Who better than a current student to ask something about our Doctor of Physical Therapy program? Click on a name below to find out a little more about each student, and take the opportunity to ask a question.

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, numerous scholarships have been established to benefit students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Award amounts vary yearly based on market performance. 

The application for UAB DPT scholarships will open in Fall Semester 2025.

Adams Denton Sponsored Scholarship for Physical Therapy Clinical Education

A generous gift from an anonymous donor established this award for UAB DPT students participating in full time clinical education experiences. The award was named in honor of two Emeritus PT faculty members, Cara Adams and Betty Denton. The award is intended to support costs associated with participation in full time clinical education experiences (e.g., travel expenses, room and board, and other school related expenses).

Barnes Family Endowed Scholarship

The Barnes Family Endowed Scholarship in Physical Therapy was established in 2019 by Rocky and Amelia Barnes who are both alumni of the UAB Physical Therapy program. Amelia is a graduate of the Class of 1981 while Rocky is a graduate of the Class of 1979. Rocky is a Co-Founder of PT Solutions and currently sits on the Board of Directors. Both Rocky and Amelia have worked in various capacities at PT Solutions since the early years of the company’s inception.

Encompass Health Corporation Endowed Scholarship

The Encompass Health Corporation Endowed Scholarship was established in 1991 to provide financial assistance to deserving physical therapy students. Encompass Health also offers incredible learning opportunities for students through clinical education experiences and internships.

Stephen and Jana Foster Endowed Dean Scholarship in Physical Therapy

The Stephen and Jana Foster Endowed Dean Scholarship in Physical Therapy is awarded to second year UAB DPT students participating in the UAB Foster Scholars Initiative. For more information, please contact Dr. Berner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cecilia Graham Endowed Scholarship

Friends and colleagues of Dr. Cecilia Graham made generous gifts for the purpose of creating a scholarship in her memory. Dr. Graham had a passion for physical therapy education and service. She was a creative teacher and a lifelong learner who was never afraid to try new ideas in order to better reach and further educate her students. She will be remembered for the difference she made both here at UAB and in the physical therapy profession. 

Debra Jayne Endowed Scholarship for Physical Therapy Students

The Debra Jayne Endowed Scholarship for Physical Therapy Students was established in 2022 through a generous donation that attests to the donor’s abiding interest in the University of Alabama at Birmingham and their appreciation for scholarship funding they received while attending the University. Debra Jayne is a graduate of the UAB PT program and a member of the class of 1978

Shirley A. Shaddeau Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Shirley Shaddeau Memorial Scholarship endowment was established through a generous gift from Sue Shaddeau to honor the memory of her sister, Shirley Shaddeau, and her dedication to the profession of physical therapy. The fund has continued to receive additional contributions from family, alumni, and friends. Shirley was associated with the Department of Physical Therapy for 23 years and at the time of her sudden and unexpected death in 1995 was an Associate Professor. She was a devoted and gentle educator; she was a positive and supportive person who challenged her students to focus on the process of learning, not just exams or grades. Her beautiful legacy includes the impact that she had on the physical therapy profession, School of Health Professions, her students, her colleagues, and so many others.

Sharon E. Shaw Endowed Scholarship

The Sharon E. Shaw Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to students with a talent for and desire to provide physical therapy services to underserved populations. The scholarship was established to honor Sharon E. Shaw, PT, DrPH for her contributions to UAB, the community, and the physical therapy profession. Sharon first came to UAB in 1971. In 1999, she became chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and served in this role until her retirement in 2013. After a brief illness, Sharon passed away in January 2016, and while we will miss her, the impact that she had on the physical therapy profession, the School of Health Professions, her students, her colleagues, and so many others, remains as a legacy.

TherapySouth Sponsored Scholarship

TherapySouth is a steadfast clinical education partner. The company established the scholarship to assist students with long-term clinical education costs.

Robert Mason Endowed Scholarship in Physical Therapy

The Robert Mason Endowed Scholarship in Physical Therapy was established through a generous donation from Dr. Robert Hayes Mason to assist deserving students in the Department of Physical Therapy for whom affordability of pursing their degree may be an obstacle.

PT Solutions Scholarship

This scholarship was established by PT Solutions and its founder Dale Yake PT, DPT, OCS (UAB PT Alumnus, Class of 1992) to support deserving students with strong academic performance/promise and strong leadership potential.

UAB has an early acceptance program for academically superior high school seniors, attracting them to UAB’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program with guaranteed admission to the School of Health Professions after college.

Eligibility for DPTEAP

Since acceptance to DPTEAP means acceptance to the physical therapy program, entry is highly competitive.

• Minimum GPA: 3.5 Overall GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• Test Scores: at least 29 ACT or a minimum 1330 SAT
  • Keep in mind that this is the combined score of Critical Reading (formerly known as Verbal) and Math - total possible 1600. If the new writing portion is required, which UAB does not, the SAT has three parts which could total 2400. However, for purposes of applying to DPTEAP, we only count the 1330 minimum out of 1600.
• Selection Process: The Physical Therapy Faculty Committee interviews a select number of eligible candidates. The committee is seeking individuals who have demonstrated leadership, motivation, and high academic credentials..

Applying for DPTEAP

STEP 1: Apply to UAB

You must first apply through UAB Undergraduate Admission.

You must be accepted to UAB as an undergraduate no later than May 1.

STEP 2: Fill out Application

Fill out the DPTEAP Online Application. Completion of the online application includes responses to the questions, your resume, and two letters of recommendation - preferably all uploaded at the same time.

If your letter of recommendation writers prefer to submit their letter themselves, continue to Step 3.

STEP 3: Recommendation Letters

You need one recommendation letter from a teacher and one recommendation letter from a coach or extra curricular activity advisor. If they prefer to submit the letter themselves, share the appropriate link below with them.

Upload teacher letter of recommendation.

Upload coach/extracurricular activity advisor letter of recommendation.

Interviews & Decisions

Application ‘Priority Decision’ deadline is January 15, with interviews and decisions to occur in February.

Application ‘Final Decision’ deadline is June 1, with interviews and decisions to occur in July.

The DPTEAP Admissions Committee interviews eligible candidates.

Criteria for Remaining in Good Standing

The following requirements and conditions are to be met by all DPTEAP students in order to remain in good standing for maintaining their acceptance into the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Therapy:

• Maintain an overall 3.2 GPA and a 3.4 GPA in all prerequisite coursework.
• Stay in contact with the DPTEAP Mentor each semester.
• Regular ongoing academic counseling with an undergraduate major advisor.
• Complete HIPPA training.
• Develop a profile of volunteer experiences. This includes:
  • Shadowing several different physical therapists to have a variety of experiences in acute injuries, geriatrics, pediatrics and sports injuries.
  • Volunteer in service organizations benefiting other people, especially those serving underserved populations.
• Participate in ongoing activities with the Department of Physical Therapy and demonstrate leadership and maturity consistent with the expectations of other non early admission students.
• Graduate with an undergraduate degree from UAB.
• Must submit a minimum of 20 hours observation of a licensed physical therapist.

Learn more about the UAB Doctor of Physical Therapy program from our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a question that is not listed here, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an answer.

Program Dates

Educational Costs

Where to Live

Job Opportunities and Salaries

Clinic

PT License

Application Process

Application Deadlines

2025-2026 PTCAS Application Cycle

July 1, 2025 - November 1, 2025.

Application Procedure

This program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). For more information regarding specific PTCAS application requirements, procedures, and fees, visit the PTCAS website.

On July 1, 2025, PTCAS will begin accepting applications. PTCAS applications must be completed and verified by November 1, 2025, for the class beginning in January 2027. Applicants should send all application materials directly to PTCAS. PTCAS will verify the application information and send completed applications to our program. Only PTCAS-verified applications can be considered for admissions. Although our deadline is November 1, keep in mind it can take up to a few weeks for you application to be verified by PTCAS so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Following the program's receipt of the PTCAS application, the UAB Doctor of Physical Therapy Program admissions committee will review verified and completed applications. Based on the review, applicants are selected for acceptance to our program.

UAB will be offering an optional invitation only in-person Welcome Day Session in January 2026 for accepted applicants and those applicants on the alternate list. Those that attend will get to meet the faculty, staff, and current DPT students and they will learn about the curriculum, clinical rotations, research, and other program details. This in-person Welcome Day will occur in the School of Health Professions. If invited, details regarding this event will be included in the invitation following the program's receipt of the PTCAS application.

Transfer of Credit Policy

The UAB DPT Program will not accept transfer credits from other DPT programs because of the lack of consistency among DPT curricula.

Requirements

Evaluation Criteria

The UAB Department of Physical Therapy uses a holistic admissions approach congruent to our mission: “to prepare physical therapists who are evidence-based practitioners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors to deliver value-based physical therapy services, consultation, education, critical inquiry and administration, with a primary focus on clinical practice involving diverse populations.” Therefore, the admissions committee considers all aspects of the application submitted to PTCAS.

Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Overall GPA, Prerequisite GPA, last 60 hours GPA.
• Quality of answers to the essay questions in the PTCAS application.
• Quality of KIRA Assessment. Please dress professionally and record in a quiet, neutral space.
• Quality of letters of recommendation
• Holistic Admissions Assessment (To be determined)
• GRE Score

KIRA Assessment

Confidentiality Agreement

The KIRA assessment is a series of video and written questions that will take the place of in-person interviews. The assessment is a required scored component of your application. If the assessment is incomplete, your application will not be considered for admissions.

This assessment will give you a set amount of time to prepare and a set amount of time to respond to each question. The KIRA assessment will be scored by multiple members of the UAB DPT faculty. The assessment should take less than 60minutes to complete, and can be done on your own time. We highly recommend applicants utilize the practice feature multiple times to get familiar with the format prior to completing the formal assessment. Each applicant only gets one chance to complete the formal KIRA assessment.

To improve your assessment please consider:

• Background and camera angle
• Attire should be professional 
• Answer all components of the question
• This assessment is your interview

All applicants will be rated on the following competency areas:

• Innovative and entrepreneurial
• Resilience and grit
• Compassion, empathy, and emotional intelligence
• Problem solving
• Cultural humility

PTCAS Application Troubleshooting

Please avoid these common mistakes as you complete your PTCAS application:

1. All college transcripts were not sent to PTCAS. This includes all courses taken at community colleges, even during high school.
2. The letters of recommendation were not completed. The professor letter must be from a professor whose course you took as an undergraduate student and who can attest to your academic strengths. The professional letter cannot be from a neighbor, friend or minister, unless you have worked with or for that individual.
3. The PTCAS course matching service was retained, but the applicant did not ‘accept’ the courses they matched in their PTCAS application and thus your application is unable to be verified.

Admissions Process Timeline

• July 1 – November 1, 2025 – Complete PTCAS application.
• December – Students notified about admissions status.
• January 2026 – Optional invitation only in-person Welcome Day.
• January 11, 2027 – Program begins.

Our admissions committee makes decisions based on needs of the program and the current impact of COVID on our applicants. They always strive to put our applicant's current situation into consideration. As changes continue to happen across our country we will respond accordingly.

GRE Preparation Resources

The Admissions Committee for UAB DPT Program would like to connect our prospective students with some helpful resources to start planning for completion of this application requirement. We also highly recommend consulting with your undergraduate institutional library or your local community library for more resources.

• GRE General Information: Learn About GRE Opens an external link.
• GRE Fee Reduction Program: GRE General Test Fees Opens an external link.
• GRE Practice Tests:
  • Princeton Review GRE Prep Opens an external link.
  • Magoosh GRE Prep Opens an external link.
  • Kaplan GRE Prep Opens an external link.
• UAB Students can access GRE prep content from Lister Hill: UAB Lister Hill GRE Prep Resources Opens an external link.

Virtual Tour

Our distinguished faculty provide cutting-edge curriculum for aspiring doctors of physical therapy.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The mission of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is to prepare physical therapists who are evidence-based practitioners with the skills, knowledge and behaviors to deliver value-based physical therapy services, consultation, education, critical inquiry and administration, with a primary focus on clinical practice involving diverse populations.

Upon completion of the program, our DPT graduates are prepared to:

1. Deliver value-based and consumer-centered patient/client management to diverse populations to optimize movement, function and health.
2. Abide by national and state regulatory and legal standards and adhere to the core values and ethical principles adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
3. Engage in interprofessional collaborative practice by effectively educating, communicating and partnering with consumers, peers, other healthcare and non-healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, third-party payers, and other stakeholders.
4. Critically appraise the literature and other resources to guide evidence-based physical therapy practice.
5. Influence the ever-changing health care landscape through personal leadership, advocacy, lifelong learning in the clinic, community, professional organizations and society.

Program Outcomes (Classes of 2023 and 2024)

• Graduation Rate: 96.33%
• First Time Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 89.3%
• Ultimate Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 97.05% (as of 07/2025)
• Employment Rate: 100%

Did You Know?

• The length of study for this program is nine semesters.
• Students enter the program during the Spring semester.

Certifications and Licensures

The UAB Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program is designed to lead to professional licensure in Physical Therapy. While graduates of the program are eligible for the licensure examination, specific licensure requirements vary from state to state. The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) based on the following: Accreditation of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program by CAPTE satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.

Please visit the UAB Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state and territories requirements.

Additional Information

Learn more about tuition and fees on the Office of Student Financial Aid website.