Physical Therapy students practice in lab

Doctor of Physical Therapy Post-Baccalaureate

Become a Doctor of Physical Therapy in three years, without leaving Pennsylvania. LVC's in-person, post-baccalaureate DPT program pairs rigorous, CAPTE-accredited coursework with hands-on clinical training at the Arnold Health Professions Pavilion, preparing you to practice with confidence from day one.

From your first semester, you'll learn alongside faculty who are still practicing clinicians themselves, building the real-world judgment that licensure exams and future patients will both expect of you.

Next start date: May 13, 2027
2027 Application Submission Deadline: October 15, 2026

Request Info Apply Now

The DPT Program at a Glance

Located in Annville, Pennsylvania, LVC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a post-baccalaureate, in-person pathway into one of healthcare’s most in-demand careers. CAPTE-accredited and grounded in hands-on clinical training from the start, the program prepares you to sit for licensure and enter practice as a skilled, adaptable physical therapist in as few as three years. View the student financial fact sheet (.docx).

112
credits
$133,034
Estimated total tuition and fees, based on 2026–27 rates
30 weeks
full-time clinical education
3 years
time to completion
Arnold Health Professions Pavilion at sunset

What You’ll Study

The DPT curriculum unfolds in two phases: an in-depth didactic phase covering the foundational sciences and clinical reasoning every physical therapist needs, followed by a clinical education phase built around real, supervised patient care.

Featured Courses

  • PHT 617 Health Promotion for Self and Society: Students will begin to identify community needs that would benefit from a physical therapy program of prevention, health promotion, wellness, and screening services.
  • PHT 835 Patient Management Seminar Electives: Topics include: Manual Therapy (hands-on treatments), Advanced Neurological PT, Sports PT, Acute Care (hospital-based), Pelvic Health, Advanced Pediatrics (children & adolescence), Geriatrics (older adults), Oncology (i.e. cancer), and Leadership.
  • PHT 840 Clinical Readiness & Review: The purpose of this course is to ensure student readiness for their final clinical affiliation as well as prepare them to successfully pass their Physical Therapy licensure examination.
Explore All Courses
Physical Therapy students practice in lab

Facilities & Clinical Experience

The Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion

The Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion is LVC’s state-of-the-art $20m facility where you’ll learn the intricacies of the human body in the cadaver anatomy lab and perform exercise testing in the Lewis Human Performance Lab.

The CURE Clinic

You will gain experience and serve the community through the student-led CURE Clinic, where students schedule and treat uninsured patients from the community entirely free of charge.

Find out more about the CURE Clinic

Careers and Outcomes

LVC’s Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates don’t just finish — they succeed.
First accredited in 2006, LVC’s DPT program has spent nearly two decades building a track record. Over the past two years, 98.9% of grads have passed their licensure exam on their ultimate attempt, 91.7% passed on their first try, 100% found employment, and 96.3% completed the program’s professional phase.

That success carries straight into the field: physical therapists earn a median $101,020 a year in a profession projected to grow 11% through 2034, and LVC ranks among the top 20% of colleges nationally for kinesiology and physical therapy.

98.9%
ultimate licensure exam pass rate 2024–25 (two year average)
100%
employment rate 2023–24 (two year average)
91.7%
first time licensure exam pass rate 2025–26 (two year average)
96.3%
graduation rate from the professional phase 2023–24 (two year average)
$101,020
median pay for physical therapists, 2024 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
11%
growth rate in the field of physical therapy 2024–34 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Top 20%
of Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Physical Therapy in America

In Their Words

A Lifetime of Preparation
LVC’s program instilled in me the values of continuing to learn and improve myself even after I graduated. I have sought out opportunities to continue to learn and grow as a professional after graduation, and plan to continue to do this for the rest of my career.
Dr. Andrew Pipkin ’08, D’11, Medical Director, Major League Baseball
Inspiring Faculty
I’m very thankful for the professors we had at LVC. They’re full of life, they keep you entertained, and most of them still practice. They’re up to date on the latest research, and it feeds us directly. That’s why LVC excels.
Dr. Corey Baldwin ’14, D’16, Physical Therapist, Excel Physical Therapy
Vast Experience
The most important benefits from these clinical experiences away from the classroom are developing communication skills, enhancing your therapeutic skillset of exercises and hands-on care, and building upon your entry-level knowledge base. Without these out-of-classroom experiences, I would not have the confidence as the clinician I am today.
Dr. Dakota Strohl ’18, D’20, Staff Therapist, Robbins Rehab West
LVC’s program instilled in me the values of continuing to learn and improve myself even after I graduated. I have sought out opportunities to continue to learn and grow as a professional after graduation, and plan to continue to do this for the rest of my career.
Dr. Andrew Pipkin ’08, D’11, Medical Director, Major League Baseball
I’m very thankful for the professors we had at LVC. They’re full of life, they keep you entertained, and most of them still practice. They’re up to date on the latest research, and it feeds us directly. That’s why LVC excels.
Dr. Corey Baldwin ’14, D’16, Physical Therapist, Excel Physical Therapy
The most important benefits from these clinical experiences away from the classroom are developing communication skills, enhancing your therapeutic skillset of exercises and hands-on care, and building upon your entry-level knowledge base. Without these out-of-classroom experiences, I would not have the confidence as the clinician I am today.
Dr. Dakota Strohl ’18, D’20, Staff Therapist, Robbins Rehab West

Admission Requirements

Before you apply, here’s what to have ready:

  • 3.0 GPA cumulative average (on a 4.0 scale)
  • 2.8 GPA in all science courses (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Completion of all pre-requisite coursework (within the last 10 years) with a grade of “C” or better: General Biology I & II, Principles of Chemistry I & II, General Physics I & II, Statistics, Psychology, Anatomy, and Physiology.
  • Exposure to physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of at least 30 observation hours, preferably in more than one PT practice setting.

Review the full admission requirements for a complete breakdown of prerequisites, deadlines, and application materials.

See Admission Requirements

receive up to $65,000 to Repay Loans

Lebanon Valley College Doctor of Physical Therapy students can receive up to $65,000 in loan repayment from their future employer through the Scholars Network program.

With physical therapist pay ranked in the top 20% of healthcare occupations nationally, the loan repayment support below can meaningfully offset the program’s $133,034 estimated total cost, making the investment easier to plan around from day one.

Explore Scholars Network Loan Repayment Opportunities

Resources

Graduate Tuition & Costs
7-week Term Calendar
Academic Calendar
Graduate Housing Options

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Michael Fink
Michael Fink

Chair & Professor of Physical Therapy

fink@lvc.edu

717-867-6847

AHPP 225
Dr. Tina Freshman
Tina Freshman

Assistant Director of Clinical Education

freshman@lvc.edu
Dr. Joseph Hribick
Joseph Hribick ’09, DPT ’11

Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

hribick@lvc.edu

717-867-6840
Dr. Kristin Kissling
Kristin Kissling

Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

Director of Clinical Education

kissling@lvc.edu
Dr. Justin T. Mierzwicki
Justin Mierzwicki

Associate Provost of Inclusive Excellence

Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Therapy

mierzwic@lvc.edu

717-867-6840

Humanities 104
Dr. Kathryn Oriel
Kathryn Oriel

Professor of Physical Therapy

Associate Provost of Health Sciences

oriel@lvc.edu

717-867-6852

AHPP 224
Dr. Charles Salvo
Charles Salvo

Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy

salvo@lvc.edu

717-867-6857
Dr. Matthew M. Walko
Matthew Walko

Clinical Professor of Physical Therapy

walko@lvc.edu

717-867-6854

AHPP 215

Frequently Asked Questions

The program is delivered in person as a post-baccalaureate professional doctorate.

The estimated total cost is $133,034 at 2026 to 2027 rates, before financial aid. View the student financial fact sheet (.docx) or the full breakdown of costs here.

Applicants must have the following admission requirements:

  • 3.0 GPA cumulative average (on a 4.0 scale)
  • 2.8 GPA in all science courses (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Completion of all pre-requisite coursework (within the last 10 years) with a grade of “C” or better: General Biology I & II, Principles of Chemistry I & II, General Physics I & II, Statistics, Psychology, Anatomy, and Physiology.

Yes. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Lebanon Valley College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). For further questions, please visit the CAPTE website or contact:

3030 Potomac Ave.
Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Telephone: 703-706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org

If you need to contact the program/institution directly, please call (717) 867-6840 or email fink@lvc.edu.

Clinical experience is built into every stage of the program. Students get early, hands-on exposure during a 5-week part-time clinical in year one, then move into a combined 30 weeks of full-time clinical education in years 2 and 3, working with patients across diverse settings, treating conditions ranging from musculoskeletal injuries to neurological disorders and disabilities, from infancy through adulthood. This progression is designed to build real clinical confidence well before graduation, which alumni frequently cite as a defining part of their LVC experience.

The CURE Clinic is LVC’s student-run, pro bono physical therapy clinic that serves uninsured patients in the local community under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. It’s one of the clearest ways LVC’s DPT program puts hands-on learning into practice.

Learn more about the CURE Clinic.

A basic background in exercise science is preferred but not required. The majority of students have completed undergraduate coursework in exercise science prior to entry into the DPT program.

98.9% over the two most recent years on record (2024 to 2025), with a 91.7% first-time pass rate in 2025 to 2026.

Yes. LVC reports a 100% employment rate among graduates over the two most recent years on record (2023 to 2024).

Eligible graduates can receive up to $65,000 in loan repayment through employer-sponsored positions in the Scholars Network program.

Ready to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy?

Request Info
Apply Now

Visit Our Campus

Find out more about the DPT program, tour the campus, and see our state-of-the-art health science facilities during a personalized campus visit.

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Join us October 29 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
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Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

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Join us November 5 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
Register

Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us November 12 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
Register

The Grad School Guide: Understanding Costs & Funding Options

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Thinking about graduate school? Join us for a practical overview of graduate education costs and funding options.
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Featured News & Stories

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Matt Weese ’24, M’26, Colin Winters ’27, and Nick Gleason ’27
LVC Students Build Strength & Conditioning Skills with Division I Football Internships
Shelly Bliss
LVC DPT Student Turns Personal Experience into Purpose
As part of an ongoing hunter health study, fifth-year Lebanon Valley College physical therapy student Evan Kutzler checks the resting heart rate and blood pressure of Lebanon County hunter Greg Lee during the NRA Great American Outdoor Show. (Photo by Tyler Frantz)
Lebanon Valley College Conducts Hunter Health Study
Matt Weese ’24, M’26, Colin Winters ’27, and Nick Gleason ’27
LVC Students Build Strength & Conditioning Skills with Division I Football Internships
Shelly Bliss
LVC DPT Student Turns Personal Experience into Purpose
As part of an ongoing hunter health study, fifth-year Lebanon Valley College physical therapy student Evan Kutzler checks the resting heart rate and blood pressure of Lebanon County hunter Greg Lee during the NRA Great American Outdoor Show. (Photo by Tyler Frantz)
Lebanon Valley College Conducts Hunter Health Study

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Lebanon Valley College 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: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 717-867-6840 or email fink@lvc.edu.

CAPTE Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education Verify Status badge