Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Physical therapists are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Graduates will earn a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree and must pass the national licensure exam to practice as a physical therapist.

Students can earn the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree at UB through two paths:

• 3 + 3 combined exercise science BS/DPT
• 4 + 3 traditional DPT

Only UB students are eligible to enter through the 3 + 3 combined Exercise Science BS/DPT program. All other students must have earned a bachelor’s degree before entering the DPT program.

A minimum prerequisite course GPA of 3.0 and a grade of C- or better in all prerequisite coursework is required.

• UB’s DPT program has enjoyed continuous CAPTE accreditation since its inception in 1952.
• UB is the only 3 + 3 DPT program within the SUNY system where you can complete all six years at the same university.
• Our board exam pass rate, employment rate and graduation rate can be seen in the table below.
• UB’s DPT program is an excellent value.  The average student debt of the UB DPT graduating class of 2022 was $70,770, as reported on the annual CAPTE Financial Fact Sheet.
• You'll complete 52 weeks of clinical affiliations throughout your three years in the DPT program, more than nearly any program in the nation. We highly value practical experience.
• Our curriculum alternates between the classroom and five clinical affiliations so that the classroom informs clinical learning and the clinic informs classroom learning.
• Our small class size (42 to 44 students) allows for individual attention.
• Nearly 100% of our faculty have advanced doctoral training (PhD or EdD) and are active in research.
• You'll gain additional educational experiences in the Behling Simulation Center and Clinical Competency Center, where you can engage in clinical practice with standardized patients. You will also participate in interprofessional education experiences with students from UB’s 12 health professions programs.
• UB is a flagship institution in the State University of New York system, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the 64-campus system. UB is a member of the Association of American Universities.

*Of those seeking employment

Our tuition is low compared to DPT programs at private institutions.  Buffalo also has a low cost of living. View our straightforward cost of attendance calculations.

The National Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) requires accredited programs to disclose the average student loan debt of their graduating cohorts. The average student debt of the UB DPT graduating class of 2022 was $70,770. 

Full CAPTE student financial reporting requirements are updated on this website annually. 

There is a high demand for physical therapists in the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.

With a doctor of physical therapy degree, you are eligible to sit for the licensure exam to practice physical therapy in New York or the state of your choice. Once licensed, you will be prepared to work in a range of settings helping people of all ages and abilities.

UB graduates have a distinct employment advantage. Our five clinical rotations are separated by time spent in the classroom. This learning experience allows you to put concepts from the classroom into practice, while also bringing real-world experience back to the classroom. Our graduates cite this comprehensive training as the key to helping them attain jobs by the time they graduate or soon after.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University at Buffalo 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. If you need to contact the program or institution directly, please call Mary Ann Venezia at (716) 829-6742 or email venezia3@buffalo.edu.

An individual or organization that is unsatisfied with their experience or encounter with any student, faculty or staff member of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University at Buffalo should file a written complaint against the program. There is a prohibition of any retaliation against the person filing the complaint. The complaint will be kept on file by the Physical Therapy Director’s files under “Program Complaints” for a period of five years. 

Complaints should be addressed to:

Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
University at Buffalo
Department of Rehabilitation Science
501 Kimball Tower
3435 Main St
Buffalo, N.Y. 14214