2019 PT Graduates Achieve 100% Pass Rate on National Exam

Authored by
GW Physical Therapy Students examining a patient ankle

For the 10th consecutive year, all of the graduates from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Class of 2019 Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy (PT) successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Licensing Examination (NPTE) on their first attempt. 

"We’re so proud of this decade of success in the DPT Program. It’s truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of our bright students and dedicated faculty,” said Ellen Costello, PT, PhD, director of the Physical Therapy Program in the Department of Health, Human Function, and Rehabilitation Sciences at SMHS. 

The NPTE is a comprehensive, rigorous exam that all PT graduates must pass to be licensed to practice in their respective jurisdiction. The accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, monitors all program pass rates to assess student achievement and to ensure excellence in physical therapy education.

Latest News

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences recently welcomed the Fall 2025 cohort of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS) PhD Program, marking the program’s 30th class of doctoral students.
The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) announced the appointment of Brandon Beattie, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor of Physician Assistant (PA) studies, to serve as the director of the PA Program.
A growing cadre of GW SMHS clinicians who are translating frontline frustrations into real-world solutions. Investigators across the school are leveraging GW’s innovation ecosystem to bring new technologies from concept to commercialization, improving the lives of patients far beyond Foggy Bottom.