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Leading Physical Therapy School

USAHS has a 40+ year legacy of developing and delivering high-quality PT education. At USAHS, you’ll learn in an immersive, connected community of PT professionals committed to student success and the unwavering pursuit of clinical excellence. Here, you’ll master technology and techniques developed by leading PT faculty whose clinical expertise continues to drive the most relevant and contemporary curricula. Your experience at USAHS will prepare you to be a best-in-class practitioner and professional dedicated to transforming lives and moving the profession forward. Take the lead and learn more about the USAHS difference.

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Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Clinical Orthopaedic Residency - OCS Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship (OMPT) Non-Degree Physical Therapy Online Courses for International Students

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40+

Year legacy developing and delivering PT education

350+/35

Faculty / Specialties

10K+

PT alumni, largest network of practicing PT alumni Based on total DPT degrees conferred as reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data is captured by IPEDS through interrelated surveys conducted annually by the Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES).

9

Pro bono clinics/ Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice provide community and service-learning opportunities

Considering Physical Therapy School? Here’s How to Become a Physical Therapist

USAHS’ Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is the entry-level degree in physical therapy. It prepares you for clinical practice with a wide range of patients and in varied settings. It also prepares you for advanced roles in research and practice leadership.

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Choose your learning path for a physical therapy degree.

Residential DPT

Flex DPT

Format

Blended with Both Online and In-person Components + Weekday On-campus Labs

Online + Select On-campus Weekend Labs

# Trimesters

Credit Hours

131

Length in Years*

2.7

Start Dates (by Campus)

All Terms - San Marcos, St. Augustine, Miami, Austin
Fall - Dallas

Spring and Fall - San Marcos and St. Augustine
Summer and Fall - Austin

Where Should I Live?

In or Near the Campus City

Almost Anywhere in the US; Requires Travel to Campus on Select Weekends

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.

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Choose the Learning Path That Fits Your Lifestyle

We offer two different paths to approach your PT degree: Residential and Flex

Residential

Ideal for those who want a weekday class schedule and an immersive, on-campus student experience
Blended coursework with online components and in-person sessions plus weekday labs
Requires 12-19 credit hours per term over 8 trimesters
You can live near campus and attend school during the week

Flex

Ideal for those who want flexibility to accommodate work schedules and other obligations, or live a distance from campus.
Online coursework plus on-campus clinical labs over select weekends each month
Requires -9-12 credit hours per term over 12 trimesters
You can live away from campus and travel to campus on weekends

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Already a PT? Advance your skills and education by exploring these course options:

Clinical Orthopaedic Residency

Gain the expertise and clinical hours you need to specialize in orthopaedics. Featuring 160 hours of one-on-one mentorship and 1,500 patient treatment hours, this program combines online coursework with in-person seminars and skills labs at our St. Augustine campus.

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Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship

A level beyond our Residency program, this Fellowship prepares you to sit for your Manual Therapy Certification exam through USAHS’ Continuing Professional Education program. The Fellowship program also features 160 hours of one-on-one mentorship, plus 850 patient treatment hours.

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Non-Degree Physical Therapy Online Courses for International Students

For those who earned their PT degree and license to practice in a location outside the United States, USAHS offers a comprehensive catalog of courses focused on competencies often required by the FCCPT.

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Why choose USAHS as your Physical Therapy School?

Leader in Health Sciences Education

USAHS has been dedicated solely to graduate education in health sciences for more than 40 years. Join our community of like-minded faculty leaders and students on our mission to transform lives and lead the profession.

Leading Faculty

Our PT faculty is composed of educators and clinicians who are experts and leaders in their fields. This unparalleled national network of more than 350 faculty practitioners with expertise in35 PT specialties has used its clinical experience to inform the development and delivery of PT education at USAHS. Faculty members actively treat patients across a variety of settings, publish research, serve on the boards of professional organizations and draw from their diverse experience to develop our curricula.

Leader in Innovation

USAHS is at the forefront of innovative teaching and learning models. Curriculum reviews and enhancements are a continuous process for all USAHS programs and are informed by faculty expertise, student feedback and academic best practices. Our blended learning model combines the best of interactive, media-rich online learning with immersive, hands-on experiences in labs. You’ll get formative simulations and role-playing with patient-actors from the first term of the curriculum.

Exceptional Clinical Preparation

Build competence and confidence in our Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice (CICPs) where you will practice clinical skills in realistic scenarios in simulated hospital and home environments to prepare you for your clinical placements. USAHS is one of the few higher education institutions in the country with simulation labs dedicated to the rehabilitative sciences using actual medical equipment and cutting-edge EdTech tools.

Social Responsibility

USAHS is a Certified B Corp™ institution, committed to community service, social and environmental responsibility, accountability, and transparency. We offer service-learning opportunities that enhance your clinical experiences, and we work to advance the PT profession through student and faculty advocacy.

Career Connections

At USAHS, we’re proud of our national network of more than 10,000 accomplished alumni, including thousands of licensed rehabilitation practitioners. Your collaborative relationships with faculty, alumni and peers—the connections you make during clinical experiences—can help you launch your career.

Five Destination Campuses

We have campuses in five vibrant, beautiful cities: San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; Miami, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Dallas, Texas. While each of our campuses has its own tight-knit community of engaged faculty and students sharing ideas, knowledge, and experiences, students also benefit from their connection to our national campus network.