Types of Physical Therapy Degrees: Which Is Right for You?

If you are preparing to become a physical therapist (PT) through a U.S. program today, the entry-level degree is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). To take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), you need a degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or education that a recognized credentialing agency has found substantially equivalent, and you must be approved by the licensing board in the state where you want to be licensed, per the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). As you compare programs, you will see terms such as entry-level DPT, 3+3, hybrid and transitional DPT. Most are different routes to the same entry-level degree, while the transitional DPT is for therapists who already hold or qualify for a U.S. license. This guide explains each one so you can see which fits where you are now.

Which Physical Therapy Degree Is Right for You?

Start with where you are now. The table matches common starting points to the program type built for them, and each type is explained in its own section below.

"Yes" means the program is an accredited U.S. route to the DPT, the entry-level degree APTA describes; after you graduate, you still need to pass the NPTE and be approved by your state's licensing board, per FSBPT. CAPTE describes its accredited bridge programs as a route for PTAs who want to become licensed PTs, and APTA's transition DPT FAQs describe the transitional DPT as a degree for therapists who already hold or qualify for a U.S. license.

Entry Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Programs

The entry-level DPT is the degree U.S. programs award to students preparing to become physical therapists. Master's degrees in physical therapy were accepted in the past, but APTA's transition DPT FAQs note that graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs have held the DPT since January 2015, so these programs no longer offer a master's-level entry degree. Most entry-level programs expect you to finish a bachelor's degree before you start: in CAPTE's 2025 Physical Therapist Education Programs Fact Sheet, which covers calendar year 2025, 284 of 325 programs (87.4%) required one. You will also need the prerequisite courses each program sets, which APTA notes are listed for each program in the PTCAS Directory. Our guide to DPT admissions requirements covers how to prepare. The same CAPTE fact sheet reports that DPT programs lasted an average of more than 122 weeks in total in 2025.

3+3 (Six-Year) Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs

Some schools let you combine your bachelor's degree and DPT in one six-year sequence. In this 3+3 format, you complete three years of specific pre-physical therapy undergraduate courses and then move into a three-year professional DPT program, according to APTA. APTA also notes that a few programs offer freshman entry, admitting students straight from high school into a guaranteed-admission track as long as they complete the required undergraduate courses and meet other stated conditions, such as a minimum GPA. In CAPTE's 2025 fact sheet, covering calendar year 2025, 73 of 325 programs (22.4%) offered an early-entry (pre-baccalaureate) option. Because the prerequisites are built into the first half of the sequence, this route suits students who know early on that they want to become physical therapists.

Post-Professional or Transitional DPT Programs

A transitional DPT, also called a post-professional DPT, is for physical therapists who qualified with a bachelor's degree, master's degree or certificate and want to bring their education up to the level of today's entry-level DPT. APTA's transition DPT FAQs state that the degree is open to therapists who hold a U.S. license or are eligible for one, and that the DPT is not currently required for a license to practice; the license itself comes from the licensing board in each state, per FSBPT. The program can help you learn the content that has been added under current accreditation standards so that you are educated to the same standard as physical therapists just entering the workforce. APTA also notes that there is little data on the consequences of having or not having the DPT.

Hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs

Hybrid DPT programs let you complete part of your education online. For example, one hybrid program, whose accreditation CAPTE continued in April 2026, pairs online coursework with on-campus lab immersions of about six to seven days twice each fall and spring semester, and another hybrid program combines online learning with one or two on-campus immersion sessions per semester. As in any DPT program, you also complete clinical experiences; CAPTE's 2025 fact sheet reports a median final clinical experience of 20 weeks in 2025. Clinical placement policies differ, so ask each program where its clinical experiences take place before you apply. Hybrid DPTs are a good option if you need flexibility in where you live and how you complete your degree.

Online DPT Programs

When you compare online doctor of physical therapy programs, check how much of each curriculum takes place on campus. The two hybrid programs above, for example, combine online coursework with scheduled on-campus immersions, according to their own program pages (first program; second program). Before you apply, confirm each program's campus schedule and where its clinical experiences take place.

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) to Doctor of Physical Therapy Bridge Programs

Only a few accredited programs are designed specifically for PTAs looking to earn their DPT; CAPTE keeps a list of its accredited PTA-to-PT bridge programs. These programs take into account the knowledge PTAs already have, but APTA's guide to the PTA-to-PT career transition notes that admission requirements vary and may include a minimum GPA, work experience, specific prerequisite courses and, in some cases, a bachelor's degree. Some programs may also ask for additional observation hours.

Levels of Physical Therapy Credentials: Assistant, Therapist and Specialist

Physical therapy has several credential levels, and each calls for different education. The table shows where the PTA and PT degrees fit and what licensed PTs can add later.

The PTA details come from APTA's guide to becoming a physical therapist assistant, and the PT education and exam requirements come from FSBPT. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) governs certification of clinical specialists, and its specialist certification overview lists the license requirement and the specialty areas. The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) accredits residency and fellowship programs, which it describes as post-professional learning experiences. To learn more about the assistant role, see our physical therapist assistant career guide.

Physical therapy aides are a support role, not a credential level. APTA's policy on aides describes them as support personnel who perform nonclinical tasks related to running a physical therapy service.

Physical Therapy Degree FAQs

Can you become a physical therapist without a doctorate?

Not through a U.S. physical therapy program today: CAPTE-accredited programs have awarded the DPT since January 2015, according to APTA's transition DPT FAQs. FSBPT's NPTE eligibility rules also accept education that a recognized credentialing agency has found substantially equivalent, which is how FSBPT describes reviewing the credentials of physical therapists educated outside the U.S. APTA notes that physical therapists who qualified earlier with a bachelor's degree, master's degree or certificate are part of today's licensed workforce and that the DPT is not currently required for a license; like every PT, they must meet their state's licensing requirements.

What is the difference between a DPT and a PT?

DPT is the degree, and PT is the licensed professional. In a U.S. program, you earn the DPT first and become a licensed PT only after you also pass the NPTE and your state's licensing board approves you, per FSBPT. Holding a DPT on its own does not make someone a licensed PT.

What should I major in before a DPT program?

Most DPT programs require a bachelor's degree, according to APTA, along with the prerequisite courses each program lists in the PTCAS Directory. Our guide to the most common undergraduate degrees among DPT applicants covers the majors applicants choose most often.