Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is an eight-semester onsite residential that prepares physical therapists to provide innovative evidence-based intervention plans in a variety of clinical settings.  The Doctor of Physical Therapy program combines traditional lecture and lab with blended online courses.

With world-class faculty, clinical advances, and contemporary educational theory, the accelerated DPT program at RMUoHP is an excellent fit for highly-motivated students who wish to be active participants in their education.

Important Dates

Summer 2021 Semester Start

Firm Application Deadline: April 1, 2021*
Semester Begins: May 3, 2021

Fall 2021 Semester Start

Firm Application Deadline: May 17, 2021*
Semester Begins: August 31, 2021

*(PTCAS application needs to be verified by this date)

Educational Model

Residential Program with clinical assignments throughout the country.

2018 Yearly Schedule

2019 Yearly Schedule

2020 Yearly Schedule

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Tuition Information
Admissions Requirements
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Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Highlights

Doctor of physical therapy icon

129 credits
8 Semesters
42 Weeks Clin-Ed
(Internships)
Program Snapshot

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The program is a residential program consisting of 8 semesters and 129 credit hours.  The curriculum offers students 42 weeks of clinical education to prepare them as physical therapists.

Accelerated program

Students work at an accelerated pace and graduate an entire semester sooner than most PT schools.

Pro Bono Clinic

RMUoHP operates a pro-bono clinic, The Community Rehabilitation Center, which serves members of Utah County who can’t afford physical therapy treatment. Working alongside experienced physical therapists and faculty, students have the opportunity to serve and care for real patients.

Practicing faculty

Most of our faculty are practicing physical therapists. At RMUoHP, faculty in stay up-to-date on skills and best practices. Continuing clinic work our faculty bring real experiences into the classroom to better train the next generation of physical therapists.

More clinical hours than the national average

Our students receive more essential hands-on experience to help them grow as physical therapists. RMUoHP strives to offer more weeks of clinical rotations than the national average for PT schools.  We have many clinical sites (partners) all across the country to more than accommodate our students.

99% pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)

99% of our DPT students pass the National Physical Therapy Exam. Faculty and administration work hard to prepare students for the certifying exam at the end of the program.

95.5% Job placement

All RMUoHP physical therapy graduates find jobs post-graduation. With high NPTE exam scores, great clinical experiences, and a degree from an accredited institution, graduate and find employment opportunities.

Opportunity for international service in Africa.

Each year during the summer semester break, students have the opportunity to travel to Africa with faculty to provide humanitarian work and gain exposure to third-world clinical experiences. Students will spend time both in the clinics and hospitals as well as the local village.

2 start dates in the year (May and September)

Our Doctor of Physical Therapy program enrolls students in May and September. This allows students to start the program at the time of year best for them, whether that means graduating from an undergraduate institution and starting right away or taking a semester break before jumping in.

Low Student-To-Faculty Ratio

We offer a low student-to-faculty ratio so students gain the most out of their learning experience. In labs, there is an average of 8.6 students to 1 instructor. Upon starting the program each student is assigned a faculty mentor who advises them throughout the duration of the program.

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Why Choose RMU?

“For me personally, there’s no better way to learn than ‘hands-on.’ So I really appreciate that Rocky Mountain University focuses very heavily on the clinical experience.”

Jamie Van Patten

“The faculty here is all experts in their fields and they are renowned across the country. They are wonderful at being willing to help, in any way. If you’re having difficulty understanding material or trouble with test anxiety they’re always welcoming and able to accommodate you.”

James Perry

“The instructors are experts within their respective specialty areas and very competent and capable. Their ability to teach, in my experience, was of the highest quality. Furthermore, the on-site blocks of instruction not only facilitated great instruction, but also the ability to interact with professional colleagues, and establish friendships that continue beyond the schoolhouse.”

Andrew W. Milligan

“I am very satisfied with the education I received at RMUoHP. My clinical skills and my ability to incorporate evidence-based practice have both dramatically improved as a direct result of my education.”

Michael J Powers PT, DPT, NCS, ECS

Program FAQ

The program is eight semesters (32 months) long. It is a year-round program with breaks (typically around 2 weeks in length) between each semester. It is an accelerated program, so students graduate a full semester earlier than students at the majority of DPT schools throughout the nation.

The DPT program offers 42 weeks of clinical education, including a 6-week clinical rotation during the didactic phase. At the beginning of the program, each student sits down with our clinical education team and, together, you work out where those clinical rotations. There are a few required settings that each student must go to, but there are elective clinical sites where the student can choose the setting if he/she prefers. There are no guarantees that students will get their first choice, and ultimately all clinical rotations are assigned, but student input and desires are strongly considered.

Usually not. We have clinical opportunities throughout the nation, and it is highly encouraged to do some clinical rotations outside of the state. Again, this is determined by our clinical education team.

We accept 50 students per cohort. We have two cohort start dates each year; one in the Summer (May) and one in the Fall (September). So, we take 100 students in total each year.

We have one application cycle; however, you may apply to both semester starts if you are available to start in either cohort. There is a question near the end of the application that indicates which cohort you are applying to and there is an option to select to both. Applying to both does not increase your chance of acceptance but rather indicates to the program that you are able to start in either cohort.

The PTCAS application cycle opens up early July and closes on our indicated application deadline. All materials need to be received and verified by this deadline to be considered for review.

Yes, we do rolling admissions. We interview and accept students as throughout the entire application period and do not wait for the final application deadline announce accepted students. The earlier your application is submitted, the earlier it will be reviewed. However, a more well-rounded and complete application is always preferred over a rushed application.

No. The only application is the PTCAS application.

Yes. A minimum score within the 35th percentile is required in both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections. The average GRE score for accepted students is around the 55-60th percentile.

The GPA and GRE minimum scores are hard cutoffs. Due to the accelerated nature of the program and the competitive applicant pool, the posted GPA and GRE are required minimums.

Yes! The program will accept the highest score of each section from any test. For example, if an applicant takes the test and scores high in the Verbal Reasoning section and low in the Quantitative Reasoning section, that individual can retake the GRE and improve their Quantitative score. The applicant’s higher Verbal Reasoning score from the first attempt and higher Quantitative score from the second attempt will be considered.

You can take the GRE anytime as long as the official GRE scores are received by the university prior to the deadline. Typically, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) takes up to 7 to 10 days to get the official scores sent, so plan accordingly. All materials, including official GRE scores, need to be received prior to the final deadline.

We have no restrictions or requirements related to geographical location of our students. We accept students from all over the nation.

Yes. If you have sent out your Letter of Recommendation requests, you can submit your application. For the GRE, use our school code (0377) so your scores are submitted directly to the university. GRE scores and letters of recommendation will get attached to your application once they are received.

Yes. Courses can be taken anywhere or online as long as they satisfy our prerequisite requirements. You can confirm all courses either by contacting us directly or submitting this form.

Yes. You are allowed a few courses (typically only 3 of the 10 prerequisites) pending or in progress when you submit the application. These courses will need to be completed before the program start date. If an acceptance offer is extended, updated official transcripts will need to be re-submitted once all prior coursework is complete.

Yes, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions participates in Early Decision. The Early Decision program is a binding option for applicants who have decided that a particular PT program is their first choice and they will enroll if accepted. The applicant only applies to that school and, if accepted, will only enroll in that school. If the application is denied, the school will release the applicant to the general pool of applicants so they can apply elsewhere.

All AP courses will be reviewed by the program to determine if a course will be accepted to satisfy the prerequisite requirement.

Salt Lake City is roughly a 40-minute drive north of Provo.

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Dr. Immonen Co-chair, Department of Anatomy teaches student in her lab

Promoting excellence in the physical therapy profession

If you are passionate about providing state-of-the-art patient care and are looking to become a healthcare leader as a physical therapist, we encourage you to apply to Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. The mission of RMUoHP’s physical therapy doctorate program is to provide a student-centered education that prepares graduates for socially responsible, outcomes-oriented, evidence-based, autonomous, and collaborative physical therapy practice.

Ready to get started? We invite you to explore our program curriculum, attend a virtual information session, and meet with a program advisor who can help you decide if RMUoHP is right for you. We are committed to helping you make the best decision for your educational and professional goals.

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CAPTE ACCREDITED

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085 telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 801-734-3245 or email: [email protected].

UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (8060 165th Avenue NE Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education.

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Tuition Information
Admissions Requirements
100%

Overall National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Licensure pass rate*

97.5%

Graduation Rate**

95.5%

Employment rate for those who sought employment***

Doctor of Physical Therapy students working together

Learn more about our DPT program

Learn more about what makes the DPT program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions different from other physical therapy programs in the nation. Utah was recently rated #1 for the best places to practice physical therapy for the third year in a row. Graduates of the RMUoHP DPT program are uniquely positioned to succeed in this market. Our innovative curriculum focuses heavily on clinical practice and using scientific research to provide the best care possible. Our Commitment to helping our students sets us apart as one of the top physical therapy schools in Utah and in the United States.

*The overall National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) licensure pass rate was 100% for the classes of 2018 and 2019,  the graduation rate for 2018 and 2019 was above 97%.

**All of these graduates are now employed as physical therapists. If you’re ready to join the ranks of these esteemed RMUoHP alumni, we invite you to apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Meet with an Advisor

We are committed to the development
of Physical Therapy professionals who can:

dpt-care

Provide Patient Advocacy

Provide caring physical therapy services to consumers in an effective manner that demonstrates altruistic principles balanced with fiscal awareness.

 
dpt skills

Demonstrate Autonomous Skill

Be able to administer basic PT services including screening, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, plan of care, intervention, and outcomes assessment activities.

 
dpt leadership

Exhibit Ethical Leadership

Demonstrate a commitment to excellence, ethical standards, critical inquiry and clinical reasoning by skillfully incorporating current evidence into physical therapy practice.

 
dpt professional development

Continue Professional Development

Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development, including self- and peer evaluation and lifelong learning.

 

Doctor of Physical Therapy Faculty

Steven Wilkinson DPT Associate Program Director at RMUoHP

Steven G. Wilkinson, PT, PhD

Department Chair and Program Director
Paul Stoneman

Paul Stoneman, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, SCS

Associate Chair and Program Director

Joel Tenbrink DPT Assistant Director at RMUoHP

Joel Tenbrink PT, PhD, ATC

Assistant Chair and Program Director
Miriam Cortez-Cooper, Faculty RMUoHP

Miriam Cortez-Cooper, PT, PhD

Assistant Chair and Program Director
Michael Bartholomew

Michael Bartholomew, PT, DPT, GCS

Director of Clinical Education

Michael Bartholomew, PT, DPT, GCS
Kaiwi Chung-Hoon, PT, PhD
Coleby Clawson, PT, DPT, CSCS
Hina Garg, PT, PhD
Kevin Helgeson, DHSc, PT
Ann M. Hoffman, PT DScPT, PCS
Janene M. Holmberg, PT, DPT, NCS
Kelsey Kushlan, PT, DPT
Jeff Lau, PT, DPT, PhD, CMPT
David Paulson, PT, DPT, OCS
Megan Pratt, PT, DPT, ATC
Rhodri L. Purcell, PT, MPT, OCS, CSCS
Tim Stevenson, PT, DPT, OCS, CMPT
Will Sykes, PT, DPT
Misti Timpson, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS
Dana Tischler, PT, DPT, MS, PCS
Mark Walker, PT, PhD
Jonathan Wright, PT, DPT, CSRS
Christa Young, PT, PhD, NCS

“My education through RMU allowed me to achieve my goal of transitioning from private practice to academia. I choose RMUoHP based on the quality and expertise of their nationally recognized faculty, and the academic strength and rigor of the program. The support and encouragement provided by the administrative staff at RMUoHP provided for an exceptional experience. I will continue to recommend RMUoHP as a great place to advance your degree.”

Jason Bennett, PT, PhD, SCS, ATC

“Receiving a Doctorate and going through the rigor of a dissertation from RMU has opened doors and continues to provide educational opportunities, and administrative as well as clinical benefits. RMU was a great experience! After practicing for over tens years, I was excited to find a growing university and a cohort of passionate, supportive professionals where I could reach one of my academic goals and so much more! I loved the location-sun-snow-clean air and majestic mountains.”

Pat Garlock DSc, MHs, PT, MVP Physical Therapy

“Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions changed my life. Upon graduation, it gave me the confidence to open my own pediatric physical therapy practice. I had never considered this before graduating from RMUoHP. Through continued research and evidence-based practice, I feel I can offer unique treatment options for children with cerebral palsy. I have been sharing what I have learned, through teaching continuing education courses for other therapists using electrical stimulation and whole body vibration. I also became more involved professionally with the Section on Pediatrics as Region I Director and helped to start our state SIG. I truly believed none of these changes would have occurred without my experience at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.”

Susan Hastings, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, Susan Hastings Pediatric Physical Therapy

“I thoroughly enjoyed my RMUoHP experience! The curriculum fit my needs as a full time professional, husband and father of two. I found the coursework to be challenging and relevant to an evolving PT practice. The instructors are the very best! I have recommended RMUoHP to all my colleagues looking to advance their educational needs.”

Keith Brown PT, DPT, STS

Doctor of Physical Therapy Scholarships

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Doctor of Physical Therapy Clinical Education

Clinical Education is a critical component to a PT students educational experience, by providing students opportunities to apply classroom instruction and develop their clinical and patient care skills under the supervision of licensed physical therapist practitioners. Our DPT students participate in 42 weeks of clinical internship, which offers both breadth and depth to their educational experience.

These pivotal clinical education experiences occur throughout the completion of the didactic coursework, providing students opportunities to develop the skills and abilities needed to practice as an excellent clinician.

Clinical education opportunities are available in over 1,000 hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and outpatient clinics throughout the United States.

DPT Clinical Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program News

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