Physical Therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy)

Program Overview

Wilson College’s entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program is an accelerated hybrid program structured for completion in two academic years across six semesters (108 credit hours). Instruction integrates online synchronous and asynchronous coursework with intensive lab immersions at the program’s King of Prussia, Pennsylvania facility.

Lab Site:  Wilson College  •  1275 Drummers Lane, Suite 100  •  Wayne, PA 19087

Mission

Empower future physical therapists to become principled leaders who revolutionize healthcare outcomes and transform people’s quality of life through deep understanding, bold advocacy, and dedicated service.

Vision

Integrate fully as compassionate healthcare providers.

Inspire empowerment within healthcare and those we serve.

Impact healthcare outcomes by transforming lives.

Program Design and Delivery

The curriculum advances intentionally from foundational biopsychosocial and clinical sciences through diagnostic reasoning, evidence-based practice, and doctoral-level clinical competency. Students develop mastery across diverse patient populations, conditions, and practice settings throughout the lifespan. A signature curricular emphasis on direct access, primary care, and population health prepares graduates to practice at the full scope of the profession and to function as autonomous entry points into the healthcare system.

Accreditation Status

Wilson College is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on November 1, 2026. Submission of this document does not ensure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

Admissions Policies

Admission to the WC DPT Program aligns with Wilson College institutional policies and is granted on a space-available basis following a competitive, holistic, and transparent review of each applicant’s complete submitted materials through PTCAS. The DPT Program is committed to identifying candidates who reflect the values, intellectual capacity, professional character, and mission alignment required of a doctoring physical therapist.

Applicants presenting with priority pool status are processed in advance of the general pool. General pool processing begins in June of each calendar year, after priority pool review is complete. All applications receive one of the following determinations:

A non-refundable seat deposit is required to formally reserve an accepted applicant’s place in the incoming DPT cohort.

Admissions Criteria

The DPT Program offers two distinct admissions pathways. All applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The GRE is not required. All pathways maintain full alignment with CAPTE admissions standards.

Holistic Admissions Considerations

The Admissions Committee uses a rubric-based holistic review process. Applicants with a cumulative GPA modestly below 3.0 may be considered in limited circumstances when clear and substantive evidence of readiness is demonstrated — such as strong prerequisite or science performance, an upward academic trend, rigor of coursework, or substantial professional and clinical experience. Applicants whose academic record does not fully reflect their potential are invited to provide additional context regarding background or life circumstances that may have influenced academic performance.

The following factors are weighted as priority considerations within the holistic review:

• Current Military Service or Veteran status
• Rural & underserved community location
• First-generation college professional
• Returning college student with previous workforce experience
• Documented service experience
• Completed behavioral questionnaires (Self-Regulation, Grit, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience)
• Upward Academic Trend

   

  Prerequisite Coursework (Traditional Pathway)

  Nine prerequisite courses are required, each completed with a grade of B or higher. A minimum of six of the nine must be completed at the time of application submission. All nine must be reflected on official transcripts prior to matriculation. One course repeat maximum is permitted for core science prerequisites.

  Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)

  Must have been completed within the last 10 years

  Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)

  Must have been completed within the last 10 years

  General Biology I (with lab)

  —

  General Chemistry I (with lab)

  —

  General Physics I (with lab)

  —

  General Physics II (with lab)

  —

  Two (2) Psychology Courses (e.g., General, Abnormal, Developmental)

  Two courses required

  One (1) Statistics Course (e.g., General Statistics, Biostatistics, Research Design)

  One course required

  Encouraged and recommended (not required): Pathophysiology, Neuroscience, Medical Terminology, Kinesiology.

  Degree Requirements

  Prospective students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of the program. Official transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted. The DPT Program does not accept transfer credits from other physical therapy programs to fulfill any coursework or degree requirements.

  Matriculation and Graduation Standards

  The program is a sequential, competency-based curriculum. Progression from one term to the next is contingent upon demonstrated performance that meets or exceeds defined academic, clinical, and professional thresholds. Students who do not meet established academic standards or professional standards will be referred to the Coordinator of Student Affairs for specific action plans in alignment with specific breaches in academic policies and coordinated with the student’s Core Faculty Advisor and the Course Faculty member.

  Matriculation Standards for Term-to-Term Progression

  To progress from one term to the next, a student must satisfy the following standards:

  Academic Performance

  Clinical & Professional Standards

  Graduation Standards Required for Degree Conferral

  To be eligible for degree conferral, a student must satisfy the following requirements:

  Academic Completion

  Clinical Education Completion

  Professional Development

• Academic Remediation and Probation Policy

  Failure to meet established academic or non-academic standards will result in referral to the Student Performance Committee. Grounds for referral include, but are not limited to: academic standing, grade performance, professional behavior concerns, performance expectation concerns, patient or peer safety concerns, readiness for progression to clinical education, excessive absences, academic integrity violations, or other identified matriculation concerns.

  An individualized Action Plan will be developed by the Student Performance Committee to address identified challenges. Action Plans specify measurable corrective steps, assigned supervisory and advisory responsibilities, and explicit timelines for resolution. Possible outcomes include remediation, probation, deceleration, leave of absence, or — in the most serious cases — dismissal from the Program.

  Dismissal Policy

  Dismissal — with or without the privilege of re-enrollment — from the WC DPT Program is a serious decision initiated with approval of the Program Director and Provost and determined by the Student Performance Committee and the Graduate Studies Council. This determination may be related to academic or non-academic concerns. Generally, prior documented intervention with probation status precedes dismissal; however, prior intervention is not mandatory and is determined by the specific circumstances. Every student subject to a dismissal recommendation has the right to due process. No dismissal will be finalized without satisfying the established due process requirements.

   

  Grounds for Dismissal:

  Academic Performance

• Failure to complete the terms of an approved Student Performance Committee Action Plan within specified timelines.
• Receipt of a non-passing grade (C–, D, or F) in a required DPT Program course following a remediation opportunity, or a pattern of non-passing grades.
• Failure to achieve or maintain the minimum term GPA of 3.0 following Student Performance Committee review and intervention.
• Failure to meet clinical education performance standards following a remediation opportunity.
• Failure to demonstrate the prerequisite academic benchmarks required for progression to clinical education, as determined by DPT Program faculty and the Student Performance Committee.

   

  Academic Integrity

• Confirmed violation of the WC Academic Integrity Statement Policy.
• Academic dishonesty committed during a remediation activity.
• A pattern of academic integrity concerns demonstrating willful disregard for the ethical standards of the profession.

   

  Non-Academic / Professional Conduct

• Egregious or repeated violations of professional behavior standards.
• A documented patient, peer, or public safety violation in a clinical education, lab, or simulation environment that demonstrates incompetence, recklessness, or willful disregard for patient welfare.
• Any conduct that seriously discredits the student, the DPT Program, Wilson College, or the physical therapy profession.
• HIPAA violations, breaches of patient confidentiality, or violations of clinical site policies of sufficient severity to constitute a fundamental breach of professional obligations.
• Conduct demonstrating a fundamental breach of the APTA Code of Ethics, APTA Core Values, or the ethical standards of an entry-level physical therapist.

• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80 at the conclusion of Semester 1 and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 from Semester 2 forward.
• Earn a passing final grade (A through C, or P) in all required DPT Program courses in the preceding term. The only course the student must get ³ B is Human Anatomy.

• Satisfy all applicable Essential Functions and Technical Standards.
• Demonstrate professional attitudes, behaviors, and conduct required of a developing physical therapy practitioner.
• Prior to advancement to clinical education, receive a satisfactory recommendation on the Assessment of Student Readiness for Clinical Education (ASRCE) instrument, as evaluated by the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) and the Clinical Education Committee.

• Successfully earn a final passing grade in every required DPT Program course.
• Achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher at the time of graduation clearance.

• Successfully complete all three required clinical education experiences (DPT-670, DPT-675, DPT-680), earning a satisfactory (Pass) performance evaluation in each.
• Receive a determination of entry-level clinical readiness on the CIET final clinical performance instrument for each required clinical placement.

• Complete all required elements of the Academic and Clinical Requirements.
• Demonstrate satisfactory attainment of the professional behaviors, values, and dispositions expected of an entry-level physical therapy practitioner.