To qualify for the program, you must meet or exceed the following criteria:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
2. Successfully complete the following prerequisite courses in biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, and statistics. A minimum cumulative GPA for prerequisites of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required. Grades of 'C' or better are required in all prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses taken on a 'pass/no pass' basis will not be recognized, and AP credits will not be accepted in lieu of college-level courses. The Admissions Committee may consider a prerequisite course listed as a 'pass/no pass' if the student can provide official verification of the earned grade from that course for prerequisite GPA calculation. Prerequisite courses must be completed within ten years prior to admission.
- General Biology 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
- General Chemistry 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
- General Physics 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 with laboratory (6 semester hours or equivalent)
- Statistics (3 semester hours or equivalent)
- General Psychology (3 semester hours or equivalent)
- A minimum of one 3 semester hour or equivalent writing intensive course in humanities or social sciences
Physical therapy education and practice requires a strong science background. Additional upper-level Biology or Health Science courses (embryology, advanced physiology, genetics, etc.) are recommended.
3. Complete twenty hours (20) of observation or employment in a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and verified by the physical therapist. The purpose of observation hours is to help the applicant develop a basic understanding/knowledge of the PT profession before committing to the rigorous process of obtaining a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Observation hours may be completed in outpatient and/or inpatient settings.
4. Submit three letters of reference from professionals who are familiar with your personal and professional characteristics and can best address your potential for success in the DPT program. One letter should come from a college/university faculty member or advisor: one from a licensed physical therapist, and one from an employer or an advisor for an organization.
5. Demonstrate English Fluency. All applicants for whom English is not their first language, or those who completed a bachelor’s degree and prerequisites from a college or university in a foreign country, must achieve satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or complete an approved English as a Second Language (ESL) course with the past five years.
Any international course work completed must have official transcript evaluations completed and submitted to the University by the evaluation firm. Evaluations MUST include GPA for admission.
Approved Evaluation Firms are:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
- Educational Perspectives (EP)
- SpanTran
6. Demonstrate an ability to meet Program Technical Standards
A candidate must have abilities and skills in five areas: : 1) observation, 2) communication, 3) motor/psychomotor, 4) cognitive (intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative), and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
Candidates are required to certify that they understand and meet program Technical Standards. Candidates must provide such certification prior to matriculation. Candidates who may not meet the Technical Standards must inform the Director of Admissions, who will then contact the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the academic dean (and program director), will identify and discuss what accommodations, if any, the College(/Program) would need to make that would allow the candidate to complete the curriculum. The College(/Program) is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum. Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment in their professional program.
Click HERE to view the technical standards for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.
For additional accreditation information, please click here.