Tufts University School of Medicine is continuing the national expansion of its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs with the launch of a new location in Atlanta, Georgia—marking the school’s fourth program nationwide.

The Tufts DPT-Atlanta program will follow the school’s hybrid, accelerated curriculum model. Students complete a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online coursework while participating in immersive, in-person clinical skills labs. Applications will open through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) in June 2026, with the inaugural cohort enrolling in Fall 2027.

Originally launched in Boston, Massachusetts in 2021, Tufts DPT has since expanded to Phoenix, Arizona and Seattle, Washington. The addition of Atlanta strengthens Tufts’ presence in the Southeast and reflects growing demand for highly trained physical therapists across diverse healthcare settings.

The expansion aligns with strong national employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for physical therapists, a field expected to grow faster than average due to an aging population, increased prevalence of chronic conditions, and expanded access to rehabilitative care. 

Students in the Tufts DPT program complete 127 semester credit hours over seven consecutive semesters—an accelerated timeline compared to traditional nine-semester programs—with online coursework that offers flexibility to accommodate different lifestyles.

The curriculum emphasizes integrated learning across clinical tracks, helping students develop a deep understanding of human movement systems through repetition, scaffolding, and progressive complexity. Coursework is intentionally designed to connect foundational science, clinical reasoning, and hands-on practice.

In addition, the program incorporates social determinants of health throughout the curriculum, preparing graduates to understand how social, economic, community, educational, and accessibility factors influence patient outcomes and quality of life.

The program in Atlanta is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.