Our distinguished faculty provide cutting-edge curriculum for aspiring doctors of physical therapy.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The mission of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to prepare physical therapists who are evidence-based practitioners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors to deliver value-based physical therapy services, consultation, education, critical inquiry and administration, with a primary focus on clinical practice involving diverse populations.

Upon completion of the program, our DPT graduates are prepared to:

1. Deliver value-based and consumer-centered patient/client management to diverse populations to optimize movement, function and health.
2. Abide by national and state regulatory and legal standards and adhere to the core values and ethical principles adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
3. Engage in interprofessional collaborative practice by effectively educating, communicating and partnering with consumers, peers, other healthcare and non-healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, third-party payers, and other stakeholders.
4. Critically appraise the literature and other resources to guide evidence-based physical therapy practice.
5. Influence the ever-changing health care landscape through personal leadership, advocacy, lifelong learning in the clinic, community, professional organizations and society.

Program Outcomes (Classes of 2022 and 2023):

• Graduation Rate: 97%
• First Time Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 90%
• Ultimate Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 98% (as of 08/2024)
• Employment Rate: 100%

Did You Know?

• The length of study for this program is nine semesters.
• Students enter the program during the Spring semester.

Certifications and Licensures

The UAB Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program is designed to lead to professional licensure in Physical Therapy. While graduates of the program are eligible for the licensure examination, specific licensure requirements vary from state to state. The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) based on the following: Accreditation of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program by CAPTE 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 Doctor of Physical Therapy 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, please refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.

Please visit the UAB Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state and territories requirements.

Additional Information

Learn more about tuition and fees on the Office of Student Financial Aid website.