Guide to Physical Therapy Degrees Online - Find Top Doctorates

Arcadia University

The Hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Arcadia University stands out for its innovative course design. Rather than teaching concepts and techniques in a vacuum, Arcadia’s curriculum centers around 20 unique patient-based courses.

These courses teach students how to apply their knowledge holistically to a series of increasingly complex physical therapy cases. Each course builds on the knowledge you’ve already earned and prepares you to apply your coursework to real-world care situations.

Arcadia’s DPT program also stands out for its efficiency:

• Earn your DPT in as few as 26 months
• Get licensed and ready to practice in no time
• Become ready to deal with the pressures of a fast-paced work environment

It is important to know that Arcadia’s DPT program is a hybrid format. So, although you’ll do a significant chunk of your coursework online, you should be prepared to visit campus regularly. Attending Arcadia means you’ll get to live and work in beautiful, bustling Glenside, PA for the duration of your studies.

The University of Southern California

The Online Doctor of Physical Therapy at The University of Southern California is designed to prepare future physical therapists nationwide. The program is billed as a hybrid program since clinicals must be completed in-person. However, USC Online works with non-local students to arrange practicum hours in their area.

Features:

• Prepares students to integrate different knowledge sources into their patient care
• Trains students to account for patient needs, current research, and their own professional ability when developing care plans
• Ensures that you will be ready to handle patients that under your care long after graduation

In order to make their DPT program accessible to as many students as possible, the school does not require GRE scores as part of the application and offers generous financial aid opportunities.

Utica University

If you’re a licensed physical therapist trying to keep up with new research and innovations in the field, the Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Online Degree should be at the top of your list of potential programs.

Features:

• Designed specifically for licensed physical therapists with a BS or MS
• Places immense value on the experience you’ve earned during your work and earlier education
• Accelerated 16 month format that fills in the gaps and builds on what you already know

Because DPT students arrive with significant work experience in the field, Utica recognizes that their students also arrive with specific career goals in mind. To this end, Utica helps students design unique clinical experiences that relate directly to their post-graduation plans and can be completed close to home.

What are the different types of online DPT programs?

Online DPT programs come in a few different forms to service the varying needs of aspiring professionals. Each form achieves the same learning objectives in the long run, but they go about it differently to accommodate a range of educational backgrounds. Here’s what you need to know.

Standard DPT Programs

Similar to doctorates in other fields, these degree require some familiarity with the discipline and some formal academic training that meets prerequisites (a bachelor’s or master’s degree depending on the program).

Some schools may also call for relevant work experience or active licensure. This is a good option for working professionals and those already placed in clinical settings.

B.S./DPT Programs

Early-stage students and those with little or no background in physical therapy will find this option more accommodating. These programs take longer (6 years on average) but allow candidates to earn both a relevant bachelor’s degree and a doctor of physical therapy concurrently.

They work to build clinical skills and technical knowledge from the ground up, offering a comprehensive experience designed to develop specialized expertise leading to full licensure.

Common Specializations

Pediatrics: Students with this specialization focus on physical therapy procedures tailored for infants, children, and youth. It looks at common conditions or disorders that inhibit normal growth and development. Through family-centered care practices, candidates learn to identify and address issues such as:

• Autism
• Cystic fibrosis
• Cerebral palsy

Sports Performance: This specialization develops the technical skills needed to diagnose and treat injuries commonly associated athletic activities. These include concussions, ligament tears, and joint injuries. Physical therapists in this specialty help patients to build:

• Muscle strength, speed conditioning, and agility
• Other areas designed to improve overall performance

Geriatrics: Physical therapists with this expertise help elders achieve and maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle. They also:

• Treat chronic conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis specific to aging populations
• Help patients recover from procedures like joint replacement through coordinated rehabilitation efforts

Orthopedics: One of the more prominent areas of specialization, orthopedics treats injuries and conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. Because it focuses on ligaments, muscles, and bones, it sometimes overlaps with geriatrics or sports performance. Professionals with this expertise:

• Help patients recover from surgery
• Develop individualized treatment plans that support rehabilitation

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary: This concentration develops expertise in physical therapy efforts that help people manage long-term heart and lung issues. It looks at rehabilitation exercises necessary following open-heart surgery or cardiac arrest. Physical therapists in this area work to:

• Build patient endurance
• Mitigate patients’ stress
• Manage chronic conditions

What do you learn in an online DPT program?

Every school uses its own unique approach to train physical therapists and online DPT candidates. Each program will add its own flair, but at the end of the day most share common requirements with similar objectives, course topics, and core competencies including:

• Technical knowledge of human anatomy and physiology
• Hard skills in range of motion activities and exercise techniques
• Evidence-based practices

Along the way, students will also satisfy the following learning outcomes:

• Patient-centered care: As in other healthcare professions, DPT graduates will learn to improve therapeutic outcomes by providing quality care and developing treatment plans in conversation with patients and their families.
• Clinical reasoning: Aspiring physical therapists will learn to exercise clear-sighted clinical reasoning in collecting data, communicating with patients, testing hypotheses, determining diagnoses, and evaluating treatment plans.
• Scientific inquiry: Students will learn to rely upon proven scientific principles and healthcare foundations throughout their work. This includes evidence-based practice and competency in the research methodologies specific to medicine and therapeutic care.
• Compliance & professionalism: DPT candidates will also learn to conduct themselves with the highest degree of professional skill. They will adhere to a clear code of professional ethics and will be compliant with all legal rules and regulations specific to the field.
• Preparation for licensure: Finally, all DPT graduates stand fully prepared to successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Examination. This exam must be completed before aspiring professionals can obtain licensure and certification.

Common Courses

Physical Therapy Foundations: This course introduces students to the fundamentals of physical therapy and patient-centered care. Coursework covers topics including:

• Vital sign assessment
• Assistive device placement
• Psychomotor skill evaluation
• Basic skills in range of motion exercises
• Evidence-based practice
• Patient interviewing techniques

Human Anatomy and Physiology: Students in this class develop working knowledge of gross anatomy and pathophysiology. It includes focused lab components designed to familiarize aspiring physical therapists with the main software and digital imaging tools used in professional practice. Potential topics include:

• Joint structure
• Embryology
• The cellular system
• Physiological principles affecting human movement throughout the lifespan

Evidence-Based Practice: This class offers an overview of the main principles, research methodologies, and outcome assessments used in healthcare and physical therapy. Students learn how to:

• Translate scientific inquiry into clinical contexts
• Gather pertinent peer-reviewed research sources
• Assess both research sources and evidence gathered during practice or evaluation

Advanced Therapeutic Intervention: Aspiring professionals in this course build on previous foundations to develop proven strategies and techniques for physical therapy practice. Students model these elements in lab settings and work to hone their diagnostic skills through hands-on simulations. Topics include:

• Exercise therapy
• Manual therapy
• Mobilization
• Motor control
• Vestibular treatments

Physical Therapy Capstone: This culminating component gives candidates the opportunity to integrate knowledge acquired in didactic courses with the practical skills obtained through clinicals or fieldwork. Capstone features:

• Provides comprehensive assessment of progress and gained knowledge
• Prerepares students for the national licensure exam
• Includes written and oral elements designed to measure learning outcomes

Can you earn an DPT degree completely online?

Yes and no. When it comes to online healthcare degrees, the phrase “100% online” can be a little misleading. When a DPT program says it is fully online, it means you can complete all your didactic coursework remotely. But, in-person clinical experience is an essential component of any quality DPT program. And there’s really no substitute for face-to-face practice.

So, as you’re researching programs one of your first questions should be “How does this school facilitate clinicals?” Different schools have different clinical options to accommodate the needs of different students.

Some schools require students to complete clinicals on-campus, meaning you’ll need to live nearby. More commonly, online DPT programs work with students to find a provider close to home who can supervise their clinicals. This gives students the flexibility to enroll in a program that is far from home without moving.

In some cases, you may be able to apply your earlier experience toward your DPT if you are already working in the field.

How long does it take to earn a DPT degree online?

Timeframes for completion fluctuate quite a bit depending on program specifics and individual circumstances. Most online DPT programs are designed for completion in 3 years or less, but allow some leeway for working professionals and part-time students.

If you already work in a physical therapy setting, you may be able to integrate that experience into your clinical internship, potentially expediting your path to completion in some cases.

If you don’t, many programs offer accelerated options, especially for coursework. This can also reduce your time in school but maybe a bit more expensive depending on tuition rates and additional fees.

How much does an online DPT program cost?

Tuition rates vary depending on the type of school, available funding, and program length. Public schools tend to be less expensive than private institutions, especially if you attend a program within your state of residence. This rule holds true for both online and in-person programs.

Longer programs are generally more expensive and while scholarships can help offset the costs, they aren’t always guaranteed. Below are three examples of online DPT programs to give you a sense of current rates.

University of
Michigan-Flint

Physical Therapy
(Transitional DPT)

Total Credits: 24

$739/credit (in-state);
$1,105 (out-of-state)

Northeastern
University

Transitional Doctor of
Physical Therapy (DPT)

Total Credits: 24

$755/credit

Utica
College

Post-Professional Doctor
of Physical Therapy Online

Total Credits: 19

$785/credit

How do I get into an online DPT program?

Most online DPT programs follow a similar admissions process. Specific requirements may differ depending on academic background and professional experience. In general, applicants should be prepared to provide the following items:

• Official transcripts for all previous academic work indicating a competitive GPA
• A current professional resume or CV
• Recent GRE scores and TOEFL results (if applicable)
• At least two recommendation letters from individuals like former employers or teachers who can assess your readiness for study
• A written personal statement that discusses your academic background and future career goals (some schools may also require responses to essay questions)
• Relevant work experience (optional in some cases)
• Course prerequisites in science or math (also optional in some cases)