DPT Programs in Ohio

There are more than 10 Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs that you can enroll in at an Ohio campus – from Cleveland State to University of Toledo, they are located all over the state. In addition to this plethora of options, there are also online hybrid doctor of physical therapy students can enroll in that allow many of the degree requirements to be completed in the comfort of home. This guide will help you understand all of the options at your disposal so that you can apply to the DPT programs that are right for you.

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 Ohio

When determining what sort of DPT program is the right fit for you, thinking about your schedule and lifestyle is often a good place to start. If you need your classes to take place during the day, for example, you wouldn’t want to choose a program that caters to night students. If you need your weekends free, a class structure with weekend classes would not be an option you would want to choose. 

Additionally, think about which of Ohio’s many DPT programs are within reasonable commuting distance from your home. If getting to a campus will end up being a chore for you, you may want to save commute time with online options. Online DPT programs can often provide flexibility that cannot be rivaled by on compass programs – due to the ability to learn at home and in some instances, even have control over when you attend class.

Last Updated 3/22/2022

Online DPT Programs in Ohio

When it comes to physical therapy degrees, what is considered an online DPT program is typically in actuality a hybrid program, because some of the skills learning components do still need to be learned on campus. Because of this in person learning requirement, students do need to report to campus infrequently. Most coursework will be online, so students still benefit from the flexibility offered by these kinds of DPT degrees. Just make sure you have a firm grasp of how often you will need to report to campus, and that the travel requirement is reasonable for you.

With any kind of online program, courses are delivered in either a synchronous or asynchronous format. At times, delivery will be a mixture of these two formats. Any live, time specific requirement is synchronous and usually requires coordination between students and professors, such as attending a live lecture. Downloading and viewing a prerecorded lecture is an example of asynchronous learning, which is done on one’s own time. Those who are looking to have a classroom like experience at home will appreciate the engaging and collaborative nature of synchronous learning. Those in need of the highest levels of flexibility are usually willing to trade interaction for the ability to learn asynchronously.

No matter what kind of DPT program you choose, your clinical requirements will take place in person at healthcare placement sites. Make sure any online DPT programs you sign up for are able to place you at sites near your home.

On Campus DPT Programs in Ohio

If you have earned an undergraduate degree on a campus, you are familiar with the in person learning experience. On campus DPT students go to class, take exams, and learn skills in person at the school of their choosing. As for clinical requirements, they are typically completed at sites local to the university.

How Long Do Ohio DPT Programs Take to Complete?

A DPT degree may take from two and a half to three years to complete, or it may take more or less time than that. Talk to the programs you are interested in directly about course sequence and time to complete.

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

Typical Hybrid DPT Programs Available to Ohio Students

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

On Campus DPT Programs in Ohio

The following DPT programs can be found on Ohio campuses:

General Tips on How to Become a Physical Therapist in Ohio

To become a physical therapist in Ohio, here are some common steps. Be sure to check with the state licensing agency for specific state requirements:

  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 Ohio.
  3. Get Licensed – You may want to make sure your NPTE score is set up to be transferred to the state organization governing PTs 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 the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board for exact requirements.