The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will graduate highly qualified doctors of physical therapy prepared to provide culturally proficient and linguistically competent care in our border region and beyond. We endeavor to develop leaders who are committed to patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, our community's health, life-long learning, and the advancement of the physical therapy profession.

The College of Health Sciences and the university overall are experiencing rapid advancement. The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is housed at Campbell Building at 1101 N Campbell along with the rest of the Rehabilitation Sciences Department. Additionally, we have the opportunity to use the state-of-the-art Center for Simulation at the Health Sciences and Nursing Building on main campus.


The UTEP Doctor of Physical Therapy Program philosophy is centered around four themes:

First, we believe that a strong and reciprocal student-faculty relationship is the foundation of a successful learning environment. Both students and faculty have the responsibility and power to contribute to teaching and active learning.

Second, we believe that the development of self-regulated learners is at the foundation of producing graduates dedicated to lifelong learning. We recognize that our most important charge is not to merely deliver information but to teach our students how to learn. We focus on critical thinking, evidence acquisition and critique, and self-reflection across the curriculum.

Third, we believe that the program has a duty to be engaged in the community, and that community engagement is a powerful teaching strategy.

Finally, we believe that we must be agents of change and must mold our students into agents of change for the good of our community and our profession.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree requires 9 consecutive semesters, full-time, in a lock-step program. Students enter in May and graduate in May, 3 years later. The program is both challenging and rewarding. Following graduation, students are eligible to take the national licensure exam. Successful outcome on the licensure examination qualifies the graduate to work in any of the 50 states. We are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), recognized by United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

We welcome you to consider joining our wonderful profession and to receive your education in our unique region.

If the UTEP DPT Program offers admission to an applicant, the applicant will be required to pay a non-refundable $200 deposit when the offer is accepted. The applicant must pay this non-refundable deposit in order to hold a spot in the incoming cohort. The $200 will be applied toward the applicant's first-semester (summer) tuition in the UTEP DPT Program. If the applicant withdraws from the UTEP DPT Program after paying the deposit, the $200 will be forfeited to the UTEP DPT Program. 

Accepted applicant will have 5 business days from date of acceptance to pay the deposit.  We will not require payment until after Jan 15.

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) commits itself to providing quality higher education to a diverse student population. Classified as a R1 Doctoral University, UTEP seeks to extend the greatest possible educational access to a region which has been geographically isolated with limited economic and educational opportunities for many of its people. To that end, we endeavor to offer admission to the most qualified applicants from the El Paso region. However, we value diversity and encourage applicants from outside of the region who have a commitment to our university and program mission to apply to our program.