Physical Therapy - Omaha (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
Looking to improve lives and society through a commitment to exemplary physical therapist education, research and service, within the Jesuit tradition? Creighton University offers two programs to obtain your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in our Omaha and Phoenix locations.
Known for setting industry standards, Creighton created the first Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the United States—a standard adapted by physical therapy programs nationwide.
Creighton’s nationally acclaimed faculty bring an unparalleled level of leadership and academic expertise to the physical therapy program with a focus in areas such as:
- Clinical reasoning
- Women’s health
- Global engagement
- Human biomechanics
- Research
Committed to excellence in innovative research, the Omaha and Phoenix campuses each offer access to their own state-of-the-art rehabilitation science research labs, as well as an educational research collaborative that spans across both locations.
Above all, Creighton values the student-learning experience and prioritizes close educator and student relationships.
APTA PT Spring Virtual Fair
This is your opportunity to visit virtually with the admissions team from Creighton University's Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at the APTA Doctor of Physical Therapy Virtual Fair, April 24, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET (9 a.m. - 7 p.m. CT)
Creighton University offers two programs to obtain your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in our Omaha and Phoenix locations. Each campus provides:
- State-of-the-art learning spaces
- Access to research opportunities
- Commitment to service in their local communities
- Experienced faculty that are national and international leaders in their areas of expertise
Program Details
Program Goals
The physical therapy programs create a collaborative learning community that develops adaptive, reflective physical therapists with sound clinical reasoning skills. The programs strive to improve healthcare through scholarship in clinical and educational practice, and promote social accountability to have a positive impact on health and human experience.
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, you’ll learn:
- Professional core abilities such as communication skills, critical thinking, clinical judgement and professional development
- Physical therapy core abilities such as patient examination, evaluation and physical therapy diagnosis, patient prognosis, patient intervention and systems management
Curriculum
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program supports Creighton University’s Jesuit identity, existing to educate and mentor future and current clinicians for excellence in physical therapy practice, advance the profession through scholarship and provide service to the University and community for the greater good.
Specializations
- Sports
- Research
- Women’s Health
Admissions Events
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites
For admission into the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at Creighton University, you must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum of 90 semester hours or 136 quarter hours is required before entering the programs.
- Students who do not hold a baccalaureate degree must take coursework that includes in-depth upper division study in one discipline comparable to a minor at Creighton University prior to matriculation (18 semester hours).
- Strong academic performance is considered paramount; the degree of emphasis is secondary.
- Prerequisite courses may be completed at any regionally accredited institution and must be completed with a grade of C or better (a C- grade is not acceptable). All prerequisite coursework must be completed by August 1 of the desired year of entry.
Admissions Requirements
To apply, submit an online application and all supporting materials through PTCAS, a physical therapy centralized application service, which includes:
- An official transcript from each institution the applicant has attended and/or is currently attending
- Three letters of recommendation
- One recommendation must come from a licensed physical therapist
- Proof of a minimum of 60 hours of observation supervised by a licensed physical therapist
- International applicants must submit a foreign transcript evaluation to PTCAS through an evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
Personal interviews are required in the admission process. Qualified applicants will be notified via email if they are selected for an interview.
Dates & Deadlines
June 15, 2023: PTCAS Launch Date
October 1, 2023: Preferred Deadline
October 1, 2023: Creighton Undergraduate Deadline
December 2023-January 2024: PTCAS Academic Update
- Update Summer/Fall 2023 grades through PTCAS
March 1, 2024: PT - Omaha Program Deadline
March 1, 2024: PT - Phoenix Program Deadline
Tuition & Financial Aid
The Doctor of Physical Therapy tuition and fees varies over the 3-years of the program. See up-to-date tuition and fee information.
Financial Aid
Competitive scholarship awards are available to all qualified Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates at the time of the admission decision. A typical scholarship award ranges up to $60,000 for the duration and is divided throughout the three years of the programs. The Office of Admission awards the top 25% of the incoming class at minimum. Explore scholarship and aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting with the 2024 application cycle, a GRE score is not required as part of the admission process. GRE scores submitted will not be included in candidate application files. The GRE was removed to promote our holistic admissions process.
No, Creighton allows entry into the DPT program with completion of a minimum of 90 semester hours or 136 quarter hours. Additionally, candidates who have not completed a baccalaureate degree must complete 18 semester hours of in-depth upper-division coursework in one discipline comparable to a minor at Creighton University.
Three years. Each DPT cohort starts in August and graduates in May, just shy of three years later. DPT candidates complete eight semesters in total, including two summer terms throughout the three years of the program.
Yes, interviews are a required part of our application process that allows us to better assess your candidacy beyond your paper application. We require that candidates come to campus and participate in a full day of events as well as a group interview. A personal interview is completed virtually via Zoom. Only qualified candidates are invited to participate in our interview process.
Yes, you can apply for consideration to both of our Phoenix and Omaha programs. If invited to interview for both programs, you will have the option to complete your group interview in Phoenix or Omaha and participate in two personal interviews with Phoenix and Omaha faculty. If admitted to both programs, you will choose which program to hold a seat in.
Yes, students can partner with faculty on current research initiatives. Through the utilization of our state-of-the-art rehabilitation research laboratories, our students are able to conduct research that will not only advance the profession of physical therapy but also enhance their learning and optimize outcomes in clinical practice.
Students in our PT-Omaha program will be able to take advantage of our research specialization track that focuses on scientific inquiry in rehabilitation science. Additionally, our PT-Omaha program offers specialization tracks in Sports and Women's Health.
Yes, our Physical Therapy program requires applicants to complete 60 observation hours of a licensed physical therapist. Make sure to keep track of your hours as you complete new experiences so you can add them to your PTCAS application.
Our students complete 44 weeks of clinical education that start after the end of the third semester. Students complete two, six-week early clinical experiences and finish their DPT education with two, 16-week practice experiences. Our clinical education team dedicates their time to ensure that each student’s individualized Clinical Education Plan meets their goals and provides experiences to prepare for entry-level practice. Students are able to complete their clinical education at more than 400 clinical sites across the nation.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Creighton University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
The Creighton University clinical education experience is rooted in the development of clinical reasoning skills, the application of theory and general principles and providing optimal care to enhance patient movement and function with compassion and competence.
Creighton University Department of Physical Therapy’s ABPTRFE-accredited residency programs provide post-professional clinical residency education in specialty PT areas: pediatric, orthopedic , women’s health, neurologic and geriatric.
Upon graduation, each student should be able to demonstrate abilities as a professional and a physical therapy practitioner.
View all outcomes of the doctor of physical therapy program.
Office of Admission
Criss III Rm. 151
402.280.2662
cuspahp@creighton.edu
