Direct Entry Physical Therapy Programs: An Early Start to Your DPT

For students who are certain about pursuing a career in physical therapy, direct entry programs offer a streamlined path to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. These programs allow students to gain conditional acceptance to the DPT program as early as their senior year of high school, providing a more secure and focused educational journey. This article explores the advantages and specific examples of freshman direct entry physical therapy programs.

Benefits of Direct Entry Programs

One student noted, “The best thing I did in my college application process was to apply for a direct entry program. I cannot stress this enough: if you know now that you want to go to PT school after undergrad, get into a direct entry program. Your life will be so much easier and you will avoid so much stress in approximately 3-4 years.”

Direct entry programs offer several key benefits:

Reduced Stress: Eliminates the need to re-apply to PT school after completing an undergraduate degree.
Focused Curriculum: Allows students to concentrate on pre-requisite coursework and gain early exposure to the field of physical therapy.
Guaranteed Admission (Conditional): Provides a sense of security, knowing that a spot in the DPT program is reserved, provided certain academic criteria are met.
Enriched Undergraduate Experience: Removes some of the competitive pressure, allowing students to develop a richer undergraduate experience.

Program Structures and Examples

Direct entry programs typically involve completing a set of undergraduate pre-requisite courses followed by the DPT program. The duration of these programs can vary. For example, Maryville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a six and one-half year freshman-entry program. The University of Evansville offers both a 3+3 track and a 4+3 track, where students complete their undergraduate and pre-professional coursework in three or four years, respectively, before transitioning to the three-year DPT program.

Here are some universities that offer direct entry physical therapy programs:

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Franklin Pierce University (FPU)

Franklin Pierce University offers special consideration for direct admission into the FPU D.P.T. program. Current FPU students taking pre-physical therapy courses can also apply for the D.P.T. program, receiving preferential application review.

Progression Qualifications: To successfully progress from undergraduate studies into the D.P.T. program, students must meet specific qualifications and be evaluated annually by advisors. Failure to meet these qualifications will result in forfeiting the guaranteed admission into the D.P.T. program. Key requirements include achieving a minimum 3.2 CGPA and a prerequisite GPA of 3.4.

University of the Incarnate Word (UIW)

UIW invites exceptionally qualified high school students to pursue their Direct Admit Program, leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Students select the program they are interested in and complete a survey. Responses are then shared with the respective schools, which interview and admit students at their discretion.

UIW also offers the Cardinal Soar Program for current UIW freshmen and qualified transfer students, providing a pathway to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Interested students who meet the qualification criteria can apply through the Office of Academic Success and Student Affairs at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Financial Incentives: UIW reimburses the cost of the PTCAS/OTCAS application fee (equivalent to applying to one PT/OT program) via a transfer of funds into the student account during the first semester of tuition in the DPT program. A $500 enrollment deposit is required by January.

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University of Evansville (UE)

The University of Evansville offers an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Students complete undergraduate and pre-professional coursework during their first three (3+3 track) or four years (4+3 track).

Financial Aid: All students with direct entry into the DPT program who enter UE as a freshman beginning in Fall 2020 or after are eligible for the Loyal Aces Graduate Scholarship. Direct entry DPT students receive the UE Merit scholarship for the first four years of undergraduate study and the Loyal Aces Graduate Scholarship during the fall and spring semesters of their graduate years.

Marquette University

Marquette University offers a direct freshman admission window to its six-year program. High school graduates with no more than 12 college credits taken after graduation may also apply. College credits taken while in high school (AP/IB, dual enrollment) do not count against the student.

Undergraduate Majors: Marquette offers a variety of undergraduate majors that incorporate the physical therapy pre-requisite courses needed. The most popular undergraduate major is Exercise Physiology, although there are almost 20 others that can be utilized depending on a student's area of interest.

Advanced Placement (AP) and Prerequisite Policies: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or dual enrollment college credits may be applied toward a maximum of four D.P.T. prerequisite courses, excluding CHEM 1002, PHYS 1002, Anatomy and Physiology. No more than 2 prerequisite courses can be completed with a grade of C. Students can take no more than 7 prerequisite credits outside of MU and must follow the policy for Study at Other Institutions. It is strongly encouraged that all D.P.T. prerequisite courses be completed at accredited four-year institutions. Courses taken elsewhere cannot be completed in an online format. Students can retake no more than one prerequisite course, and if a course is repeated, the higher grade is used in the D.P.T. GPA calculation.

Maryville University

Maryville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a six and one-half year freshman-entry program.

Admission Requirements and Considerations

Admission to direct entry programs is competitive. While a set number of PT-related observation hours may not be officially required by all programs, a strong academic record and a clear passion for physical therapy are essential. Acceptance to Early Assurance programs for incoming freshmen is also on a competitive basis.

Additional Programs to Consider

St. Pierce University/SGU: Offers a combined program where students attend St. Pierce University in four years, progressing into the 4 year MD program at SGU. Students would select a major in Biology or Health Sciences.
M.P.A.S. Programs: Some universities offer direct entry into a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.) program. For example, students may apply during their senior year of high school for the 27-month M.P.A.S. program. Progression from undergraduate studies into the M.P.A.S. program requires meeting specific standards. Failure to meet these standards may result in being encouraged to apply for traditional entry.

The Role of Physical Therapists

Physical therapists are movement specialists who treat patients of all ages and abilities to reduce pain, increase mobility, and improve function so they can maintain quality of life. They diagnose and treat patients who have a variety of orthopedic, neurological, and cardiopulmonary conditions. Licensed therapists work in hospitals, sports medicine facilities, acute care, long-term care, rehabilitation centers, pediatric facilities, and more, treating nearly 1 million people daily. The MSAT program seeks to empower change agents in developing safer participation environments for active individuals.

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