DPT Programs in Nebraska

Those who want to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the state of Nebraska have three options – College of Saint Mary, Creighton University, and University of Nebraska Medical Center. All of these options are in Omaha Those looking for more options may also want to consider the variety of hybrid online programs that are offered virtually through campuses across the country. With all these options, it can be hard to determine which programs are best for you. This guide was designed to help you figure out how to decide which programs you may want to apply to.

Arcadia University

College of Health Sciences

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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

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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

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Online DPT Programs vs On Campus Programs in Nebraska

When you start applying to DPT programs, you should think about any scheduling constraints you may have. If there are any times during the day or night where you have other obligations, you will not want to pick a program that requires you to be in class during those times. You will also want to think about whether you are able to commute to Omaha, which is where all the on campus programs are located. If Omaha is a ways from your house, it may not be realistic for you to attend an on-campus program without moving. In that case, you may want to consider an online DPT program.

Last Updated 10/18/2021

Online DPT Programs in Nebraska

Currently, any online DPT program available is actually what is considered a hybrid program. This is because, while most of the coursework is online, students do need to report to campus occasionally for in-person lab work. There are just some things at this point in time that need to be learned in person in order to be adequately prepared to become a physical therapist. Even though some trips to campus are required, most of the course work is completed online which still offers added flexibility to students.

There are two ways that online courses are delivered – asynchronously or synchronously. With asynchronous learning, students complete deliverables on their own time. This can be done through media such as pre-recorded lectures. Synchronous learning, on the other hand, is done live. Live chats and courses delivered via webcam that allow for discussion are examples of synchronous learning. If you are looking to have a collaborative learning experience that involves discussions with peers and professors, you may be more interested in synchronous learning. If you need higher levels of flexibility in order to complete your degree, an asynchronous program may be the kind of program that you need.

Anyone enrolled in any kind of the PT program will need to complete clinical placements. With online programs, these may often be completed in the community local to the student. Make sure to ask the program that you’re interested in if they can secure placements that are local to you and what they will do to help you secure those placements. 

On Campus DPT Programs in Nebraska

Anyone who has earned a bachelor’s program on a college campus should be familiar with the on-campus experience. Students report regularly to the classroom in order to attend lectures and earn credits. With a DPT degree, skills learning and clinical placements are added requirements that a bachelor’s degree earner may not be familiar with, depending on the kind of degree they earn during their undergraduate years.

How Long do Nebraska DPT Programs Take to Complete?

It could take between two and a half to three years to earn a DPT degree. It might take shorter or longer, depending on the program. Check with the programs you are interested in to see how long the program is supposed to last.

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

Typical Hybrid DPT Programs Available to Nebraska Students

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

On Campus DPT Programs in Nebraska

The following DPT programs can be found on Nebraska campuses:

General Tips on How to Become a Physical Therapist in Nebraska

To become a physical therapist in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska.
  3. Get Licensed – You may want to make sure your NPTE score is set up to be transferred to the Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy Examiners 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 Nebraska’s state board for exact requirements.