Learn more about

the doctor of physical therapy program

Graceland University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is designed to develop compassionate, skilled leaders who will make a lasting impact on healthcare. With our rolling admissions process, you can get an early decision and begin your journey sooner. Our two-year, accelerated hybrid program offers the flexibility to study from anywhere while attending in-person sessions at our Kansas City-area campus. Join a supportive community that values justice, compassion, and excellence—where you will belong, thrive, and prepare to lead with purpose. Ready to learn more? Register for a free informational webinar today and take the next step in your DPT journey.

Start Your Application
Attend A Webinar

Schedule an advising appointment


Exceptional faculty

Our DPT faculty are from across the country and are experts in the profession as well as hybrid teaching and learning. Equipped with innovative resources, comprehensive support, and a reflective learning community, students are developed into adaptive, collaborative, evidence-informed, and socially responsible clinicians. These skills will be advantageous in the synthesis and application of new information in order to seek solutions to challenges in today’s healthcare environment.

Admissions

Graceland University is looking for both traditional and nontraditional students who demonstrate strong potential to navigate the rigorous accelerated, hybrid model curriculum. Upon graduation, students will be equipped with the skills to serve in the diverse settings of physical therapy practice.

Foundational

Online classes | 48 weeks

Students will build a strong foundation through an online core curriculum in foundational and clinical sciences, evidence-based practice, and specialty areas.

Intentional

Lab immersions | 14 weeks

The intentional sequence and progression of content within and across the curriculum allows students to apply their knowledge and understanding of foundational concepts to practice-based problems and situations.

Lab immersions are held in person, for 6 – 14 days, during each trimester in the Kansas City area.

Transformational

Clinical education | 32 weeks

The culmination of student learning occurs during their clinical experiences where deep analysis and synthesis of information is constructed in real-life patient interactions and situations. These experiences are led by outstanding Clinical Instructors who are invested in our students learning.

Trailblazing

Online education for 20 years

Fostering

A learning community of belonging

Empowering

Pt students to serve and positively impact society

Admission requirements

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Admission may be granted pending completion of the degree.
  • Minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.
    • If the Overall Cumulative GPA is below 3.0, an applicant may still be eligible for review if their GPA over the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours is 3.4 or above.
    • The Admissions Committee will consider GPAs at or just below a 3.0, provided a strong holistic component of the application.
    • Grades Below “C-” (1.7) in prerequisite courses will not be accepted. If a prerequisite is repeated, the final grade must be a C or above.
    • If a prerequisite course is repeated, the credit hours assigned to the course may be counted only once in fulfilling the required number of hours. The pre-requisite GPA will be determined using the highest course grade achieved; however, both grades will be calculated into the cumulative GPA category.
    • For non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework, it is recommended to send the World Evaluation Services (WES) foreign transcript evaluation to PTCAS for consideration.
  • Two references: one from a licensed PT and one from an approved person of the applicant’s choice.
  • Completion of a minimum of forty (40) hours of observation, volunteer, or work experience with a licensed physical therapist. There should be a minimum of 20 hours in one practice setting.
  • For all applicants for whom English is not their first language, completion of TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo equivalent exams will be required.
  • Two personal statements/supplemental essays.
  • Completion of an admissions online interview.
  • Ability to fulfill the technical standards and essential functions of the DPT program for admission.
  • Completion of a criminal background check prior to matriculation.

Accreditation

Effective December 1, 2023, the Graceland University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 816-209-1332 or email dpt-admissions@graceland.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website.