Two physical therapy students in the lab

Physical Therapy

As a physical therapist, you'll help patients recover from injuries, regain their mobility, and restore their health and well-being. Our six-year accelerated, direct-admit doctoral program is designed for students to go straight from their first year to the D.P.T., saving time and money while preparing to enter an expanding industry.

The program isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s rigorous and highly competitive to prepare you to be a respected clinical professional.

Need-based departmental scholarships are available.

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Pathways to a Doctorate in Physical Therapy

LVC provides one of the few direct-admit, first-year entry physical therapy programs in Pennsylvania. We also offer two separate pathways for early professional students and traditional graduate students.

Undergraduate Admission
Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Admission
Student Financial Fact Sheet
Student training student working with athlete in lab

Real Patients in Real Settings

Via Advanced Facilities

Enter the world of a working physical therapist through the doors of our Jeanne and Edward H. Arnold Health Professions Pavilion. You’ll be mentored by faculty experts with experience in pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, acute care, and home health physical therapy.

Via Clinical Training

During select semesters, and in your fifth-year summer program, you’ll have a rigorous 30-week clinical education experience where you’ll interact with patients directly and help them on the road to recovery. You also can extend your clinical experience by serving the community in our student-led C.U.R.E. Clinic, which offers free services to uninsured patients from the community.

See the CURE Clinic
$91,000
median salary for physical therapists in the U.S.—in a growing field
21%
growth rate in the field of physical therapy 2020–30 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
100%
ultimate pass rate for the Physical Therapy exam
100%
employment rate after one year
96.3%
first-time pass rate for licensure exam 2020–21 (two year average)
86%
graduation rate from the professional phase 2020–21 (two year average)

In Their Words

Unmatched Education
The education I’ve received from LVC PT faculty has been unmatched. I feel able to reach my full potential.
Lauren Vandenberg ’22, D’24
Leadership Skills
Typically, our students have more than one job offer, and they often move into leadership positions within a few years.
Dr. Katie Oriel, Professor of Physical Therapy
Strong Reputation
The strong reputation of the DPT program in the Central PA region and the C.U.R.E. student-run pro bono clinic were factors that influenced my decision to attend LVC.
Kristin Miller D’16, Physical Therapy Doctoral Graduate
The education I’ve received from LVC PT faculty has been unmatched. I feel able to reach my full potential.
Lauren Vandenberg ’22, D’24
Typically, our students have more than one job offer, and they often move into leadership positions within a few years.
Dr. Katie Oriel, Professor of Physical Therapy
The strong reputation of the DPT program in the Central PA region and the C.U.R.E. student-run pro bono clinic were factors that influenced my decision to attend LVC.
Kristin Miller D’16, Physical Therapy Doctoral Graduate

Featured News & Stories

Browse All News
Arnold Health Professionals Building
Recovery from ACL Injuries Subject of $1.5 Million Department of Defense Research Grant
Cortney Parsell
Making a Difference through Sports: LVC Student’s Practicum Experience
Andrew Pipkin head shot
Go Above and Beyond
Arnold Health Professionals Building
Recovery from ACL Injuries Subject of $1.5 Million Department of Defense Research Grant
Cortney Parsell
Making a Difference through Sports: LVC Student’s Practicum Experience
Andrew Pipkin head shot
Go Above and Beyond

Picture Yourself Here

Physical therapist student working with patient.
Physical Therapy lab
Physical therapy lab
Physical therapist student working with patient.
Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates