2020 PT Graduates Achieve 100% Pass Rate on National Exam

A graduate student demonstrates a PT device to a child

Congratulations to all the graduates in the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Class of 2020 Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy (DPT) on successfully passing the National Physical Therapy Licensing Examination (NPTE). The class of 2020 is the 11th consecutive class to achieve a 100% pass rate on their first attempt.

"We are very proud of the students in the Class of 2020 as we achieve this milestone. They have navigated unprecedented challenges this year, and we applaud them for their determination, resiliency, and commitment to the profession.  We know our future is bright as we welcome the class of 2020 into the healthcare workforce," said Ellen Costello, PhD, PT, 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 DPT 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

GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences Integrated Biomedical Sciences student Jonathan Lochner received a predoctoral Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service (F31) Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for his research project, “Restoring HLA-I Expression to…
Marcia Firmani, PhD, MSPH, was appointed associate dean for health sciences, effective June 2026. She has served as interim associate dean since January 2026.
The 10th Annual GW Cancer Center Scientific Retreat, “Beyond Bench and Bedside: Breaking Silos in Cancer Care,” featured a keynote address by William G. Nelson, MD, PhD, DSc, director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, as well as a series of roundtables focusing on…