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Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree?

The DPT is the graduate entry-level clinical degree for physical therapy requiring the completion of an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, the graduate DPT degree, and the National License Exam.
Physical Therapists work with people of all ages in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: rehabilitation, out-patient clinics, acute care hospitals, school settings, sports injuries, burn units, home care.


How much does tuition cost?  (Updated January, 2024)

The most current information is based upon the CUNY Board of Trustees (BoT) who determines tuition for all CUNY colleges. Tuition is based upon resident status.  The currently enrolled students will progress though the DPT Program at their current DPT tuition rates. 

Tuition is revised by a small percentage each academic year for all students based upon a plan approved by NYS.  This replaced a stable tuition for a few years followed by dramatic increases.  All tuition rates are subject to change and are for estimation only.  Go to the Hunter College Graduate Catalog Tuition and Fees schedule for more details.

    In-State Full-Time per Semester Tuition $6,595
    In-State per Credit Tuition $685
    Out-of-State per Credit Tuition $1,075
    Average Annual Program Fees $358.57

Am I eligible for financial aid?

Once you are accepted into The DPT Program at Hunter College, you may contact the financial aid office at Hunter College, where detailed information is available. Hunter College participates in all New York State and Federal financial aid programs. Applicants seeking financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year as soon as possible after January 1st in the year you are seeking admission. Be sure to indicate the Hunter College ID code (TBA) on your application.  The PT Program does not offer scholarships.  Our scholarship is equal to all NYS residents, which is our in-state tuition.  Non-residents may become eligible for the NYS Resident rate after following the guidelines for establishing residency within NYS.

The Physical Therapy program does hire students approved for Federal Work-Study. However, scholarships are not available at this time.  Students must follow all instructions and sign the required promissory note before funds can be released.  The Financial Aid Office will not complete its verification of aid to incoming students until after registration for the first summer of the program has been processed.

 

Is housing available?

Housing is not available on the Brookdale Campus, where the Physical Therapy Program is located.  However, you should contact the Residence Life office of Hunter College (481-4310) or their website  the Residence Life website for assistance with locating housing.

 

Do I need to take the GRE and the TOEFL?

Applicants who do not have a degree from an English-speaking country must obtain a passing grade on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The GRE is required for admission. These scores, along with all application requirements, are considered in the admission process.

 

What is the class size?

Enrollment caps at 32 students per entering cohort.

 

What percentage of Hunter College DPT students pass the National Physical Therapy (NPTE) licensure examination?

Graduates of the Hunter College DPT program consistently perform at, or above, the national average in the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) required for licensure.
Click here to download a summary page of our most recent graduates' performance. 

 

What are graduation rates, employment rates and NPTE ultimate and first time passing rates for the program?

Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Class of 2023 2022-23 average
Initial Class Size 32
32 32 32
% Graduates 91%
96.9% 96.9% 96.9%
Employed 6 months post graduation*
100%
100%
100% 100%
First-Time Licensure Exam Pass Rate 89.7% 90.3% 83.9% 87.1%
Ultimate Licensure Exam Pass Rate 100%
100%
100% 100%

* all graduates who have chosen to seek employment at this time are employed.


What is the program's environment for students?

Our educational environment is one of the many positive aspects of our Program. Students work together and develop relationships that often last years after graduation.  Enrollment in the Program is capped at 32 students to ensure a high faculty to student ratio. Our class and lab rooms are large enough to accommodate all students comfortably. 

 

What kind of resources are available to students?

All DPT students have access to resources available at the Hunter's Brookdale Campus and Hunter's main campus on 68th Street. The Brookdale campus has a Health Professions Library, the Health Professions Education Center, and various computer labs. Each classroom is equipped with a laptop cart MacBook Pro laptops for the exclusive use of our PT students during exams and in classroom activities.  The PT department is equipped with wireless internet access.

 

I’m a licensed physical therapist but do not have a DPT degree. Do you have a post-professional DPT program?

The Hunter College Physical Therapy program is an entry-level, full-time DPT curriculum.  It is not a post-professional (transitional) DPT program for physical therapists who have entered the profession with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.  We do not provide a post-professional DPT program or part-time enrollment.

 

I'm an international student. What do I need to know about applying to the PT program?

Translations and evaluation of transcripts from colleges outside the U. S. must be completed early in the application process. The Graduate Admissions Office at Hunter College compiles the documents and issues the I–20 form. Please refer to the graduate catalog or graduate application for more detailed information.  International students should first contact the Hunter College Graduate Admissions Office to determine if they have a Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Hunter College degree.  If your degree from another country is deemed equivalent, you may then contact the DPT Program for guidance on our prerequisite and other admissions requirements.  (A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS, BFA etc), coupled with our prerequisites, is a minimum requirement to be eligible for admission.

 

What if I'm a foreign-trained Physical Therapist?

If you are qualified to work as a physical therapist in another country, you may not need to apply to our program. Contact the New York State Board of Physical Therapy to determine if your education allows you to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).  For more information on licensure requirements in New York State, use this link (http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pt/ptlic.htm).

The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) provides a service that assists foreign applicants whose educational credentials have not been found to be equivalent to the first professional degree in physical therapy in the United States. You can contact the commission for additional information at: FCCPT, 124 West Street South, 3rd Floor, Alexandria, VA  22314 or by phone at 703-684-8406.    The Managing Director of the FCCPT recommends you visit their website (FCCPT) and read the general information section “Where do I start?” , then read the “Overview of steps to follow”  for that service.  

If you are told you need additional coursework or supervised clinical experience in order to qualify for the NPTE licensing examination, The FCCPT has a Planned Learning and Assistance Network (PLAN) of PT Programs that will assist you in meeting those requirements. Hunter College does not have a mechanism for admitting part time students to complete this requirement.

If you wish to become a licensed physical therapist in the U.S., you must apply to an accredited physical therapy program. The DPT Program at Hunter College will require you to apply to, and complete our entire curriculum. We do not waive courses from other colleges or universities. 


Do you offer iinformation sessions? 

The program hosts several virtual information sessions across the year. Each session covers the program, the prerequisites, and the admissions process, and will answer any other questions you may have regarding entry into the Hunter College DPT Program. For more information about our next open house, please refer to the home page for a schedule of information sessions and registration process. 


Where do I submit my application and transcripts?

The admission process is to be completed online.  Please note that we do not participate in PTCAS.  Applicants must compile all supporting documents (transcripts and letters of recommendation) and submit them electronically to the Graduate Admissions Office via the online application system.  In addition to information in the program's admission page, https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/pt/admissions, please also review the following page on the Graduate Admissions website: ttp://www.hunter.cuny.edu/graduateadmissions/program-requirements/pt 

To contact the Graduate Admissions Office, please email  gradadmissions@hunter.cuny.edu  or call 212-396-6049.

 

What do I need to do once I'm accepted?

The interview process is usually completed by the end of December and notification of acceptances begin in early January. This process continues until a class of 32 is confirmed.  Applicants being offered a seat will be notifed by the Office of Graduate Admissions and by the Department of Physical Therapy.  All applicants are asked to respond to an offer of admission ASAP so that the admission cycle may continue to move forward.  An in-person orientation day for the incoming cohort takes place in mid-spring.  Information on all aspects of the program is provided during orientation.  This is also a time when faculty and students have an opportunity to spend time together across activities designed to foster the beginning of the collaborative and growth designed experience of the 3 year program.

If you are completing your undergraduate degree during the Spring semester, you will not be able to get an official transcript with proof of degree before summer registration. Please have the Registrar Office of your undergraduate school fax a letter to the Admissions Office stating that you have met the requirements for graduation. The Admissions Office fax number is 212-396-6369.

 

Can I transfer credits from a PTA degree? 

The DPT program is a lock-step program meaning that all students go through the entire curriculum in our determined sequence.  Courses from other programs, PTA or otherwise, cannot be transferred towards the DPT degree. 

 

May I meet with an advisor?

The Information Sessions provide all participants with an opportunity to ask, and have answered, questions regarding any part of our program.  If you have any additional questions after attending an Information Session, please contact Ms. Maureen Brennan by email or phone at gradpt@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-396-7103.

 

How often do faculty members make themselves available to students?

All of our faculty members have posted office hours. Faculty offices are located within the same space as our class & lab rooms at the Brookdale Campus and hold an open-door policy for students. Students frequently speak to the ongoing support and availability of the faculty and staff.

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