The entry-level clinical doctoral plan includes both didactic study and clinical education experiences. Through this plan, learners develop competencies in the domains of knowledge for practice, patient/client care and services, practice management, communication and collaboration, teaching and learning, stewards of societal health, and professionalism to carry out entrustable professional activities. Learners prepare to deliver person-centered, value-based care reflective of contemporary physical therapist practice.

Citizenship types eligible to apply for the Residential Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs:

• U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the U.S., or Foreign (non-U.S.) citizen with a visa that allows full-time study and participation in an unpaid internship.
  • Do not send transcripts to the physical therapy program unless directed.
  • Send World Education Services (WES) foreign evaluation for Canadian courses to Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
  • Send WES foreign transcript evaluation to PTCAS (recommended).
  • English translation is required for original foreign transcripts. Transcripts must also be submitted with supplemental application to the Northern Arizona University Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Citizenship types eligible to apply for the Hybrid DPT program:

• U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the U.S., or Foreign (non-U.S.) citizen with a visa  that allows full-time study and participation in an unpaid internship.

• International Students: The Northern Arizona University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program accepts international students requiring an F-1 student visa to the Residential DPT program on the Flagstaff campus. We do not accept transfer credits from other programs. For more information and requirements, please visit the NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies international graduate admissions page. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international students but is waived if you have earned a bachelor's degree (or higher) from a U.S. university or college.

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• Complete and submit a Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application.

• GRE® Revised General Test*

• Letter(s) of Recommendation

• Two letters of recommendation
  • One letter from a Physical Therapist
  • One letter from one of the following:
    • Advisor
    • Healthcare Professional
    • Physical Therapist
    • Professor
    • Supervisor/employer

• NAU graduates meeting admissions requirements will receive a preference in the review process.

• Official Casper Test results

• Essay/Letter of Intent/Personal Statement*

• Prerequisite Coursework

• Applicants are allowed to have a maximum of three prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application.
• A Grade of "C" or better in each prerequisite course.
  • a Grade of "C-" is not acceptable.
• General Chemistry I & II with labs (CHM 151, CHM 151L, CHM 152, CHM 152L)
  • Must be a two-semester, eight-semester credit hour or equivalent course sequence. *
• General Physics I & II with labs (PHY 111, PHY 112)
  • Must be a two-semester, eight-semester credit hour or equivalent course sequence. *
• Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 201, BIO 201L, BIO 202, BIO 202L)
  • Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs 
  • One course in Anatomy with lab and one course in Physiology with lab
• General Psychology (PSY 101)
• Statistics (EPS 525, PSY 230, or STA 270)

*A course sequence is a correlated pair of courses offering in-depth coverage of a specific field and must be at a level such that the courses would be acceptable as prerequisites to advance toward a baccalaureate degree in that discipline. The sequence may be 3 courses at a quarter-based institution.

• Undergraduate Baccalaureate degree and program-specific prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.