DPT Programs in Indiana

Online DPT Programs vs On-Campus Programs in Indiana

The best option between on-campus and online DPT programs is the option that works best for you. How do you know what works best for you? You will want to ask the following questions to figure that out:

• How do I learn best? Do I find classroom settings more free of distractions, or would an engaging online program keep me more focused?
• How will my degree fit into my schedule? Do I have a lot of other responsibilities taking up my time? If so, I might want to ask whether an online program's format, such as asynchronous coursework, could reduce my commuting time and make my schedule more flexible. Do I need the structure of having to report to class at a specific time? If so, I may be best suited to an on-campus program.
• Am I looking to network and forge social connections? If you are looking to have a social life that involves meeting up with your classmates, you may want to consider an on-campus program. However, know that there are many ways to connect with your peers through online programs too – after all, the online-plus-in-person model CAPTE describes includes required in-person sessions, and you can ask each program how often they are held.

Online DPT Programs in Indiana

As this page uses the term, a hybrid DPT program combines online instruction with required in-person sessions. CAPTE's glossary describes this delivery model as a curriculum delivered online through technology platforms and combined with required in-person sessions, but its definition does not set how often those sessions occur. When you compare programs, ask each one how many in-person sessions it requires, how long they last and where they are held, so you can judge how the format fits your schedule.

Clinical education is the other hands-on part of the curriculum. CAPTE's glossary describes clinical education experiences as learning that comes from being immersed in physical therapist practice. When applying to online programs, ask whether students can complete clinical education near where they live, where the program is able to place students and how much assistance you might get when securing a placement site that is not local to the university.

How well a hybrid format fits your life depends on each program's in-person requirements and class schedule, so compare them before you apply.

CAPTE's glossary says distance education involves regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors, either synchronously or asynchronously. Online course delivery uses one or both of these two formats:

• Synchronous – requires logging in at a certain time to “go to class” or complete group activities
• Asynchronous – as long as you complete requirements by their due dates, you may do them at whatever time is most convenient for you.

On Campus DPT Programs in Indiana

Programs based on Indiana campuses appear in the on-campus table further down this page. For these programs, you will need to report to campus frequently in order to attend class.

How Long do Indiana DPT Programs Take to Complete?

Program length varies. CAPTE’s 2025 U.S. aggregate data for accredited and developing DPT programs, published in June 2026 and updated in July 2026, covers programs across the United States rather than Indiana programs alone. It puts the average program at about 87 weeks of coursework and 35 weeks of full-time clinical education, with total program length ranging from 88 to 180 weeks. Some programs run shorter and some longer than that national average, and they vary in how demanding the workload is during a typical semester.

The tables below list the length for each program.

Typical Hybrid DPT Programs Available to Indiana Students

The following are examples of hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Be sure to check with the school to confirm it is authorized to operate in your state. Be sure to check with the state licensing agency for specific state requirements:

General Tips on How to Become a Physical Therapist in Indiana

To become a physical therapist in Indiana, here are some common steps:

1. Earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree – Consider looking for physical therapy programs accredited by CAPTE. Indiana’s administrative code defines an approved physical therapy program as a professional PT education program accredited by CAPTE or its successor (842 IAC 1-1-3(b)), which is why accreditation is worth checking before you apply.
2. Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) – To do this, you will likely need to get approval from both the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and the state of Indiana, as the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) explains on its physical therapy licensing page.
3. Get Licensed – If Indiana is the jurisdiction you designate when you register for the NPTE, FSBPT reports your scores to it automatically, as its After Test Day instructions explain. Sending scores to a different jurisdiction is a separate score-transfer process. Then check with the Indiana PLA to make sure you meet any additional requirements for licensure. This is a high-level overview, so make sure to check the PLA’s licensing page for exact requirements.

Indiana licensing fees and rules

As of Oct. 14, 2026, the PLA’s physical therapy licensing page and FSBPT’s candidate instructions list these costs and rules for physical therapists:

• License application by examination: $100, paid to the PLA.
• NPTE: $485, paid to FSBPT through its exam registration and payment page, plus a $100.30 Prometric testing fee for the PT exam that is paid at scheduling, according to FSBPT’s testing appointment instructions.
• Temporary permit: $50. For examination applicants, Indiana may issue up to two temporary permits, and each requires direct supervision by an Indiana-licensed PT. Failing the exam makes your current permit invalid and means you do not qualify for a second one, and permit holders must also apply for full licensure, according to the PLA’s temporary permit instructions.
• Renewal: Indiana physical therapy licenses expire on June 30 of even-numbered years, and renewal costs $100.

Indiana also participates in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, which lets eligible PTs apply for a privilege to practice in other member states. The PT Compact Commission’s map lists Indiana as actively issuing and accepting compact privileges. According to the PLA, Indiana adopted the compact through House Enrolled Act 1405 in 2021, and a compact privilege costs $45 for the Commission plus $100 for Indiana.

This page covers Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) follow a separate education and licensing path, and the PLA’s licensing page lists PTA fees separately.

Preparing to apply

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), most DPT programs accept applications through a single centralized application, the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), though not every program participates. APTA also notes that no specific undergraduate major is required and that prerequisite courses, GPA, observation hours and other requirements vary by program. To go deeper, see how admissions requirements differ from school to school, which programs require the GRE and the undergraduate degrees applicants most often hold.

What physical therapists earn in Indiana

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that 6,130 wage-and-salary physical therapists (SOC 29-1123) worked in Indiana in May 2025, according to its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for Indiana. Their mean annual wage was $102,240, and their median annual wage was $101,560, or about $48.83 per hour. Those figures cover wage-and-salary physical therapists across Indiana industries, and the survey does not include self-employed workers, as the BLS OEWS FAQ explains. They also do not describe new graduates, so treat them as a benchmark for the profession rather than a starting salary.