DPT Programs in Louisiana

Three Louisiana campuses offer accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs – Franciscan Missionaries of our Lady University, and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centers at New Orleans and Shreveport. Additionally, there are online (hybrid) programs that Louisiana residents can enroll in that would only require you to leave the state occasionally for hands-on learning on campus. Not sure what kind of program is right for you? This guide might help you decide.

Arcadia University

College of Health Sciences

info

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Earn your DPT from a hybrid program. Experience on-campus immersions and apply skills learned online to patients in person. Complete the program in 25 months. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree but do not need to submit GRE test scores for admission.

  • Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 
  • Complete in 25 months  
  • 32 weeks of in-person experience

University of Southern California (USC)

USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy

info

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

With USC’s Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, aspiring physical therapists can earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in an innovative hybrid format. Bachelor’s required.

  • Full-time, three-year program 
  • 44 weeks of rich, varied clinical experiences 
  • Regular visits to USC for on-campus, skill-building immersions

infoSPONSORED

Online DPT Programs vs On-Campus Programs in Louisiana

Whether an online or on campus DPT program is best depends on your learning style. If you need to report to a classroom to avoid any distractions at home, an on campus program is naturally your best bet. However, if you enjoy being able to learn in the comfort of your own home, you may want to consider an online program. 

For some, an already busy schedule may require them to enroll in a program that fits into their routine. Often, an online program is a good option for this type of student, as it eliminates commute time and may be more likely to schedule classes in a way that fits busy lifestyles. Additionally, if an online program is asynchronous, students may be able to choose when they attend class. For some, this option is the only reason they can consider earning a degree at all.

Last Updated 3/9/2021

Online DPT Programs in Louisiana

No DPT program is 100% online – those looking to complete most of their coursework online will need to look for hybrid programs. While most of the coursework in a hybrid program will be online, some hands-on learning may be completed at the campus, as there are some skills that are best learned in person. These trips to campus may be no more than a few times per year.

The online portion of the coursework may be delivered in a variety of ways, all of which fall into one of two categories – synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous learning simply means that students log on to attend class or an activity live, and asynchronous is anything completed on a student’s own time (such as a pre recorded lecture).

No matter whether you attend class virtually or in person, your clinical hours will need to be completed at a clinical placement site. For online students, a placement site can typically be secured locally to a student. However, you should check with the programs you are interested in to see what they allow and how they will support you in securing a placement site.

On Campus DPT Programs in Louisiana

On campus programs in the state of Louisiana include Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans, as well as Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. For these programs, you would attend class regularly on campus and likely complete clinical requirements locally.

How Long do Louisiana DPT Programs Take to Complete?

A DPT program on average runs two and a half to three years. There are programs that are shorter and longer than this out there.

You can see the specific program lengths for all Louisiana on campus and online DPT programs in the tables below.

Typical Hybrid DPT Programs Available to Louisiana Students

The following hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy programs are available to students in Louisiana.

On Campus DPT Programs in Louisiana

The following DPT programs can be found on Louisiana campuses:

General Tips on How to Become a Physical Therapist in Louisiana

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

  1. Earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree – Consider looking for physical therapy programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) which may help you ensure you meet certification requirements in the future.
  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 Louisiana.
  3. Get Licensed – You may want to make sure your NPTE score is set up to be transferred to the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board so that the state can issue your certification once you pass and check with the board to make sure you meet any additional requirements for licensure. This is a high-level overview, make sure to check out Louisiana’s state board for exact requirements.