Physical Therapy Direct Entry
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Direct Entry Program
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Program Delivery
Your Undergraduate coursework will be done on our main campus in Rindge, NH. Then you can choose from our New Hampshire-based, Full-time, on-site, or our Arizona Full-time, hybrid programs.
Locations Available
Undergrad Studies:
Rindge, NH
Graduate Studies:
Manchester, New Hampshire
Goodyear, Arizona
Franklin Pierce offers two full-time program formats, both fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Launch your physical therapy career with our graduate-level program available at locations in New Hampshire (full-time, on-site) and Arizona (full-time, hybrid). Combine hands-on clinical experience with courses on theory, science, and practice. Help people in hospitals, care facilities, outpatient clinics, and other settings restore and maintain optimal physical function. The on-site New Hampshire program is a two-and-a-half-year offering with 38 weeks of clinical work with courses, lectures, and seminars (117 total credits) and small classes and early clinical experience. Our Hybrid program in Arizona, launched in 2022, offers a two-year program format, blending online learning sessions and intensive, 3-5 day in-person labs at least twice each 12-week term and 30 weeks of clinical work. In both programs, accomplished faculty bring real-world experience and teach hands-on skills in state-of-the-art labs. Our graduates consistently achieve 98-100% pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Licensure Exam (NPTE). The CAPTE-accredited DPT program will prepare you to work in hospitals, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, outpatient clinics, wellness and sports facilities, and private homes.
Apply to This Program Now
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Learn more about our in-person Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the Manchester, NH Academic Center
Admissions Requirements
Requirements for high school applicants seeking admission to the Direct Entry Program include:
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA), in academic courses only, of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (84/100)
- Equivalent of four years of math with a final grade of B+ (87/100) or higher in each class
- Equivalent of four years of science with a final grade of B+ (87/100) or higher
- Demonstrated leadership through community and schoolactivities; related healthcare experience is highly desirable.
Franklin Pierce offers the only DPT program in the state of New Hampshire that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.
The DPT program operates at two modern, custom-designed facilities—one in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the other in Goodyear, Arizona. Along with classroom and lab work, the program includes 38 weeks of full-time clinical work at various sites to prepare for licensure.
Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and treat people with limited physical functioning, often as a result of an injury or illness. They help improve people’s movement, pain management, and work with patients to restore their health and wellness. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare is projected to add more jobs than any other industry—sparking a growth in employment of 26 percent between 2012 and 2022.
If you have already been admitted to Franklin Pierce, download and complete the one-page Application Addendum, which can be found on the webpage listed below. Please mail the completed form to the following address.
Franklin Pierce University
Office of Admissions
40 University Drive
Rindge, NH 03461
To successfully progress from undergraduate studies into the DPT program, you must meet the following qualifications, which will be evaluated at the end of your junior year.
- Successfully complete the following courses with a grade of “B” or better:
- Anatomy & Physiology I
- Anatomy & Physiology II
- Biology I
- Biology II
- Chemistry I
- Chemistry II
- Physics I
- Physics II
- Statistics or Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- One Psychology course at the 100-level or above
- Complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) by July 1 following junior year with an average of 50th percentile ranking in all three areas
- Achieve a minimum 3.2 CGPA
If you fail to meet progression standards, you will be encouraged to apply for entry during your senior year. Admission is competitive and is based on performance and space availability.
Physical Therapy Direct Entry Application Deadlines:
All materials must be received by Franklin Pierce by May 1.
Accreditation
Franklin Pierce University is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); this regional accreditation includes both the New Hampshire and Arizona campuses.
The Masters in Physical Therapy Program in New Hampshire was granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in April 2002. The Physical Therapy Program was approved to convert to a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in April 2005. In April 2009, CAPTE approved an expansion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program to the campus in Goodyear, AZ, where classes commenced there in June 2009. Each program is separately accredited with the next full accreditation review scheduled in 2026 for both New Hampshire and Arizona programs.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Franklin Pierce University in Goodyear, Arizona is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (623) 518-2386 or email FPUDPTAZAdmin@franklinpierce.edu.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Franklin Pierce University in Manchester, New Hampshire is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (603) 647-3500 or email DPTClinEd@franklinpierce.edu.
Related Programs
Contact the DPT Program