The Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program is housed within the Department of Graduate Programs in the School of Health Professions of the University of Puerto Rico in the Medical Sciences Campus. It is the first and only program in Puerto Rico which leads to a Doctorate Entry Level Degree in Physical Therapy. The duration of the professional curriculum is 3.5 years. Admissions to the program will be considered once every year. Students will begin diurnal fulltime classes early in July of the year of admission. They are expected to complete 132.5 credits to graduate and fulfill the all graduation requirements.
Upon the completion of this degree the graduate is qualified to work as a general practitioner in physical therapy and will be able to offer services in the following scenarios: hospitals, rehabilitation centers, geriatric centers, industries, schools, sports medicine centers, health promotion programs, private practice, and community programs among others. The graduate will be able to assume the roles of being a clinician, researcher, administrator, educator and consultant in the above mentioned scenarios.
Important Information
The Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program (DPT) proposal was approved by the General Council of Education of Puerto Rico on July 3, 2014 (Cert Num. 2014-2660). The admission to the program is open until February 5, 2024.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for admission to the Program must meet each of the following criteria:
- Possess a Baccalaureate or post-Baccalaureate degree from an accredited higher education academic institution evidenced by official transcripts. The Baccalaureate cannot be on physical therapy.
- Thirty (30) hours of voluntary service, observation or shadowing in a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Those hours should be completed within the last two years of submitting application to the program. The Clinical Observation Form should be handled with the application package to evidence this experience. (Click here to see the Observation Form)
- Current First Aid Certification exclusively from American Heart Association. (Click here to see a certificate example)
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification exclusively for the Health Care Professional (BLS). (Click here to see an example)
- Obtain 70% or more in personal interview. The personal interview assesses non-cognitive traits such as: communication skills, motivation to pursue the career of physical therapy, and professional behavior and attitude. A candidate who obtains less than 70% in the interview will not be admitted to the program. Interviews are conducted in early April of each academic year. (Click here for more information about the interview process)
- PAEP (Prueba de Admisión a Estudios de Posgrado) The administration of the PAEP admission exam in Puerto Rico has been unexpectedly discontinued for 2023. The Institution has granted the Doctor of Physical Therapy a waiver for the exam requirement for the 2024 admission process. Candidates will not be required to submit an admission exam score report for the current admission cycle. The Physical Therapy faculty is evaluating other exam options to implement for the 2025 admissions.
- GRE is not accepted.
- An overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 and specific GPA in required pre-requisites of 2.8 in a scale of 0.0 to 4.00.
- Have passed with C or higher and have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.80 (in a scale of 0.0 to 4.00) or higher in the following pre-requisite courses:
- General Biology- 6 semester credit hrs.
- Human Biology- 6 to 8 semester credit hrs.
- General Physics- 8 semester credit hrs.
- General Chemistry-8 semester credit hrs.
- Statistics-3 semester credit hrs.
- General Psychology-3 semester credit hrs.
- Human Development throughout the lifespan-3 semester credit hrs.
Total semester credit hours: 37 to 39
(Click here to see the UPR System validation’s credits tables)
(Click here to see private universities validation’s credits tables)
(Click here to see validation credits with Sistema Ana G Mendez University)
Biology, Physics, and Chemistry courses should include both lecture and laboratory instruction.
- Computer literacy and Internet skills are also highly recommended for admission to the program.
- Curriculum is conducted in Spanish and English (courses are taught in Spanish, books are in English) and most patient interactions are in Spanish. Therefore, fluency in speaking, writing, and reading both languages is highly recommended.
Overall grade point average (GPA): 20%
Sciences courses GPA (Specific GPA): 30%
PAEP score: 35%
Interview: 15%
Information Bulletin of the Doctorate in Physical Therapy Program
(Please click here to download the Information Bulletin of the Program)
The Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at the Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (787) 758-2525 ext. 3493, 3495 or annie.font@upr.edu.
Program Faculty
Dr. Ana Font-Rivera, Director
Dr. Wilitza Martínez, Associate Director
Dr. Jessica Rodríguez-Torres, Director of Clinical Education
Dr. Cynthia Cruz – Gómez
Dr. Lypzia Vélez –Jiménez
Dr. Keyla Ramos Prats
Dr. Karisol Chevere-Rivera
Dr. Kristian Pamias-Velazquez
Associate Faculty
Dr. Jason Adames-Vargas
Dr. José Menéndez- Bermúdez
Dr. Eduardo Correa -Vázquez
Dr. Enrique Pérez -Cardona
Dr. Irvin Rosado Millan
Physical Address
Physical Address
University of Puerto Rico
Medical Sciences Campus
School of Health Professions
6th Floor, Office #604
Orientation is by appointment. To coordinate an appointment please send an e-mail to Dr. Ana Font -Rivera, Program Director:
annie.font@upr.edu
Telephones
Telephones
Director – 787-758-2525, Ext. 3495; 787-767-3732
Secretary – 787-758-2525, Ext. 3493
Fax -787-753-7262