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What sets the Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy Program apart?

With our accomplished faculty, close teacher-student relationships, consistently high rankings, and association with one of the world’s great medical schools, few Doctor of Physical Therapy programs can offer prospective students the unique opportunities available at Duke.

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Team-Based Learning

DPT students can establish a sense of cohesion, deeper learning, and more inter-professional connections with their colleagues throughout Duke.

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STEPs® Program

Student Team Experience in Practice (STEPs®) allows students to gain hands-on clinical experience under the direction of a skilled clinician.

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Research

Our faculty pursue research through innovative clinical practices, educational research, improving diagnostic accuracy, and more.

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Ranked #7 in the United States
U.S. News & World Report assessed 120 medical schools and ranked the Doctor of Physical Therapy No. 7 among 244 programs evaluated.

Mission Statement
The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is an inclusive community of scholars engaged in the discovery, dissemination, and utilization of knowledge in the optimal care of patients and instruction of learners. Our mission is to develop the next generation of the profession's leaders, committed to health equity and expertly prepared to integrate the best available evidence in the patient-centered management of function and quality of life within a dynamic health system.

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The DPT application process is managed through the APTA-approved RF-PTCAS network. For complete information go to the APTA’s ABPTRFE website.

Student Spotlight

Alexis Lacewell, SPT

For me, the desire to pursue physical therapy stems from a having the character of a developer and a passion of journeying alongside of people during the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Read her story.

Duke DPT Student Outcomes

100% Average Graduation Rate for Duke DPT Graduates (2018–2020)

100%Duke DPT Students Average Ultimate Pass Rate Licensure Exam (2016–2019)

100%Average Employment Rate for Duke DPT Graduates (2017–2019)

Latest News & Articles

7.26.2021

Amy McNulty Chosen as Speaker Spotlight at 2022 ORS Meeting

Research Amy McNulty, PhD has been selected as one of the Spotlight Speakers at the ORS Annual Meeting in February 2022. Featuring top experts presenting state-of-the-field talks and presentations,...

7.15.2021

John Feagin, MD, Honored as AOA Pillar of Orthopaedic Profession

News John A. Feagin, Jr., MD, FAOA has been honored as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession for his orthopaedic military career and significant contributions to sports medicine, leadership in...

7.15.2021

Orthopaedic Faculty Research on Biomaterial Implants

NewsDuke Orthopaedics faculty Shyni Varghese and Ken Gall were interviewed in the Duke Chronicle about their research into biomaterial implants. Healing wounds and regrowing bones: Duke faculty...

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Duke University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 919-681-4380 or email dptadmis@duke.edu.