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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

10.20.2021

Chad Cook Designated World Expert by Expertscape

Awards and RecognitionEspecially during National Physical Therapy Month, we are excited to congratulate Dr. Chad Cook on being the #4 worldwide ranked World Expert in the Physical Therapy Specialty. ...

10.20.2021

Duke OTD at NCOTA Annual Meeting

News Duke OTD had great representation at the North Carolina Occupational Therapy Annual Meeting. Dr. Sheila Moyle presented “A Multisource Feedback Approach to Facilitate Student Performance in...

10.20.2021

Meet Chanel Copeland, PA

NewsWe celebrated all of our physician assistants during PA Week October 6–12 and recognized their outstanding commitment to our department. Chanel Copeland, a PA in Sports Medicine shares how she...

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.