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Interested in becoming a physical therapist?

Thank you for your interest in our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Tennessee State University. We are excited that you have selected Tennessee State University as one of your options for earning a DPT degree!

Our program's mission is to graduate competent entry-level physical therapists who demonstrate cultural competence, apply research evidence to practice, uphold the code of ethics, value lifelong learning, and engage in socially responsible community leadership. 

Our program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) since 2005. We have been graduating doctorly prepared physical therapists since 2009. 

Our application process and admission requirements are on the PTCAS webpage (TSU PTCAS Homepage) .  Before contacting us, we encourage you to carefully review these resources carefully, including our Admissions FAQ page, before submitting questions, as many of the most common questions are answered there.  

If you still need assistance, we're happy to help and encourage you to contact us. We are committed to providing personalized support throughout the application process and would be happy to assist you.  

Information and Questions

All application and admission information is available in the Tennessee State University PTCAS homepage. Please read the instructions carefully as some requirements may differ from other universities and programs.

For a complete list of admissions requirements please use the following link for a PDF summary found here (TSU DPT Admissions Requirements).

If you still have questions after reading all the information and instructions, please to contact our admissions chair, Dr. Kwaku Kankam, at (615) 963-2190 or by email at ptadmissions@tnstate.edu.

Applying to the Program

Tennessee State University Doctor of Physical Therapy program believes in a holistic admissions process which uses our program's mission to define merit and to identify the competencies, personal and professional attributes, and experiences that align with our program's goals and readiness expectations of our applicants.

The mission of the Department of Physical Therapy at TSU is to graduate competent, entry-level physical therapists who demonstrate cultural competence, apply research evidence to practice, uphold the APTA Code of Ethics, value lifelong learning, and engage in professional and community service.

No single quality or experience defines a strong candidate. We look for personal and professional attributes that are represented within our mission, and we actively seek diverse backgrounds in every cohort. What we really want is for applicants to be their true, authentic selves while putting their best foot forward. Don't try to be what you think we want; just show us who you are!

All application and admission information is available in the Tennessee State University PTCAS page:

• PTCAS Application - The application process for our program must be completed through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Please visit the Tennessee State University TSU PTCAS homepage for specific application information and admission criteria. 
  
  
• Seat Reservation Fee - Once the Admissions Committee has recommended an applicant for acceptance into the DPT program and offered them a seat in the incoming class, the accepted applicant will be asked to submit a non-refundable $250 reservation fee to secure their space. Details on how and when to pay, including your payment deadline, will be included in your official acceptance email, giving you sufficient notice to make your decision and reserve your space. Your reservation fee will be credited directly toward your tution once you matriculate and register for classes; however, if you choose not to enroll, the reservation fee will be forfeited.  
  
  

Admissions Deadlines

To be considered for admission to the Summer 2027 entering class, your PTCAS application must be complete and verified by  October 1, 2026 . Applications will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received.

• Deadline date for all applications - October 1
• Decision date for the program to decide and extend invitations for interview - Mid-October
• Date for interviews - November and December (TBD)

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Admissions Requirements

For a complete PDF list of admissions requirements please click on the following link: (TSU DPT Admissions Requirements).

Additionally, our admission requirements are listed in full on the PTCAS webpage (TSU PTCAS Homepage) . Before contacting us, we encourage you to carefully review these documents as well as visit our Admissions FAQ page, before submitting questions, as many of the most common questions are answered there.  

All applicants are required to complete a GRE and Casper Exam as part of the application. 

To complete the GRE assessment please visit the ETS website linked here to schedule an exam. To complete the GRE this application cycle aim to take the test at least 3 to 4 weeks before your our application deadline to ensure your scores arrive on time. Please see our FAQ page for more information about the GRE and how it is used in our admissions process. 

To complete the Casper exam visit Taking the Casper assessment - Take Casper (acuityinsights.app) to create an account. 

Register to complete the Casper assessment and choose one of the available dates to take Casper. All Casper assessments are required to be completed prior to the application deadline. Applications will not be reviewed without a completed Casper assessment, please schedule an examination prior to deadline.

Be sure to select a testing date that allows your results to be received before the application deadline, as Casper assessments completed after our admissions cycle closes will not be accepted.

The final available Casper testing dates for this admissions cycle are listed below:

•            Aug 25, 2026 - 5:00 PM CDT

•            Aug 25, 2026 - 7:00 PM CDT

•            Sep 15, 2026 - 5:00 PM CDT

•            Sep 15, 2026 - 7:00 PM CDT

•            Sep 27, 2026 - 3:00 PM CDT

Please see our FAQ page for more information about the Casper exam and how it is used in our admissions process. 

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Clinical Education Requirements

As part of the DPT curriculum, students complete three full-time clinical education experiences during their third year of the program. Before beginning clinical education coursework, students must meet a number of requirements, including immunizations, criminal background checks, and insurance coverage. These requirements do not need to be completed prior to admission to our program or orientation day; however, they must be met before students begin their first clinical education experience, later in the curriculum. Assigned clinical education experiences are a requirement for graduation.

These requirements are set by our affiliated clinical sites, and we have very limited ability to modify them. If a student has not met one or more of these requirements, it is up to the individual clinical site to determine whether that student may participate in patient treatment.

For more information on clinical rotation requirements, including immunizations, criminal background checks, and insurance coverage, please see the following link: Clinical Practicum Requirements.

If a student is unable to perform the Essential Functions listed, they have the right to request reasonable accommodations from the Office of Disability Services as outlined in the TSU Student Handbook.

Tuition and Fees

Information about tuition and fees may be accessed through the Bursar's Office. The information below is only an estimate based on the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 fees and a full time load of 15 credit hours in the fall, 15 credit hours in the spring, and 9 credit hours in the summer. The figures may change.

The figures in the table above do not represent total cost for attending the program.  Details of program total costs can be found here. Tuition and fees can change each year and thus the total cost for the program can change. Tuition and fees differ whether or not the student is classified as instate or out-of-state. Read more.

Grants, Scholarships, and Aid

• Scholarships - Pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is a significant financial investment. This link will navigate you to a third-party website where you will find verified scholarships, awards, and funding sources available to PT and DPT students. A number of physical therapy scholarships exist, but some scholarships have application qualifications and may be institution specific. This website is presented for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of the site. Read more.
  
  
• 250-Mile Radius Tuition Rate Program - Out-of-state students in a county within a 250-mile radius of Nashville, Tennessee are eligible for a discounted 250-Mile Radius Rate. Read more.
  
  
• POTUS Fellows Program - Qualifying students who have been accepted into the program may also avail of the Preparing Our Tomorrows Uniquely in STEM (POTUS) Fellows program. Read more.
  
  
• Rhonda Hodge Memorial Scholarship Fund (RHMSF) - The fund assists DPT students currently enrolled in the professional DPT program. Applicants for the RHMSF are screened by faculty based on GPA, written statement, and need. Generally, depending on sufficient funds, 1-2 DPT students are chosen to receive money from the fund. Half of the amount is applied to the student’s account the following fall semester and the remainder in the spring semester.
  
  
• Financial Aid - The Office of Financial Aid administers federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid in accordance with federal and state laws. Read more.
  
  
• Additional Physical Therapy Scholarships - Sponsored by the website onlinephysicaltherapyprograms.com, this website is presented for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of the site. Read more.