A group of Whitworth DPT students help a young adult male patient use adaptive sport equipment inside of a PT training facility.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Make a Difference: Join the CAPTE-Accredited Whitworth DPT Program

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Location
Spokane, Wash.
Time to Completion
Less than Three Years
Credit hours
115 credits
over eight semesters

The Whitworth University Physical Therapy Program Cultivates Mind and Heart

Empathetically serve individuals within your community and empower them to live better lives with your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Whitworth University. Our student-centered, hands-on approach enables you to develop critical skills and personal connections that will last your entire career.

With your CAPTE-accredited DPT from Whitworth, you’ll get ahead in a fast-growing field. Prepare to succeed with unmatched resources, like:

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The outside of a 38,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art health sciences building. The building is modern-looking with large windows, surrounded by green grass. Students stand outside, conversing with each other.

Apply to the Whitworth University DPT Program Today

Whitworth’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is known for its clinical and academic excellence, and the admissions committee is dedicated to a thorough, holistic review of each application to build our competitively selected cohorts.

  • Next Doctor of Physical Therapy cohort begins in fall 2026.
  • Priority deadline is Nov. 3, 2025; regular deadline is March 1, 2026.
  • Applications will remain open until June 1, 2026, or until cohort is filled.

Apply now before classes fill up!

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Become a Physical Therapy Leader

A Whitworth DPT doesn’t just provide you with the education required to be a physical therapist – it prepares you to collaborate and lead teams with confidence, serving in a manner that fosters mutual growth and respect through sensitivity to diversity, inclusivity and equity, and advocating for others. Develop strong leadership, professional and clinical competencies to guide individuals in healthy lifestyle choices while respecting the uniqueness and valuable contribution of each individual under your care.

Here’s Why More People are Enrolling in DPT Programs…

Earning your DPT from Whitworth unlocks unlimited career possibilities, enabling you to guide individuals toward better health while also earning a high salary.

Average Annual Salary

$97,720

Anticipated Job Growth

15%
over the next decade

(much faster than average)

Projected New Physical Therapy Jobs

37,300
over the next decade

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Launch Your Career at Whitworth

…And Why the Whitworth University Physical Therapy Program Stands Out

Immerse yourself in valuable clinical experiences and a learner-centered curriculum. Our DPT program is rich in evidence-based practice, interprofessional learning opportunities and community partnerships that help you learn how to better promote the health and well-being of others. Get hands-on experience working in local hospitals and senior living facilities and even with adaptive sport athletes, with additional opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and build your interprofessional network.

Designed with you in mind, Whitworth’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program allows you to complete your degree in 32 months, over eight consecutive semesters.

DPT Curriculum Schedule

The Whitworth University Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is designed as a cohort model, enabling you to grow and connect with fellow students during your studies.

Year One (Three Semesters)
  • Fall Semester (18 Weeks): 17 credits
    • Clinical Medicine I
    • Health Systems I: Global Health
    • Human Anatomy
    • Movement System I
    • Professional Formation I
  • Spring Semester (18 Weeks): 18 credits
    • Exercise Science & Prescription
    • Fundamentals of Critical Injury
    • Movement System II
    • Musculoskeletal Management I
    • Neuroscience
    • Professional Formation II
  • Summer (12 Weeks): 15 credits
    • Health Systems II: Population, Public & Community Health
    • Movement System III
    • Musculoskeletal Management II
    • Nutrition for the Physical Therapist
    • Professional Formation III
    • Psychosocial Aspects of Health & Well-being

Year Two (Three Semesters)
  • Fall Semester (18 Weeks): 16 credits
    • Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Management
    • Clinical Education Experience I (8 Weeks)
    • Doctoral Research I
    • Musculoskeletal Management III
    • Neurological Management I
    • Professional Formation IV
  • Spring Semester (18 Weeks): 15 credits
    • Clinical Medicine II
    • Doctoral Research II
    • Health Systems III: Health Policy
    • Neurological Management II
    • Professional Formation V
    • Rehab Technology
  • Summer (12 Weeks): 15 credits
    • Doctoral Research III
    • Health Systems IV: Ethics, Business Management & Law
    • Management Across the Lifespan
    • Musculoskeletal Management IV
    • Neurological Management III
    • Professional Formation VI

Year Three (Two Semesters)
  • Fall Semester (18 Weeks): 10 credits
    • Clinical Education Experience II (12 Weeks)
    • Movement System IV
    • Professional Formation VII
  • Spring Semester (18 Weeks): 9 credits
    • Capstone & Portfolio
    • Clinical Educational Experience III (12 Weeks)
    • Electives: 1-2

Become a Movement Systems Expert

Start in Spokane, Go Anywhere with Our DPT Program

A female student walks upstairs in a modern educational building while talking to a faculty member in a white lab coat. Students are studying nearby, working on projects together.

Achieve your professional goals with a motivated and dedicated community in Spokane, Wash. Whitworth provides all the resources you need to thrive on campus and beyond. Access an innovative, state-of-the-art health sciences building that houses a motion analysis research lab, an activities of daily living lab, exercise physiology labs, simulation labs and more. Our team is made up of APTA-board-certified clinicians, and DPT faculty are actively working on grant-supported research projects that students can learn from and participate in during their studies.

Whitworth University Physical Therapy Can Jump-Start Your Career

Whitworth University physical therapy doctoral students help an older man do a strength exercise inside of a PT training facility.

At Whitworth University, we understand each career path is unique. That’s why our Doctor of Physical Therapy program goes beyond lectures and textbooks to provide you with unparalleled one-on-one support in a smaller, close-knit setting. Receive personalized career advising, and participate in courses that will help you assess and compare job offers for pay and benefits.

Imagine working with faculty mentors who are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. That’s the Whitworth difference.

Your Education Is Worth It

: A Whitworth Doctor of Physical Therapy student looks confidently at the camera.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy Program that Goes Beyond the Classroom

The DPT program has provided me with an intense yet exciting challenge. My studies have demonstrated not only what it takes to be a PT but what the real world/hands-on application of that is like.

- Jathzeel Olivares

Accreditation Status

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Whitworth University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Address: 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 509.777.3377 or email the Program Director at chawkins@whitworth.edu.

Upon completion of the program, the student is eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and apply for licensure in any state.

This program has been reviewed as a substantive change by our institutional accreditor, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and is included in our institutional accreditation status.

CAPTE is nationally recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The only mechanism through which CAPTE can act on an individual’s concerns is through a formal complaint process.