Hawai‘i Pacific University
Doctor of Physical
Therapy Programs
Hybrid DPT. 2 Years. 2 Programs.
Learn More
- Located in beautiful downtown Honolulu, 6 miles from the airport
- Brand new lab immersion space located in Kaka’ako at Waterfront Plaza overlooking the Pacific Ocean
- Opportunity for interprofessional collaboration with other Graduate College of Health Sciences programs.
- Kamaʻāina can continue to live in Hawai‘i for school and serve the community once they’ve graduated.
- Off-island students have the opportunity to experience the natural wonders of Hawai‘i and the unique ‘ohana they’ll join.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2024
Classes Start: August 26, 2024
- Brand new lab immersion space designed specifically for the DPT program with opportunities for interprofessional collaboration with the HPU OTD – Las Vegas program.
- Located southwest of the Las Vegas strip, 15 minutes from the airport.
- Students can enjoy the ideal climate, numerous outdoor activities, robust culinary scene, professional sports teams, and entertainment options that Las Vegas has to offer
- Over 30 airlines offer direct flights to Las Vegas, making our campus accessible to students all over the country.
Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
Classes Start: January 6, 2025
Experience an efficient approach to physical therapy education with a contemporary curriculum that covers evaluation and intervention of patients across the lifespan and includes health promotion & fitness, primary care, business, pain science, and more, to prepare you for the future of the profession.
Participate in a vigorous learning environment blending distance education with the vibrant atmosphere of one of our captivating urban campuses for hands-on lab immersions. Our comprehensive educational journey and enriching clinical education experiences across the U.S., foster a collaborative physical therapy community.
Engage with a cohort of students dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that values the unique perspectives, talents, and contributions of each individual. Embrace the multicultural experience within a vibrant learning environment that prepares students to thrive as culturally competent providers in physical therapy practice.
- Complete a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to class beginning. Admission may be granted
pending completion of the degree. - Complete all required pre-requisite courses with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) and pre-requisite course GPA of
3.00 or greater on a 4.00 scale. - Grades Below “C” (2.0) in pre-requisite courses will not be accepted.
- If cumulative GPA is less than 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, an applicant may still be eligible for admission if a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or
greater has been achieved over the last 60 trimester or 90 quarter hour credits of coursework. - Submission of two professional references.
- Completion of 50 hours of volunteer or employed experience in two or more settings with a licensed physical therapist is
recommended, but not required. - For all applicants for whom English is not their first language or those who have completed a degree and pre-requisite courses in a
foreign country, demonstration of English language proficiency is required through completion of the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) exam. The minimum required TOEFL scores is 89 (22 Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Writing, 24 Speaking). - Successful completion of a virtual, asynchronous admission interview through Kira Talent. Applicants are selected for interviews
based on a holistic evaluation of their application and supporting materials. - Ability to fulfill the technical standards and essential functions of the DPT program for admission.
- Complete an approved Background Check and Drug Screening prior to matriculation.
Effective November 2, 2021, Hawaiʻi Pacific University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706- 3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 808-544-0803 or email dpt@hpu.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website.
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website.
Hawaiʻi Pacific University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure 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 CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedure (22.3.12) 53 progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
