51福利社

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program in New Hampshire is academically rigorous and requires a significant time commitment. Faculty often describe physical therapy school as a full-time job for two and a half years. Students must master large amounts of material, apply their knowledge clinically, and retain information as coursework builds from one term to the next.

The transition from undergraduate to graduate-level learning is the biggest adjustment for students attending physical therapy school. Instead of memorizing facts for exams, students must understand concepts deeply, apply them in different situations, and retain them throughout the program. Many students also need to adjust to faster-paced terms and higher expectations.

Franklin 51福利社鈥檚 DPT-NH program operates on the quarter system of 10-11 week terms. At the beginning of the program, there will be a two-day orientation in person at the Manchester NH Academic Center.

Classes are held on average 8 am 鈥� 4:30 pm ET, Monday - Friday, consisting of lectures and lab sessions. Frequent breaks are offered for lunch and snack.

Plan to treat Doctor of Physical Therapy school as your primary job. Classes typically run Monday through Friday during the day, but substantial study time, assignments, and preparation are required during evenings and weekends.

Some students do work while in physical therapy school, particularly if they have financial obligations. However, faculty strongly recommend that school remain the top priority. The workload can make balancing extensive employment difficult.

Typical prerequisites include:

• Anatomy & Physiology (with lab)
• Biology (with lab)
• Chemistry (with lab)
• Statistics
• Psychology

Applicants should also maintain a strong science GPA.

Yes. Applicants are generally expected to complete at least 40 observation hours in physical therapy settings. Faculty recommend exploring multiple settings, such as outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and home care, to gain a broad understanding of the profession.

Students begin with integrated physical therapy clinical experiences and observation opportunities early in the program. Full-time clinical rotations typically start in the second year, followed by three terminal clinical experiences in the final year.  

We take pride in providing diverse clinical experiences that prepare students for professional practice. Our program offers placements throughout New England, across the country, and internationally, including opportunities in Australia. While placements near a student鈥檚 home may be available, we cannot guarantee local placements, and exposure to different locations and practice settings is an expected part of the clinical education process. We work closely with our clinical partners to ensure strong learning experiences for our students.

The typical Doctor of Physical Therapy program in New Hampshire lasts about 2.5 years. After completing coursework and clinical experiences, graduates take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Many programs are structured so students finish coursework in time to prepare for spring licensure exams.  

Successful students begin reviewing board material during their final clinical experiences. Faculty often recommend a structured study plan and several weeks of focused preparation. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). is a lengthy exam that requires both knowledge and testing endurance.  

Faculty advisors, graduate assistants, student success services, and peer study groups are all available to help physical therapy students succeed. Advisors work closely with students academically and personally, helping connect them with resources when needed.

Collaborative learning is highly encouraged in physical therapy school. Study groups, peer teaching, practice applications, and active learning strategies are often more effective than solitary memorization. Faculty want students to understand material deeply rather than simply prepare for the next test.

Successful students are:

• Motivated and resilient
• Strong communicators
• Lifelong learners
• Open to feedback
• Collaborative rather than competitive
• Passionate about helping others

Students should have a clear understanding of why they want to become physical therapists.

No. Faculty emphasize collaboration, not competition in physical therapy school. The competitive part is gaining admission. Once accepted, programs are invested in helping students succeed and graduate. Students are encouraged to support one another and work together.

Many faculty describe the experience as a shared journey. Physical therapy students often develop strong friendships and professional networks that last well beyond graduation. Study groups, extracurricular activities, and cohort support play an important role in student success at 51福利社.

Eventually, yes. However, Doctor of Physical Therapy programs train students as generalists first. During school, students are exposed to orthopedic, neurologic, pediatric, geriatric, acute care, rehabilitation, and other specialties before choosing a preferred path.

Physical therapy offers strong employment opportunities, meaningful patient relationships, professional flexibility, and opportunities for lifelong learning. Most Doctor of Physical Therapy faculty members emphasize that people should enter the profession because they want to help others, not because they expect to become wealthy.

Absolutely. Physical therapists may work in:

• Outpatient clinics
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation centers
• Sports medicine facilities
• Schools
• Home health
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Academic programs

Many Physical therapists change settings or specialties throughout their careers.

Yes. Faculty report that students entering physical therapy as a second career often perform well because they bring workplace experience, maturity, perspective, and strong motivation to the program.

Very important. Faculty encourage students to maintain hobbies, friendships, exercise, and personal interests throughout physical therapy school. Students who balance academic demands with healthy personal activities often have a more positive and sustainable experience.

• Know your "why鈥�
• Gain meaningful exposure to physical therapy before applying
• Understand the commitment required for physical therapy school
• Be ready to work hard
• Approach the physical therapist profession with a genuine desire to serve others

If those elements are present, you'll be well prepared for success in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program and beyond.

• Two-and-a-half-year Doctor of Physical Therapy Program program
• On-site state of the art labs and simulation classroom in New Hampshire
• Special physical therapy certification offered: Pelvic Floor, Parkinsons, Big & Large Exercises, Narcan Training, Aquatic Therapy
• Dartmouth Hitchcock Anatomy Cadaver Lab (Wet Lab) at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Geisel School of Medicine in New Hampshire
• Early access of 51福利社 students to PROMPT CLINIC software EMR technology
• 38 weeks of physical therapy clinical work with courses, lectures, and seminars (117 total credits)

We will be accepting students into this cohort beginning in November until we fill the class. The class size in New Hampshire is 55 students. 

We are keeping the cohort size small to provide for more hands-on learning. We believe that this small class size will allow our faculty to provide more direct individualized master adaptive learning for each student as they progress through the program.

Our current deposit to hold a seat is non-refundable $500. It will be applied to your tuition and fees in the first term.