About the Program

The UW Doctor of Physical Therapy program strives to develop highly competent physical therapists who will drive innovation and excellence in the PT field. It is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, which ensures that programs meet the high quality standards of the physical therapy profession. Learn about  UW DPT student outcomes. 

The UW DPT program is offered by the Division of Physical Therapy in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the School of Medicine and is administrated in partnership with UW Continuum College.

The mission of the Division of Physical Therapy is to promote health and wellness through education of the next generation of physical therapists, to advance physical therapy knowledge through research and to provide diverse and inclusive professional service to the community. View our mission and goals statement.

Program Format

The DPT program is a full-time, three-year (11-quarter) program. During the first two years, students attend classes on weekdays at the UW campus in Seattle and take part in integrated clinical experiences. In their final year, students participate in full-time clinical experience at a variety of health care settings, primarily located across the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about the academic experience. 

Who Should Apply

As an entry-level professional program, the UW Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares students to become licensed physical therapists. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and complete all prerequisite coursework before they begin the program. For a full list of admissions requirements, see Admissions.