover each semester's charges. Many students borrow up to their semester cost-of-attendance budget, which can also provide a refund toward living and educational expenses.
• Private student loans can cover up to your semester budget. We recommend applying by May 1 for the full academic year.
• Florida Southern does not offer institutional scholarships for the DPT program, but external scholarships are accepted. See External Scholarships below for a list.

American Academy of Physical Therapy

For PT and PTA students in their final year of training. Selection places importance on contributing to minority affairs. Up to $2,500.

American Business Clubs (AMBUCS)

For graduate students enrolled in a physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech pathology program. Up to $6,000.

Daughters of the American Revolution Physical/Occupational Therapy Scholarship

For students accepted to or enrolled in an accredited PT or OT program. Up to $2,000.

Employee Incentive Scholarship Program

For employees of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pursuing a degree in health care. Recipients must continue to work for the department for one to three years after degree completion. Up to $40,000 over three years.

Next Generation Healers Scholarship

For new and current PT students who are working while pursuing their degree

The Next Step Scholarship

For students pursuing a degree in behavioral healthcare or a related field, including psychology, counseling, social work, nursing, addiction studies, public health, or similar disciplines. Applications run from September 1 through October 31.

Additional Resources

• ACAPT
• College Board
• EXXAT 
• FastWeb
• Fin Aid
• Rizing Tide

No. We accept any bachelor's degree from any regionally accredited institution, as long as you complete our specific prerequisites. Your major won't affect your admissions process, though some degrees cover more of our prerequisites and prepare you well for the curriculum. Common choices include Pre-Physical Therapy or Exercise Science, Biology, Health Science, Psychology, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine, and Athletic Training.

Yes, as long as the awarded credits meet the minimum number of credits on our prerequisite list. Note that because AP coursework is typically ungraded, it won't factor into your GPA calculations.

Yes. If your degree included little or no science coursework, you can complete much of the remaining prerequisites at a regionally accredited community college.

Our program requires a minimum of 25 observation hours. Additional hours across a variety of PT settings can help you learn more about the profession and strengthen your interview.

We hold multiple interview dates, with the first in January and the final session in late spring. Initial offers are made in late spring, and we continue making offers until the class is filled, typically between March and May.

While each cycle varies, we typically receive 400 to 800 applications.

Approximately 39 students per cohort. A smaller cohort means more individual attention, closer relationships with faculty, and a more personal learning environment.

As part of your application, you'll disclose any previous felony or misdemeanor convictions. A criminal record won't necessarily prevent enrollment, but failing to disclose past or pending charges may be grounds for immediate dismissal. Criminal background checks and drug tests are required to verify suitability for clinical education practicums, confirm eligibility for licensure, and ensure patient safety.

One of the innovative parts of our curriculum is the Integrated Professional and Community Education (IPCE) series. Its purpose is to give students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned during didactic coursework while meeting essential community needs. On a weekly basis, all of our students provide volunteer services at one of four community organizations the program partners with. This unique opportunity exposes students to patients and clients across the lifespan, within the environments where they live, work, and age, and better prepares them to deliver physical therapy services that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and evolving society.

There's very little time outside of class and study. Classes often fill weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only short breaks. We strongly recommend that first-year students not work, to ease the transition into graduate school. The best opportunities for working are weekends and breaks, and we try to keep students aware of part-time openings in the local PT community.

Yes. We have clinical agreements with many states throughout the United States. If you have a specific area or location you'd like for your clinical practicum, we're very open to facilitating a new agreement that fits the program and the student. Please discuss this with our Director of Clinical Education, Dr. Elizabeth Kuba (863.680.4952 or FSCDPTClinicalEd@flsouthern.edu).

Beyond tuition, plan for books and supplies, housing and living expenses, transportation to clinical sites, personal expenses, and a background check for clinical placements. See the DPT cost section and the Financial Aid and Payment Information sheet for current estimates.