Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives? Are you interested in the human body and how it functions? A career in physical therapy might be right for you!
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program at Eastern Washington University prepares students for successful careers as physical therapy practitioners. Students gain practical experience while learning from our skilled faculty. Our graduates practice in clinics, hospitals, and practices across the country.
Our nationally-ranked program has one of the lowest tuition rates in the country.
Get hands-on learning experience in our well-equipped research and anatomy labs.
Our diverse faculty is nationally recognized and respected in the profession.
You will participate in 2 semesters of part-time integrated clinical education experiences and 32 weeks of full-time experiences, with more than 1,000 locations from which to choose.
Our graduates have a high pass rate on the licensing exam and are highly sought after as employees in the profession.
For more curriculum information, visit our curriculum page.
Our class sizes are kept small each year to ensure that you get optimal learning opportunities, comprehensive instruction, and meaningful clinical experiences.
“With every patient I am utilizing verbal and nonverbal communication to build rapport and trust. I try my best to empower them by giving them education on their own resiliency and provide them with tools they can utilize in their lives.”
Read more about our partnership with the Union Gospel Mission.
Clinical Education – please revise to the following:
We are proud of the long tradition of excellent clinical education experiences during which our students are mentored by dedicated clinical faculty affiliated with our program.
EWU DPT students participate in integrated clinical education (ICE) experiences ½ day per week throughout their second year in the curriculum. Opportunities are available in a variety of settings including outpatient (OP) orthopedics (includes sports and pelvic health), OP neuro rehab, OP pediatrics, and adaptive climbing, as well as inpatient (IP) acute care and rehabilitation. During their final year, students participate in three full-time clinical education experiences for a total of 32 weeks. Students are required to complete one experience in an OP orthopedic setting and one in an IP setting. The third experience can be completed in any setting, it provides an opportunity to pursue a specialty setting, such as pediatrics, OP neuro rehab, home care, wound care, and more. Students must leave the greater Spokane area for at least one of their full-time experiences.
Students are required to fulfill compliance requirements prior to participation in clinical experiences. Compliance requirements include national and state criminal background checks (RCW 43.43.830), immunizations, and trainings (e.g., CPR, blood-borne pathogens). Some clinical sites require additional compliance requirements, such as drug screening. Criminal history, depending on the conviction, may limit or prevent clinical education placements and licensure. Exemption from immunizations may limit clinical education placement opportunities.
Graduates of our DPT Program are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and apply for licensure to practice in any state.
| Class of 2023 | Class of 2024 | Two Year Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 97.5% | 100% | 98.8% |
| NPTE Pass Rate | 97.4% | 97.3% | 97.4% |
| Employment Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Any party who has a vested interest in the Department of Physical Therapy at Eastern Washington University may file a complaint against the program or an employee of the program. Complaints can come from constituents within the program (e.g., faculty members, staff members, students) or outside the program (e.g., employers of the program’s graduates, off-campus supervisors, professionals, etc.). The nature of the complaint determines the steps that should be taken:
If you require further assistance in filing a complaint, contact the department chair, Dr. Kimberly Cleary at 509.828.1375 or kcleary@ewu.edu.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Eastern Washington University is accredited by the:
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
P: 703.706.3245
E: accreditation@apta.org
W: capteonline.org
If needing to contact the program directly, please call 509.828.1354 or email dpt@ewu.edu.