The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Students seeking admission to the DPT program must apply via http://www.ptcas.org.
The deadline for review of all completed applications is November 1st. We are unable to review incomplete applications or applications that have not been verified with PTCAS. All applications must be submitted by November 1st.
The Admissions committee will make one of three decisions for each applicant: 1) acceptance; 2) placement on the waitlist (after January 15th); or 3) denial. Applicants are notified via email, so please be sure the email you enter in PTCAS is accurate and checked often.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to APPLY AND SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 1st DEADLINE. This will provide sufficient time to review your materials and determine your eligibility for the required group interview.
A Bachelor’s Degree (or expect to graduate prior to enrollment)
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or expect to graduate prior to enrolling in the DPT program. Credit hours must have been earned in colleges or universities whose names appear on the current list of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education as compiled by the American Council on Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. The bachelor’s degree may be in any field. No preference is given to applicants majoring in the sciences versus those with non-science majors.
Minimum GPA Requirements for Eligibility
Overall Undergraduate Cumulative GPA: 3.0 minimum
Program-specific Prerequisite GPA: 3.0 minimum
Prerequisite Courses
Prospective students may submit an application while enrolled in pre-requisite courses, but all courses must be completed prior to starting the DPT program. Grades of C- (C minus) and below cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for admission. Where possible, we will accept spring and summer 2020 coursework that is graded on a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis to fulfill a prerequisite course requirement, particularly if the applicant was not given the choice to take the course on this basis. We may, however, require proof from applicants that they were not offered the choice of receiving a letter grade, or that the choice to move to a Pass/Fail grading basis was made prior to seeing the final letter grade in the course.
Credit hours must have been earned in colleges or universities whose names appear on the current list of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education as compiled by the American Council on Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, DC 20036. Students who have completed coursework in Maryland may review transfer courses at ARTSYS – Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities. This is an online evaluation system that enables students to determine how courses taken at any two-year college in Maryland transfer to any four-year college or university in Maryland. The following courses, or equivalent, are required:
Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits may be used. AP or CLEP credits must appear in PTCAS. If used to fulfill prerequisite courses, the official scores must be mailed to PTRS.
AP SCORE CODE: 7784
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
More information on GRE testing is available on the ETS website.
Official score reports must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) -
http://www.gre.org
University of Maryland Institution Code: 5848
PTRS Department Code: 1089
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
A TOEFL score is required as part of the application process for individuals who do not speak English as their first or native language and/or for individuals who have lived less than 5 years in the United States.
http://www.toefl.org. The minimum required TOEFL score for admission into the DPT program is 213 for the computer based exam and 80 for the internet based exam. TOEFL scores are valid for two years.
University of Maryland Institution Code: 5848
PTRS Department Code: 48
Letters of Recommendation
One recommendation from a US licensed physical therapist you have observed.
One recommendation from PT-related, non-PT related, participation in college and university groups that provide service, cultural and faith-based groups, and national, regional, state, or local organizations.
One recommendation from an academic source. The academic recommendation must be completed by a college or university faculty member who has served as your instructor and has personally observed you in the classroom environment.
Physical Therapy Observation
A minimum of 50 hours is required at time of matriculation.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete observation of physical therapy practice in at least two to three different clinical settings (acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and/or outpatient practice) and with different patient populations (i.e. across the lifespan, varied clinical condition) to ensure exposure to a broad scope of physical therapy practice.
Current CPR Certification
Certifications must be valid on the first day of class and must remain active throughout your enrollment in the DPT program.
CPR certification must include infant, child and adult resuscitation.
Courses delivered solely via a web-based format are not acceptable.
Hybrid format courses are acceptable: on-line instruction and in-person skills practice and testing.
Students are required to provide documentation of their current CPR certification.
The following are considered acceptable CPR certification programs:
For the upcoming 2023-2024 application cycle, PTCAS is scheduled to open to applicants on June 15, with applicant information to be shared with programs beginning on July 1.
The deadline for review of applications and selection for interviews for admission to the DPT program is November 1st. Offers of admissions will begin mid-November and continue until the class is full. All applicants will receive a final decision (acceptance, denial or waitlist) by January 15th. Applicants are strongly encouraged to APPLY AND SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 1st DEADLINE
Tuition and fees vary based on the year in which the student is enrolled in the DPT program and whether you are a Maryland state resident.
Tuition and Fees for DPT Program
CAPTE DPT Financial Fact Sheet
Required Device
The Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science (PTRS) will issue the required device to all incoming DPT Program students that the department specifies for their particular cohort. The device will be distributed at new student orientation. The fee for this device will appear on your tuition bill from Student Accounting. The projected cost of the device is approximately $900 which includes a 4 year warranty with on-site next business day service. There is no negotiation on using another device or exceptions to this policy. Students are financially responsible for the cost of the required device as soon as they matriculate into the DPT Program.
Federal Grants, Loans and Work-Study
The University of Maryland Office of Financial Aid can answer questions concerning the federal aid process. Federal financial aid includes grants, low-interest loans and work-study.
Website: http://www.umaryland.edu/fin/
E-mail: aidtalk@umaryland.edu
Phone: (410) 706-7347
Maryland State Awards
Maryland residents may apply for grants, scholarships and need-based financial aid through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) - Office of Student Financial Assistance. Information concerning eligibility requirements for the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program and other awards are available on the MHEC website at http://www.mhec.state.md.us.
All applicants have the right to appeal an admissions decision. Your appeal should be in writing and addressed to the following:
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Attention: Director for Academic Affairs for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program
100 Penn Street, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21201
The Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is designed to be completed in 2 years 8 months with the goal to prepare physical therapy students to function as independent entry-level practitioners in a diverse global society. The curriculum is organized in a unique block design that helps to integrate foundational and clinical science content across the lifespan. The first year is comprised of strong foundational science content and robust learning experiences which includes full cadaver dissection, lecture and laboratory sessions taught in a systems approach as well as a translational course that bridges foundational and clinical sciences. Two professional issues courses are taught in the first year as well to establish a solid professional foundation, including scientific inquiry, that complements the medical training. The second-year coursework builds on the foundational sciences and focuses on clinical science preparation across the lifespan. Laboratory sessions in these courses integrate concepts of clinical care and include encounters with patient/client educators, simulated cases, onsite/offsite clinical exposure, and interprofessional education lab experiences. Students participate in three full-time clinical experiences during the program, totaling 32 weeks. The first full-time rotation takes place during the second year, which provides an opportunity for students to interact with patients and the clinical environment early in the program and integrate knowledge they have gained thus far. The second and third full-time rotations take place after students have completed the didactic portion of the program, enabling them to examine, evaluate, diagnose, and intervene appropriately for primary, secondary, and tertiary physical impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities. Mentored case reports and manuscript preparation are completed during the full-time clinical experiences integrating both clinical care, dissemination of clinical findings, and scholarship.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, curriculum follows the rules of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The degree prepares graduates to sit for professional licensure. The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for graduates to apply for licensure in the State of Maryland. University of Maryland School of Medicine has not made a determination if the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for any other States, U.S. territories, and/or protectorates. Each licensing authority sets and enforces its own professional licensing requirements and standards. Each student should inquire directly to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction where the student plans to seek licensure in order to determine the mandatory requirements to be licensed to practice. Contact information for the each State’s licensing board is listed below.
The Director of Faculty and Student Affairs reviews the academic status of students and makes recommendations for advancement according to the advancement criteria below. The Director of Faculty and Student Affairs may employ the AAC and other faculty as appropriate to assist in making recommendations.
The student is required to successfully complete the following before graduation:
Our clinical education program consists of one Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE) and three Full Time Clinical Experiences (FTCEs).
Integrated Clinical Experience consists of two days per week in clinical practice for three weeks and occur during the summer of the second year. Students are simultaneously involved in the Medical Issues block of the didactic curriculum during this experience.
The Full Time Clinical Experiences occur during the second and third year. The first full-time experience is eight weeks in length, whereas the second and third full-time experiences are each twelve weeks in length, totaling 32 weeks of clinical education experience. The first full-time rotation takes place during the second year, which provides an opportunity for students to interact with patients and the clinical environment early in the program and integrate knowledge they have gained thus far. The second and third full-time rotations take place after students have completed the didactic curriculum and demonstrated readiness for clinical practice through written and performance-based assessments. Students will complete an experience in each of the following settings: medically complex, elective rehabilitation specialty, and community-based.
Clinical Education ContactsThe Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine is accredited by the:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
telephone: 703-706-3245
email: accreditation@apta.org
website: http://www.capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 410-706-7720 or email ptadmissions@som.umaryland.edu.
Please visit our Graduate Outcomes page for information on graduation rate, licensure exam pass rate, and employment rate.