The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a post baccalaureate degree conferred upon successful completion of a doctoral level professional (entry-level) or post-professional education program. The specific nomenclature "DPT" is not a substitute or alternative for the physical therapist clinical designator "PT." The entry-level professional degree offered at the University of Kentucky is the DPT.

Thank you for your interest in the Physical Therapy Program.  The application process for Fall 2019 will be open July 1, 2018.

DPT education will provide the following for future physical therapy practitioners:

1. A greater scope, rigor, depth, breadth, and length of preparation to facilitate high level of practice upon graduation.
2. Graduates who are better positioned to become highly qualified applicants in a competitive applicant marketplace.
3. We see future physical therapists as practitioners with responsibility to examine and treat patients who have been either referred by a physician or self-referred. This will mean that the physical therapist must have higher level skills earlier in their careers to be able to accurately determine the problem, recognize if it is within the scope of practice of a physical therapist and refer to the appropriate practitioner if it is outside that scope