Physical therapists are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Our Doctor of Physical Therapy program will prepare you to become a compassionate, ethical practitioner who will help patients to reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. We combine a thorough curriculum with clinical experiences and rotations to produce graduates who will become the next generation of physical therapy leaders. Additionally, our program is committed to building an internationally recognized research enterprise focused on frailty, injury prevention, neuromotor and sensory performance, and rehabilitation.

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program 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 physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education 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, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org. Please see this website for more information.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Kentucky 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: accreditation@apta.org; website: [http://www.capteonline.org.%20/]http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 859-218-0494 or email the program director at patrick.pabian@uky.edu. The program is accredited through June of 2025.

Any constituent of the UK DPT program with concerns or complaints is urged to contact the program director for the most prompt resolution. If there is a complaint by a party that falls outside of due process (those that are not current faculty, staff, or students), the complaint should be brought to the Program Director, who will then consult with the collective core faculty as soon as possible after receiving the complaint. Anyone is also able to file a complaint with CAPTE through the following website:  http://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/

Licensure Requirements

Requirements for professional state licensure or certification vary by state. If you plan to use this degree to seek licensure in a state other than Kentucky, check the Distance Learning Authorization and Licensure website to determine whether the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in that state.