The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a clinical doctorate degree program that prepares individuals to become licensed physical therapists. Entry into the Professional DPT Program at UCA is via competitive admission and requires a Baccalaureate degree as well as specific prerequisites. Successful candidates have a high GPA in their undergraduate coursework, particularly in sciences.
Graduates are consistently recognized for their clinical preparedness, patient rapport, and leadership potential.
The three-year curriculum includes full-time clinical experiences completed across the state and beyond. DPT graduates are prepared to work in a variety of healthcare settings upon receiving a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and obtaining a state license. The UCA DPT Brochure 2026 provides more information.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email to accreditation@apta.org; website: Commission on Accreditation in PT Education. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (501) 450-3611 or email to pt@uca.edu.
Student Outcomes
UCA versus National Average for 2024-2025 Licensure Exam Results
The UCA DPT program student outcomes are calculated for the years 2024 and 2025:
(updated 2-18-2026)
- 91.1% First-time Pass Rate on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)
- 99.1% Ultimate Pass Rate on the NPTE
- 94.1% Graduation Rate
- 100% Employment Rate
Application
- Deadline is October 1 each year.
- Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is utilized for DPT admissions. PTCAS opens each summer for the next application cycle.
- The top applicants are invited to a mandatory interview scheduled for an early Friday in December.
- New: Exceptionally strong applications may be considered for an early interview and decision. Applications completed in PTCAS by August 15, 2026, will be considered.
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree and specific prerequisite courses (pdf).
- A minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 (all coursework taken from all schools).
- A minimum science GPA of 3.00 (all biology, chemistry and physics coursework).
- Completion of 20 of 31 hours of required prerequisite sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) by October 1.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score received by school by October 1; no minimum score required.
- Students must perform certain essential functions (pdf) in order to participate in and complete program requirements.
- Documented observation hours are not required; applicants are encouraged to gain knowledge of the profession.
Estimated Costs
The estimated total cost for the three years of the UCA DPT program is well below the national average for public and private universities. The student financial fact sheet (pdf) is a CAPTE-mandated form that allows prospective students to make accurate comparisons of the cost of a DPT education.
2025 Commencement
UCA Value
A UCA education is a great value for your investment. Every year, UCA attracts students from contiguous states and across the U.S. and most DPT students can qualify for in-state tuition (2025-2026 tuition and fees information (pdf)). Note, tuition and fees are subject to change at any time. Information on tuition and fees is available at UCA Student Accounts.
Regarding Recent Admission
Regarding students admitted Fall 2025, excluding the Early Assurance Pathway students, (updated 2-20-2026):
- 3.74 Average Science GPA (range 3.14 – 4.0) including all biology, chemistry, and physics coursework.
- 300 Average Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Total Score (range 279 – 321) excluding Writing Section.
- 3.85 Average Cumulative GPA (range 3.49 – 4.0) including all coursework.
- 24% Acceptance Rate (# of acceptances / # of qualified applicants).
- 66% Matriculation Rate (# of enrolled / # of admitted, includes all declines).
Early Assurance Pathway
Students who are interested in the Early Assurance Program can contact the Program Advisor, Jaclyn Burroughs, for more information by email to jburroughs2@uca.edu or by phone at (501) 450-5541. The Early Assurance Pathway (EAP) is designed for UCA undergraduate students and provides two options for entry including:
- First Year Application Deadline. Selection of this option should be confirmed with the pre-PT advisor by October 1 of the first year at UCA. Students who begin study at UCA as a freshman and score at least a 30 on the ACT (from high school) or 1360 on SAT (verbal and math) will be assured a position in the Professional DPT program. Specific performance standards must be met in order to maintain the position in the program. Actual enrollment into the professional program will occur after completion of the baccalaureate degree.
- Second Year Application Deadline. Selection of this option should be confirmed with the pre-PT advisor by October 1 of the second year. To be eligible, the applicant must complete the first year at UCA as a first-time freshman undergraduate (no transfer students). At least 27 credit hours at UCA (not counting high school concurrent credits or AP credits) is required with a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA. Finally, the student must have completed 8 hours of science prerequisites (no high school credit hours) with a 4.0 science GPA.
To Maintain Early Assurance Status
- Take all coursework at UCA.
- Attend three Pre-PT Club meetings each year (12 total in 4 years).
- By September 1 of the application year, hold a 3.70 cumulative GPA and a 3.50 cumulative science GPA for all undergraduate work.
- Complete 20 hours of required science prerequisite hours by the October 1 deadline for application.
- Complete the baccalaureate degree and all required prerequisites by August of the year of enrollment in the DPT program.
- No interview is required of applicants entering the program under the Early Assurance Pathway.
International Students
All international students applying to the DPT program must also meet the requirements for international students and submit an application through the UCA International Affairs office in addition to their application to the DPT program through PTCAS. Please note that World Education Services (WES) is the preferred foreign transcript evaluation service for PTCAS applicants with non-US coursework. For more information, please refer to the Center for Global Learning and Engagement and the International Admissions and Recruitment office.
PT Licensure Note
**With respect to code 668.43 (a)(5)(v):By virtue of being an accredited program by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the UCA Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program graduate is eligible to apply for physical therapy licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and is eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). Successful applicants for licensure must meet specific application requirements as directed by each state (i.e. as paying a fee, completing a jurisprudence exam, submission of a background check, and providing official transcripts, etc.) as well as receiving a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Exam. The following links provide more information about licensure requirements: Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.