UAMS Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2025 Achieves 100% First-Time Pass Rate on National Licensing Exam
| FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2025 has achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), marking the third consecutive year that the program has reached this milestone.
The exam, taken at the end of July, serves as the national standard for physical therapy licensure. The Class of 2025 far exceeded the current national first-time pass rate of 87.6%. In addition, two of the UAMS graduates, Emily Crawford and Lacey Mainer, earned perfect scores — a rare accomplishment.
“It is an incredible feat to obtain a 100% first-time pass rate with any class, but to achieve this for three consecutive years is truly remarkable,” said Angel Holland, PT, DPT, Ed.D., department chair and program director of the UAMS physical therapy program. “This level of success reflects the dedication of our students, the strength and sustainability of our program, and the tireless commitment of our faculty and staff.”
This year’s success marks the fourth time in the program’s short history (eight graduating classes) that UAMS physical therapy graduates have achieved a perfect first-time pass rate. With 271 Doctor of Physical Therapy programs currently operating nationwide, UAMS ranks among the very best. In 2024, only three other programs matched UAMS in sustaining a two-year streak of 100% first-time pass rates.
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy will release the full 2025 national report in February 2026, which will show how many other programs achieved this rare benchmark.
“Our graduates continue to demonstrate that they are among the top physical therapists entering the profession nationwide,” said College of Health Professions Dean Susan Long, Ed.D. “We are proud of their accomplishments and grateful for Dr. Holland’s leadership and the exceptional faculty who prepare them to succeed.”
The UAMS Doctor of Physical Therapy program is part of the College of Health Professions and is based at UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville.
The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus includes 356 medical, pharmacy, nursing and health professions students, 76 medical and pharmacy residents, and two sports medicine fellows. The campus has 13 clinics including internal and family medicine, a student-led clinic, orthopaedics and sports medicine, behavioral health/psychiatry, geriatrics, genetics counseling, transplant follow-up, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Faculty conduct research to reduce health disparities.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###