Frequently Asked Questions

The American Physical Therapy Association describes physical therapists as “highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.” (www.apta.org) Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages to restore function and optimize movement, and they interact with consumers to overcome barriers to participation in society.

Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, sports medicine clinics, pediatric facilities, school systems, skilled nursing facilities, and home health. Applicants may gain exposure to a variety of settings through undergraduate internships, volunteer hours, or observations.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in employment of physical therapists of 15% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing demand for physical therapy services will likely continue due to an aging population and the obesity epidemic in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median salary for a physical therapist was $99,710 per year. Salaries will vary depending upon region of the country, type of setting, and years of experience.

Physical therapy is generally a physically active profession and the demands will vary depending upon the setting and the role of the individual. Based on the expectations and requirements of the profession, the DPT program has developed an Essential Functions Statement with a list of essential functions that must be met, with or without accommodations, for entry into the DPT program and progression through the program. The Essential Functions Statement is located under Resources (menu on the left), both in the DPT Student Handbook (Appendix A) and as a separate form.

Graduates of a physical therapy program must become licensed to practice physical therapy. The Texas Board of PT Examiners is responsible for licensing and regulating practitioners of physical therapy. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy who have been convicted of certain misdemeanors or felonies may not be eligible for a physical therapy license. Information about the types of offenses that apply can be found at http://www.ptot.texas.gov/page/act-and-rules in Rules under "§343.9. Licensure of Persons with Criminal Convictions." A criminal history evaluation letter can be requested from the board to determine eligibility before applying to a physical therapy educational program.

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 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: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (254) 295-4940 or email bgresham@umhb.edu.

The tuition for the 2023-24 academic year is $1095/semester hour. A link to a Financial Fact Sheet is available from the DPT Home webpage.

The DPT program is located in Hardy Hall on the UMHB campus. Hardy Hall has undergone extensive renovations to develop classrooms, labs, and office space to house the program. All DPT courses are taught in Hardy Hall except the Human Anatomy labs. Those labs are taught on the Baylor Scott & White campus in Temple in the Medical Research building cadaver lab.

All faculty who teach in the DPT Program hold terminal degrees in their field and have demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the areas taught.

The courses are offered primarily during the day from Monday through Friday. A course may occasionally be offered in the evening or on Saturday, and students will be informed well in advance.

The program is 28 months long and includes seven consecutive semesters. The program begins in August and should be completed two years later in December.

Enrollment in the physical therapy program is a full-time commitment, and employment during the academic year is not recommended.

The program admits students once a year in the Fall semester.

The application deadline for Fall 2025 is February 15, 2025. UMHB utilizes PTCAS for applications, and the application cycle for Fall 2025 will open in mid-June 2024. Well-qualified applicants will be invited to campus for an interview and completion of a 1-2 page essay. Seats in the Fall 2025 class may be offered after each interview date, and the number of seats available at each interview session is limited. Early applications are encouraged.

The program admits 40 students each year in the fall. For the class admitted in Fall 2023, the acceptance rate was 38.5%, and of the students accepted, 43.7% entered the program.

The program requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and completion of specific pre-requisite courses but does not require a particular degree or field of study. UMHB’s physical therapy program includes prerequisites in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy & physiology, algebra, statistics, psychology and medical terminology. The Pre-Physical Therapy major in Exercise Science degree at UMHB includes all of the prerequisites for the DPT program.

The GRE is not required for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Yes, you may apply before you have completed all of your prerequisites. However, you should have the majority of prerequisites completed at the time of application. Also, you must be able to complete all of your prerequisites before beginning the program. If you are accepted into the program, your acceptance will be conditional upon completing all prerequisites before the start of the program.

Yes, you may apply before you complete your Bachelor’s degree. However, you must be able to complete your Bachelor’s degree before the beginning of the DPT program to be enrolled in the program. If you are accepted into the program, your acceptance will be conditional upon completing your Bachelor’s degree before the start of the program.

The minimum GPA to be considered for the program is a 3.20 GPA in the last 60 hours of a Bachelor's or relevant graduate degree. Also, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for prerequisite courses. For the class entering the program in Fall 2023, the average last 60 hours GPA was 3.71 and the average prerequisite GPA was 3.66.

One of the most important things to do is maintain a competitive GPA. You should complete as many of the prerequisites as possible before applying. When completing your resume, be sure to include specifics about your extra-curricular, volunteer, and work experience. You should also be sure to include examples of leadership, if possible.

The program will comply with university policies related to student complaints and concerns. If you are a UMHB student, the university has a one-stop online "REPORT IT" resource for students. Details can be found on the UMHB website and in the UMHB Student Handbook.

If you have a complaint that falls outside of a university or program-specific process (due process), (such as complaints from clinical sites, community employers, patients, and the general public), you should direct your complaint to the DPT Program Director. The DPT Program Director will notify the Executive Dean of the Mayborn College of Health Sciences and other appropriate university administrators if necessary. Based on the nature of the complaint, the DPT Program Director (in consultation with other university administrators if needed) will determine a fair process by which to address the complaint or concern. Every effort will be made to resolve the complaint promptly. If a complaint or concern involves the DPT Program Director, the complaint should be directed to the Executive Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

If the nature of the complaint or concern falls under the program's accrediting body, you may contact the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) at 3030 Potomac Ave, Ste 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email:accreditation@apta.org.