Programs & Requirements

Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree takes most people an average of 3 years to complete. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which prospective physical therapists must pass to become licensed practitioners.

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science

Rehabilitation Science is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on human function and disability. This degree is focused on scholars, scientists, and researchers to contribute to the knowledge of rehabilitation science or translate research findings into practice to advance the field.  At UAB, this course requires between 63-78 hours to complete along with Dissertation Research. The courses below will only apply to the DPT program, click here to read more about a PhD in Rehab Sciences.

Schools in Alabama

University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions (UAB) - DPT & PhD in Rehab Sci - Birmingham, AL

University of South Alabama Patt Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions (USA) - DPT - Mobile, AL

Course & GPA Requirements

Most schools have a minimum GPA of a 3.0, but to be a competitive student, we recommend a 3.5+ cumulative and science GPA.  The below courses represent the requirements needed for both Alabama schools listed above.

Pre-requisites of the below courses are enforced.

• 8 hrs - General Biology I and II
• 8 hrs - General Chemistry I and II
• 8 hrs - General Physics I and II
• 8 hrs - Anatomy and Physiology I and II
• 6 hrs - Mathematics (At least Pre-cal w/Trig and Statistics)
• 3 hrs - Medical Terminology (This class is currently being offered as a BYS Special Topics class at UAH)
  • Can be taken online at JSU - Medical Terminology if necessary
• 9 hrs - Psychology

Additional upper level classes will help an applicant show in-depth work in sciences and an interest in these courses.  Such courses can include: Microbiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, upper level Maths, or other classes students may be interested in. There is a lot more you can do to make your application stand out, click here to read more.

The above courses support required and suggested coursework for UAB and USA PT School. Please keep in mind this is a guideline and specific requirements differ amongst different schools.