Doctor of Physical Therapy
- State-of-the-art facility
- Service-learning opportunities
- Interprofessional experiences
Whether you’re advancing your education after earning a bachelor’s degree or seeking an accelerated path, Alvernia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program offers a comprehensive and compassionate learning experience tailored to your goals.
- Program Length:
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3 Years
- Course Length:
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14 Weeks
- Cost:
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$1090 Per Credit
Aron Javier Rodriguez DPT’22
I feel I’ve grown truly as an individual, as a therapist. I was closed off and reserved in the beginning. I came out of my shell. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m very grateful for that.
Avernia DPT grads' 2-year employment rate (2023-24 avg)
Student-Teacher Ratio
Programs of Study
Proud Alumni
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Alvernia's Pro-Bono Clinic
The Alvernia Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy departments provide therapy services to the Reading community through a Pro-bono Clinic offered on Alvernia's campus.
Success Stories
Alvernia is committed to helping students develop their innate talents, discover their passions and lead successful lives with deep meaning and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How difficult is it to gain admission into Alvernia's DPT program?
Programs in the health sciences continue to be appealing and marketable because of the sustained need for graduates within the myriad of allied health professions. This need is due, in part, to the current population of aging Americans who are increasingly requiring healthcare resources. Alvernia provides two paths in which to gain admission into the DPT program, the accelerated 3+3 format and the 4+3 format.Within the 3+3 format, students are provided with an opportunity to gain entrance in the program in their senior year. To ensure that students entering the program are prepared for the academic rigor of the program, the criteria to enter this program upon admission into the university are challenging. An 1170 on the SATs and a 3.5 high school GPA are required. In order to eventually enter the professional phase of the program in their senior year, students must achieve a 3.5 science and overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in their pre-requisite courses. This path is challenging and is intended for students who are academically strong.
The 4+3 path to admission into the DPT program is designed for students with an earned bachelor's degree from Alvernia or another university. Admissions criteria are also stringent for this path, which includes a science and pre-requisite GPA of 3.0, and an overall GPA of 3.25. This path also requires completion of the GRE with scores of 150 on Verbal and Quantitative and 3.5 on Analytical.
Both admission formats require references, observation experiences, written essays, and an interview with DPT faculty.
The primary intent of establishing high standards for admission into the program is to ensure that students entering the program are prepared for the academic rigors of the post-graduate curriculum that seeks to prepare the next generation of doctors of physical therapy.
- Can I work while I am enrolled in the program?
The rigorous nature of the DPT curriculum in addition to the possibility of clinical placements that are not local will make it challenging for students to work while they are enrolled in the program. To increase their chances of success, students are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled in the program.
- Is on-campus housing available?
Yes, Alvernia is pleased to offer on-campus housing for DPT students. In addition to several choices on campus, a wide variety of housing is also available in close proximity to campus. For more details on student housing, prospective students are encouraged to contact the Residence Life Office at (610) 796-8320.|