100% of UToledo's physical therapy graduates find jobs within 6 months of receiving their license. 98.7% of students in our competitive doctor of physical therapy program pass the national licensure exam.
Physical therapy is a hands-on profession based on relationships. The University of Toledo's accredited doctor of physical therapy program focuses on practical skills as well what it takes to thrive in a professional healthcare environment.
UToledo physical therapy graduates have a nearly-perfect pass rate on the national licensure exam. We also have excellent student outcomes for graduation and employment.
Our D.P.T. graduates are well prepared to enter the job market, which is expected to grow 34% within the next decade (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The mission of the D.P.T. program is to prepare our students to become influential contributors to an ever-changing healthcare system. We have created a collaborative environment that promotes leadership, scholarship and service.
Maximum value. UToledo’s accredited physical therapy graduate program can be completed in just three years or eight semesters, including summers. Enhance your education with:
Comprehensive, cutting-edge facilities. UToledo doctoral students learn in classrooms and labs on Main Campus, as well as our Health Science Campus just 10 minutes away. They study with clinicians and scientists active in research and advanced patient care.
PT students have access to:
Highly qualified faculty. All faculty members are licensed physical therapists with advanced degrees or board-certified clinical specializations. Some provide clinical services on the Health Science Campus. Others lead research projects in a variety of areas, from diabetes and glucose metabolism to orthopaedics and neurology.
Professional preparation. D.P.T. graduate students complete a professional development plan portfolio that requires them to join the American Physical Therapy Association, attend professional conferences, provide community service and more. Students also are required to complete a two-year research project in collaboration with an assigned faculty mentor.
Collaborate with other healthcare students. All first-year D.P.T. graduate students participate in UToledo’s interprofessional education program. They work on teams with students from nine other healthcare professional programs — occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, public health, physician assistant studies, social work and respiratory care.
Professional and extracurricular activities. Our doctor of physical therapy students win awards for their volunteer efforts and often log more community service hours than other D.P.T. program in Ohio.
UToledo D.P.T. alumni are well-prepared for management and leadership roles. The majority of D.P.T. graduates who pass the national licensure exam enter clinical practice, in facilities such as:
Graduates also become private-practice owners, business partners and entrepreneurs.
If you're interested in neurologic physical therapy, The University of Toledo Medical Center offers an accredited neurologic physical therapy residency for licensed physical therapists.
"I chose to attend the D.P.T. program at Toledo mainly because of the small class size and because I was already familiar with the campus. Having a small class size allows you to get to know the faculty and ask for help while also providing leadership opportunities that a large university has to offer."
Elizabeth Rosin UToledo '18, D.P.T. '21
"I chose UToledo’s D.P.T. program because it instantly had a feeling of home with welcoming professors that want you to succeed and ample resources in the community and on campus to grow professionally. It is a place that I feel I can fully be myself and grow to my full potential."
Alexis Vella UToledo '15, D.P.T. '22
"Being from the area, I always heard really good things about the UToledo D.P.T. program. Once I came for the interview I really liked the feeling of the small class size, professors who genuinely care, and how the current students described the program and seemed very positive and encouraging!"
Kaitlyn Barber Walsh University '18, UToledo D.P.T. '21
UToledo’s accredited doctor of physical therapy program combines required course work on campus with 36 weeks of full-time clinical experiences off campus. Students can add electives or internships in specialty practice areas such as critical care, geriatrics, pediatrics and sports rehabilitation.
Graduate students complete a formalized student professional development plan (PDP) portfolio and a two-year scholarly project with a faculty mentor.
UToledo D.P.T. students are required to complete 36 weeks of clinical education experiences in a variety of practice settings. They also must travel outside Toledo for at least one of those experiences.
We have more than 150 clinical sites at local and national companies in almost all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Faculty members in the doctor of physical therapy program have clinical, teaching and/or research expertise in areas such as:
