Weekend PTA to DPT Bridge Doctor of Physical Therapy

Overview

About the Program

We are a unique and innovative hybrid program with a history of successful graduation, employment, and board pass rates. The Weekend PTA to DPT Bridge Program is specifically designed for the working Physical Therapist Assistant. It is referred to as a bridge program because we bridge the gap between your knowledge as a working PTA with the skillset required to be a DPT. Our PTA to DPT Bridge Program prepares graduates to practice as generalist professional Doctor of Physical Therapists dedicated to life-long learning. 

Program

Highlights

At the University of Findlay, the Weekend PTA to DPT Bridge Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program prepares you to make a meaningful impact in healthcare and community settings by developing the clinical expertise, compassionate care, communication, and critical thinking skills needed to help individuals improve mobility, restore function, and enhance overall quality of life.

Admissions

Admissions Requirements

Students applying to the PTA to DPT Bridge program must meet the following admission requirements to be considered for admittance into the program: 

• Minimum overall and prerequisite grade point average of 3.0 in the undergraduate work (on a four-point scale). Courses with a grade below a “C” will not transfer but will be included in the cumulative grade point average. 

• Evidence of completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution recognized by the University of Findlay prior to enrollment in the program. 

• Four of the seven prerequisite classes must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher prior to submitting the application. 

• All seven prerequisites must be completed with a GPA of a 3.0 before a student can be fully admitted to the program. 

Students, whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a University of Findlay approved English speaking university, must meet the previously listed admission conditions plus the following for full admission: 

• Must have a verified International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 8 composite score with all bands of 7.5 or above, or an equivalent score as indicated on the University of Findlay’s English Exam Admission Standards. Full admission is dependent on satisfying all admission requirements. 

• Provide an affidavit of financial support (original), if not an American citizen or permanent resident. 

To see the full course descriptions and course numbers, please visit the University of Findlay catalog. To see how your credits transfer to the University of Findlay, view our transferology guide. 
 
Descriptions of these courses can be found in The University of Findlay undergraduate catalog. Students must receive a “C” or better in all prerequisite courses. Four of the seven prerequisite course groupings must be completed at the time of application. For purposes of determining 4/7 courses, the lecture and lab of the same course number is considered one course. The completed courses at the time of application will be used for calculating the prerequisite GPA for review of applications. All prerequisites and a baccalaureate degree must be completed prior to enrollment in the professional program. Any prerequisites completed after the application deadline will also be considered in a final prerequisite GPA calculation to ensure entering prerequisite GPA is above a 3.0. 
 
In addition, the following admission criteria must be met: 

1. Minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0. This includes classes from all institutions attended. 

2. In circumstances where the cumulative GPA is between 2.95 and 3.0 and course work was completed over seven years ago, the DPT Admissions Committee may consider the applicant’s last 64 hours of college course work and recalculate the GPA to determine if it meets the 3.0 minimum standard. 

3. Evidence of having graduated from a CAPTE accredited PTA program (transcripts may serve as evidence). 

4. Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution recognized by the University, with the possible exception of first-professional doctorate-degree holders, specifically when no baccalaureate degree was offered (e.g., PharmD, etc.), or a bachelor’s degree from PIMA Medical Institute or the Professional Skills Institute of Ohio, which contain the CAPTE Accredited PTA course work. 

5. Complete the Physical Therapy Central Application Service (PTCAS) which includes the Weekend PTA to DPT Bridge program supplemental application materials. 

6. Submit official transcripts, which can be found in the form of attested credentials from a University-recognized document verification agency (i.e., Centralized Application Service application). 

Students wishing to apply for admission the PTA to DPT Bridge Program must have completed the following prerequisite courses:  

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/ Lab 

• Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/ Lab 

• General Chemistry I/Lecture w/ Lab 

• General Chemistry II/Lecture w/ Lab 

• General Physics I/Lecture w/ Lab 

• General Physics II/Lecture w/ Lab 

• Elementary Statistics 

Do my courses Transfer? 

• Go to:  www.transferology.com 

Application Process: 

• Applicants will apply to the PTA to DPT Bridge program using PTCAS. 

• Applicants must also send official transcripts for all college credits to PTCAS. 

• All materials must be submitted by the deadline for consideration into the program. This process should be started at least six weeks prior to the deadline because it is a lengthy process, requiring two recommendation forms, an essay, and copy of your PTA license. 

• The program will utilize a priority admissions process with the following due dates. 

• Priority deadline: February 1 

• Final deadline: June 1  

• Applications for admissions are accepted when PTCAS opens beginning of October 1, which is 15 months prior to yearly program start date. Applicants who apply by the February 1 priority deadline will be given priority status in our admissions process as compared to applicants who apply later. The University of Findlay DPT program encourages students to apply by the priority admissions deadline. Students are encouraged to begin the application process at least six weeks in advance of the priority deadline of February 1. We will continue to accept applications until the final deadline of June 1. 

A maximum of 36 students are admitted into each cohort to begin the program in January. Several factors are considered during the selection process for each physical therapy class. These factors include grades, writing ability, recommendations, employment experience, leadership, community, and professional involvement. Students who are alumni of or currently enrolled at the University of Findlay are given special consideration in the application process. 

Curriculum

Course Requirements

Face-to-face class sessions will occur four times per term in fall, winter, and spring terms, for a total of 12 on-campus sessions per year. Currently, the summer semester is comprised of online coursework. Due to the nature of the bridge program, students will be responsible for content outside of on-campus sessions. Students in the program are required to work an average of 40 hours per month as a PTA to complement the coursework. In addition, students are expected to complete 30 weeks of clinical education experience along with 2 integrated clinical experiences. 

Students earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree must complete the following:    

Curriculum: The curriculum consists of required courses grounded in basic science with a liberal arts foundation, content areas of physical therapy, clinical sciences, clinical education, and the role of physical therapists in an everchanging healthcare environment. View the full curriculum in the University of Findlay Graduate Catalog.