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Physical Therapy is a health profession that assesses and provides treatment to individuals to develop, maintain, and restore maximum movement and function throughout life. It can be restorative after a major injury, habilitative for those who are developmentally delayed, and preventative for those experiencing a decline in ability.

For more information about being a Physical Therapist, please visit American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is to prepare a diverse group of physical therapists to provide outstanding, evidence-based care to meet the needs of the people of North Carolina and beyond through the integration of didactic, clinical, research, and service opportunities.

Program Philosophy

First-year DPT students.
First-year DPT students.

The faculty of the UNC Division of Physical Therapy are committed to developing a diverse group of graduates who are movement experts and effective leaders, communicators, and critical thinkers skilled at integrating evidence into practice. Graduates demonstrate excellence in diagnosis, intervention, teaching, interprofessional collaboration, and administration and are effective at working with patients across communities, the lifespan and continuums of care. Our educational focus is to prepare clinicians as skilled physical therapists with a broad background from which they may later choose to develop expertise as specialists. In addition, our graduates gain an appreciation for life-long professional development and serve as resources and advocates to meet the health needs of their communities.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: ; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 919-966-4708 or email dptadmissions@unc.edu.

Institutional and Professional Licensure Disclosures for Enrolled and Prospective Students

The UNC Doctor of Physical Therapy program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist program satisfies state accreditation in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist 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.

ACAPT
ACAPT