Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Reach the highest level in the field of physical therapy with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from Lincoln Memorial University! The mission of our DPT program is to advance the physical therapy practice through the use of best evidence and interprofessional opportunities in order to better engage and support you in your development into a knowledgeable, skilled, reflective and collaborative practitioner.

As a graduate of our program, you'll learn to reflect these values and embody the principles of contemporary health care with the goal of ultimately improving the quality of life of communities in the Appalachian region and beyond. Our values, in combination with those of the College, University, and physical therapy professional practice documents, have continuously guided the implementation and assessment of the DPT program. We feel that our goals reflect skilled clinical practice through the demonstration of cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills necessary to perform all elements of patient management within the systems-based courses of our curriculum. 

Our DPT program is offered full-time, consisting of a 36-month curriculum. Including didactic lectures, four full clinical internships and research training, our program spans across 114 credit hours. For those who are interested, a "3+3 accelerated" BS/DPT pathway is available with no GRE required!

Learn what it takes to be the health care professional your community needs at LMU. Your physical therapy career begins here!

Apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Interview offers will be made on a rolling basis as applications are verified by the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). This is an additional step after you have submitted your application.

With this in mind, we encourage you to submit your materials early to ensure you have enough time for PTCAS verification. You will only be reviewed and considered for admission if you have been verified by December 1st. Review the details below to ensure that you're equipped for the DPT program! 

Required Application Forms (LMU Students ONLY)

• LMU students are not required to use PTCAS. A link to the application will be posted July 1st.
• If you have completed a four-year degree elsewhere, please use PTCAS.

1. Application Instructions
2. Program Application
3. Three Character Reference Forms 
4. Clinical Observation Verification Form

• Submit all supplemental application materials to DPTKnoxville@LMUnet.edu.
• Send all questions to program administration at DPTKnoxville@LMUnet.edu.

PTCAS Application

When applying to the LMU DPT program, you will apply online using the PTCAS application. Visit the PTCAS website to learn more!

Reservation Fee– If you have been accepted into the DPT program for the incoming class, you are required to pay a non-refundable $500.00 reservation fee to secure you seat. The reservation fee will be applied to the cost of tuition once you have matriculated into the program. 

Required Documents

• Technical Standards and Essential Functions for Physical Therapy Practice
• Criteria for Progression to the Professional Physical Therapy Program

Note: Thorough review of these documents is expected, but not submitted as part of the full application materials. To learn more and/or apply to LMU GPA or BS/DPT undergraduate programs, explore the LMU GPA program page!

For admission into the DPT program at Lincoln Memorial University as an LMU student, please apply through the LMU portal. If you attended a different four-year college or university, please apply through the PTCAS application!

After earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Lincoln Memorial University, you'll have access to a wide variety of career opportunities! Explore professions including Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physician Assistant and more! With a median salary of $95,620, and Physical Therapy being ranked number three in "Best Health Care Jobs" in 2023 by U.S. News and World Report, you can enjoy a career in your field that's both rewarding and lucrative!

Want to learn more about the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at LMU? Reach out to us at any time and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
9731 Cogdill Road
Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: 423.859.6025
Email: DPTKnoxville@LMUnet.edu