Barry PhilipsIf you are interested in becoming a physical therapist, choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions you will make. Physical therapy is a growing healthcare profession that combines science, movement, rehabilitation, patient care and technology to help people recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions and improve their quality of life.
Most students who want to become licensed physical therapists in the United States eventually pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In Alabama, applicants can choose from several established DPT programs, while other universities offer strong pre-physical-therapy preparation for students who intend to apply to DPT programs later.
This guide examines the top physical therapy schools and pre-physical-therapy options in Alabama, including their admission requirements, prerequisite courses, observation requirements and other important considerations..
Top 50 Physical Therapy Schools and Pre-Physical Therapy Options in Alabama
1. University of Alabama at Birmingham — UAB
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of the strongest choices for students seeking a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in Alabama. Its Department of Physical Therapy has offered physical therapy education for decades and is housed within a major research-focused academic medical environment.
UAB’s DPT program is a nine-semester professional program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than physical therapy. The university currently describes its DPT program as ranked among the leading programs nationally and as the highest-ranked DPT program in Alabama.
Key admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA
- Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 semester hours
- Completion of at least 75% of prerequisite courses by the required point in the application cycle
- At least 20 documented observation hours
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE
- PTCAS application
- Video interview through Kira Talent
UAB does not require applicants to major in a specific undergraduate subject. Students can choose majors such as exercise science, biology, kinesiology, psychology or another field while completing the required prerequisites.
UAB is particularly attractive for students who want exposure to research, evidence-based practice, population health and diverse clinical environments.
2. Samford University
Samford University in Birmingham is another highly regarded option for physical therapy students in Alabama. Its Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a three-year, full-time graduate program with substantial classroom, laboratory and clinical training.
Samford’s DPT program was re-accredited for 10 years in November 2024. In 2026, Samford also reported a 100% first-time NPTE pass rate for its DPT graduating class, demonstrating strong recent licensing-exam performance.
General admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA
- Biology I and II with laboratories
- Chemistry I and II with laboratories
- Physics I and II with laboratories
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with laboratories
- Pre-calculus
- Statistics
- Psychology
- GRE taken within the previous five years
- Minimum combined GRE Verbal and Quantitative score of 297
- Minimum Analytical Writing score of 4.0
- 30 hours of documented volunteer experience across three different physical therapy settings
- Three letters of reference
Samford also offers a Fast-Track DPT pathway, allowing eligible students to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and DPT in six years.
3. Auburn University
Auburn University offers an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program designed to prepare students for professional physical therapy practice and eligibility for the NPTE.
The program is particularly suitable for students who want a strong combination of academic preparation and clinical experience. Auburn does not require applicants to major in a particular field. Kinesiology and exercise science are common choices because they can help students complete the required prerequisites, but other undergraduate majors can qualify.
Auburn’s current requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree before starting the program
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA
- Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 semester hours
- No prerequisite grade below C
- At least 100 verified clinical observation hours
- Observation completed within the previous two years
- Experience in multiple PT settings
- Personal statement/letter of intent
- Essay on current challenges facing physical therapy
- Resume
- Three recommendation letters
- Two recommendations from U.S.-licensed physical therapists
- One recommendation from an upper-level professor
- Interview for selected applicants
For the 2026–27 admission cycle, Auburn extended its application deadline to October 2, 2026.
Auburn is a strong choice for applicants who already have substantial clinical observation experience and want a university-based DPT education.
4. University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama in Mobile offers an established Doctor of Physical Therapy program with an eight-semester, 32-month curriculum.
One of the major strengths of the program is its clinical education component. The university reports 34 weeks of full-time clinical internship experience and a large network of affiliated hospitals, rehabilitation centers and specialty practices.
Admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree before starting the DPT program
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA
- Completion of required prerequisites
- GRE
- At least 50 observation hours under licensed physical therapists
- PTCAS application
- Three courses in social sciences, with at least two in psychology
- English composition
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- College physics with laboratories
- General chemistry with laboratories
- Biology with laboratory
- Human physiology or anatomy and physiology sequence
- Medical terminology before matriculation
For the current admissions cycle, South Alabama requires international applicants to demonstrate English proficiency, with a TOEFL internet score of at least 100 or IELTS score of at least 7.5.
The program is especially attractive to students who value extensive clinical exposure and hands-on professional preparation.
5. Alabama State University
Alabama State University in Montgomery offers a three-year Clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy program designed to prepare students for entry-level physical therapy practice.
The program uses the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), and applicants must also meet the requirements of the university’s graduate school.
Important admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA
- Required prerequisite courses
- GRE or MAT
- Three letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- At least 40 hours of physical therapy observation, volunteer or paid experience
- Experience across at least two PT settings
- Completion of prerequisites with grades of C or better
Required coursework includes biology, human anatomy, human physiology, chemistry, physics, psychology, statistics, mathematics, speech, English writing, developmental psychology and an upper-level psychology, sociology or ethics course.
Applicants should understand that meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee admission because DPT programs are competitive.
6. Faulkner University
Faulkner University in Montgomery is another important option for students looking for a DPT program in Alabama. Its Doctor of Physical Therapy program combines professional physical therapy education with Faulkner’s Christian educational environment.
Faulkner’s DPT program received CAPTE Initial Accreditation in May 2024, allowing graduates of the accredited program to pursue eligibility for the NPTE.
The program consists of eight semesters and 111 credit hours, with 32 weeks of full-time clinical experiences.
Minimum admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for prerequisite courses
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 undergraduate credit hours
- Human Anatomy/A&P I with laboratory
- Human Physiology/A&P II with laboratory
- Biology I and II with laboratories
- General Chemistry I and II
- General Physics I and II
- General Psychology
- Statistics
- GRE taken within the previous five years
- At least 40 observation hours
- Observation across at least two different settings
- At least two recommendation letters, including one from a professor and one from a licensed PT
- Interview
Faulkner also considers leadership, community service, patient-care exposure and other experiences when evaluating applicants.
7. University of Alabama — Pre-Physical Therapy Pathway
The University of Alabama is an important institution to watch for students interested in physical therapy.
At present, the university is developing its own physical therapy doctoral program. The College of Community Health Sciences reports that the planned physical therapy program will be an eight-semester doctoral program and is expected to begin enrolling students within the next several years.
Until the DPT program becomes available, students can use undergraduate science and health-related studies to prepare for applications to established DPT programs.
Students interested in this route should focus on courses such as:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Statistics
- Exercise science
- Other DPT prerequisites
Because the new program is still being developed, applicants should not assume that current undergraduate enrollment automatically provides admission into the future DPT program.
8. Troy University — Pre-Physical Therapy
Troy University offers pre-physical-therapy preparation for students planning to apply to professional physical therapy programs.
Its pre-physical therapy information highlights prerequisite coursework for programs such as Alabama State University, the University of South Alabama and Samford University. Recommended preparation includes anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology and other foundational courses.
This makes Troy a practical choice for students who want to complete an undergraduate education while preparing for DPT admission.
Students should carefully compare their Troy coursework against the specific prerequisite requirements of the DPT program they eventually intend to enter.
9. Samford University Exercise Science — Pre-Physical Therapy
Although Samford already appears higher on this list because it offers a DPT, its undergraduate Exercise Science program deserves separate attention for students who are not yet ready for graduate physical therapy education.
Samford specifically describes its Exercise Science program as a pre-physical-therapy major. The curriculum combines areas such as nutrition, biology, physics, exercise physiology and chemistry to prepare students for professional healthcare education.
Students entering the fast-track pathway can potentially progress from undergraduate study into Samford’s DPT program, provided they satisfy the required progression standards.
This pathway may be especially attractive to high school students who already know that physical therapy is their intended career.
10. Other Alabama Universities With Pre-Health Preparation
Students who cannot or do not want to attend one of the established DPT institutions can also consider Alabama universities offering strong undergraduate preparation in biology, exercise science, kinesiology, health sciences or related disciplines.
The key is not necessarily the name of the undergraduate major. Most DPT programs allow applicants to major in a variety of subjects as long as they complete the required prerequisite courses and satisfy the program’s GPA, observation, testing and application requirements.
Before choosing an undergraduate institution, prospective physical therapists should compare its course offerings with the prerequisites of several DPT programs.
For example, a good pre-PT undergraduate curriculum should make it possible to complete:
- General biology
- General chemistry
- Physics
- Anatomy and physiology
- Psychology
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- English composition
- Medical terminology where required
It is also wise to begin gaining physical therapy observation experience before the final year of undergraduate study.
Full List
| Rank | School | City | Program/Pathway | Degree/Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) | Birmingham | Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 2 | University of South Alabama | Mobile | Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 3 | Samford University | Birmingham | Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 4 | Auburn University | Auburn | Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 5 | Alabama State University | Montgomery | Clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 6 | Faulkner University | Montgomery | Doctor of Physical Therapy | DPT |
| 7 | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Pre-Physical Therapy / Developing PT Program | Undergraduate/Pre-PT |
| 8 | Troy University | Troy | Exercise Physiology – Pre-Health/Pre-PT | B.S. |
| 9 | University of North Alabama | Florence | Exercise Science / Pre-Health Preparation | Undergraduate |
| 10 | Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Exercise Science / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 11 | University of Montevallo | Montevallo | Exercise & Nutrition Science / Pre-Health | Undergraduate |
| 12 | University of West Alabama | Livingston | Exercise Science / Health Sciences | Undergraduate |
| 13 | Alabama A&M University | Normal | Biology / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 14 | Alabama State University | Montgomery | Health Sciences / Pre-Professional Preparation | Undergraduate |
| 15 | Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Exercise Science / Health-related studies | Undergraduate |
| 16 | University of South Alabama | Mobile | Exercise Science / Pre-Professional Preparation | Undergraduate |
| 17 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Health-related undergraduate preparation | Undergraduate |
| 18 | Samford University | Birmingham | Exercise Science – Pre-Physical Therapy | Undergraduate |
| 19 | Faulkner University | Montgomery | Health Sciences / Pre-Professional Studies | Undergraduate |
| 20 | Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Biology / Health Sciences preparation | Undergraduate |
| 21 | Miles College | Fairfield | Biology / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 22 | Stillman College | Tuscaloosa | Biology / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 23 | Talladega College | Talladega | Biology / Health Sciences preparation | Undergraduate |
| 24 | Huntingdon College | Montgomery | Exercise Science / Biology preparation | Undergraduate |
| 25 | Birmingham-Southern College* | Birmingham | Exercise Science / Biology preparation | Undergraduate |
| 26 | Spring Hill College | Mobile | Biology / Health Sciences preparation | Undergraduate |
| 27 | University of Mobile | Mobile | Biology / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 28 | Birmingham-Southern College-related continuing pathways* | Birmingham | Health/Science preparation | Undergraduate |
| 29 | Concordia College Alabama* | Selma | Biology / Health-related preparation | Undergraduate |
| 30 | Oakwood University | Huntsville | Biology / Health Sciences preparation | Undergraduate |
| 31 | Athens State University | Athens | Health-related undergraduate studies | Undergraduate |
| 32 | Calhoun Community College | Decatur | Biology / Health Science foundation | Associate |
| 33 | Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa | Biology / Health Science foundation | Associate |
| 34 | Jefferson State Community College | Birmingham | Biology / Health Science foundation | Associate |
| 35 | Wallace State Community College | Hanceville | Health Science / Biology preparation | Associate |
| 36 | Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette | Biology / Health-related preparation | Associate |
| 37 | Bishop State Community College | Mobile | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 38 | Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 39 | Lawson State Community College | Birmingham | Biology / Health-related preparation | Associate |
| 40 | Southern Union State Community College | Wadley | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 41 | Northeast Alabama Community College | Rainsville | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 42 | Snead State Community College | Boaz | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 43 | Lurleen B. Wallace Community College | Andalusia | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 44 | Enterprise State Community College | Enterprise | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 45 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College | Phenix City | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 46 | Central Alabama Community College | Alexander City | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
| 47 | Bevill State Community College | Sumiton | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 48 | Lawson State Community College – Bessemer Campus | Bessemer | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 49 | Wallace Community College | Dothan | Biology / Health Science preparation | Associate |
| 50 | Alabama Southern Community College | Monroeville | Biology / Science preparation | Associate |
Physical Therapy School Requirements in Alabama: Quick Comparison
| School | Program Type | Approx. Minimum GPA | Observation Requirement | GRE | Bachelor’s Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAB | DPT | 3.0 | 20 hours | Yes | Yes |
| Samford University | DPT | 3.0 | 30 hours | Yes | Yes |
| Auburn University | DPT | 3.0 | 100 hours | Check current cycle | Yes |
| University of South Alabama | DPT | 3.0 | 50 hours | Yes | Yes |
| Alabama State University | DPT | 3.0 | 40 hours | Yes/MAT | Yes |
| Faulkner University | DPT | 3.0 | 40 hours | Yes | Yes |
| University of Alabama | Pre-PT/Developing DPT | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Troy University | Pre-PT | Varies | Depends on target DPT | Depends on target DPT | N/A |
| Samford Exercise Science | Pre-PT | Varies | Depends on DPT | Depends on DPT | N/A |
| Other Alabama Pre-PT Options | Pre-PT | Varies | Depends on DPT | Depends on DPT | N/A |
How to Choose the Best Physical Therapy School in Alabama
The “best” physical therapy school depends on your academic profile, career goals, finances and preferred learning environment.
Students with strong research interests may want to investigate UAB. Applicants who value a Christian university environment may find Samford or Faulkner particularly attractive. Students seeking extensive observation and clinical preparation should compare Auburn, South Alabama and the other established DPT programs carefully.
You should also consider:
Accreditation
Make sure the DPT program has appropriate CAPTE accreditation or accreditation status that makes graduates eligible for the professional licensing pathway. CAPTE accreditation is essential because graduation from an accredited physical therapy education program is required for eligibility for the national licensing examination.
Prerequisite Compatibility
Do not wait until your senior year to discover that your undergraduate courses do not meet your preferred DPT school’s prerequisites.
Compare prerequisite requirements early.
Clinical Experience
Observation requirements differ significantly. Auburn, for example, requires 100 hours, while UAB requires at least 20 documented hours and South Alabama requires 50 hours.
GPA
Although many Alabama DPT programs use a 3.0 minimum, competitive applicants may have GPAs considerably higher than the minimum.
Cost
Compare tuition, fees, books, equipment, transportation and clinical-placement expenses. A lower tuition rate does not always mean a lower total cost of attendance.
Learning Environment
Some students prefer large research universities, while others prefer smaller private institutions. Consider class size, faculty accessibility, clinical facilities and student support services.
Related
Conclusion
Alabama offers several strong pathways for students interested in becoming physical therapists. The state’s established DPT options include the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Samford University, Auburn University, University of South Alabama, Alabama State University and Faulkner University.
Each program has its own admissions requirements, so students should not assume that meeting one school’s prerequisites automatically qualifies them for another.
The most common preparation includes earning a bachelor’s degree, maintaining a strong GPA, completing science prerequisites, gaining physical therapy observation experience, obtaining strong recommendations and preparing carefully for the application and interview process.
For students who are still completing their undergraduate education, schools offering pre-physical-therapy preparation can provide a useful foundation. The most important step is to identify your preferred DPT programs early and build your undergraduate coursework and experiences around their specific requirements.
Finally, remember that becoming a physical therapist involves more than getting admitted to a DPT program. After completing an accredited professional program, graduates must meet applicable state licensing requirements and pass the NPTE. In Alabama, additional state requirements include a jurisprudence examination, background check and other licensing documentation.
With careful planning, strong academic preparation and meaningful clinical exposure, aspiring physical therapists can position themselves for success in one of Alabama’s DPT programs and ultimately build rewarding careers in healthcare, rehabilitation, sports medicine, hospitals, private practice, home health and other clinical settings.