DPT Admissions Information

Applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States prior to matriculation into the DPT program. Applicants may have a degree in progress at the time of application, but must have a plan in place to have the degree conferred prior to the beginning of our courses in July.

Applicants must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in the most recent 60 credit hours of coursework at the time of application.

Applicants must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in our specifically required prerequisite coursework.

Applicants must complete all of the prerequisite course requirements. Applicants may have coursework planned or in progress at the time of application, but must have a plan in place to have all coursework completed prior to the beginning of our courses in July.

Applicants must submit letters of professional reference through PTCAS. A letter from a practicing PT is highly recommended. No recommendation letters will be accepted outside of PTCAS. A minimum of two letters is required.

(There are no waivers or exceptions to any of the admissions eligibility requirements.)

Due to the limited number of seats and our policy of offering admission on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process early in the cycle.

Applicants must submit the PTCAS and non-refundable Application Processing Fee to be eligible for admission.   The Application Processing Fee must be received before an application will be reviewed. The program will begin making invitations to interview in the late summer/early fall.

To be considered for an interview, applicants must have their verified PTCAS, and application processing fee received by the published deadline. Applications will be reviewed in the order they become complete. An applicant’s PTCAS must be verified, and all application materials must be received before a file will be read by the Admissions Committee.

(No application status updates will be available until after PTCAS has verified the application. No incomplete applications will be considered, and no application materials will be accepted after the published deadline.)

PTCAS: The Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is offered through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

• • All transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted through PTCAS.

(No letters of recommendation will be accepted outside of PTCAS;  all updates need to be sent through PTCAS).  No academic or health care updates should be sent to the school. No other applications are required in addition to the PTCAS.)

Upon acceptance of an offer of admission, applicants who were actively enrolled in coursework at the time of application must request final official transcripts from their final institution to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions at UNTHSC. Final transcripts must list all courses including those that were in progress between initial application and final matriculation into the DPT program.

$50 Non-refundable Application Processing Fee: This application processing fee is in addition to any fees required by PTCAS. The link to pay the fee online will be emailed to the applicant once we receive a completed PTCAS application.

(Note: the GRE is not a requirement for admission and will not be considered in our selection process.)

Prerequisite courses may be in progress or planned at the time of your application; however, all prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to the beginning of the DPT curriculum.

Prerequisite coursework must be satisfied with a grade of C or higher (2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale).

All science coursework must be intended for science majors. Courses with KIN, KINS, EXSS, PT or NURS prefixes will not satisfy prerequisite requirements.

There is no restriction on how long-ago prerequisite courses were completed. Prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

If you have a question about whether a particular course satisfies one of our prerequisite requirements, please contact the HSC Office of Admissions and Recruitment at: admissions@unthsc.edu.

We will accept CLEP or AP credit as long as your courses have been recognized by your undergraduate institution. Up to 8 credit hours are recorded on your college/university transcript.

Required Coursework:

• Psychology – 3 Semester Credit Hours
• Biology – 3 Semester Credit Hours
• Chemistry (with lab) – 8 Semester Credit Hours
• Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) – 8 Semester Credit Hours
• Physics (with lab) – 8 Semester Credit Hours

Strongly Recommended Courses:

(These courses are not required for admission but may contribute to success in physical therapy education)

• Biomechanics/Kinesiology
• Exercise Physiology
• English Composition/Writing
• Medical Terminology
• Statistics

Each year, we receive a large number of completed applications for a limited number of class positions. The Admissions Committee takes a broad range of factors into consideration as we select candidates, including:

• Academic background
• Understanding of the role of the PT
• Enthusiastic letters of reference
• Community service and achievements
• Other life experiences and extracurricular activities
• A mature, insightful essay.

Although an applicant’s entire academic record is considered, strong academic performance alone does not ensure acceptance. While prior experience in a physical therapy setting is not required, this experience is considered a beneficial attribute and viewed positively by the Admissions Committee.

PT mentoring and shadowing experiences are not required but are encouraged.

Letters of reference from a physical therapist are strongly encouraged.

• • Evidence of personal integrity, maturity, motivation, communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, writing ability, dedication, and the ability to work with others are additional factors that will be considered.

The above qualities are evaluated by several means, including letters of reference, the scope and nature of extracurricular activities (including work and volunteer experience), the scope and breadth of prior education, and through the interview process. Our recent entering class profiles will give you some insight into how successful applicants have performed in some of the areas assessed by the Admissions Committee.

Interviews may be on campus or online from September to January. Candidates who are invited to interview will be contacted by phone or email. Declining an invitation or failing to appear for a scheduled interview will result in rejection of your application. Early submission of your application can increase your chances of interview selection. Interview results are confidential and are considered in the competitive selection process.

The program may make admission offers as early as September during the year prior to matriculation. Offers will be continuously made until the class is filled.

A $500 seat deposit is required upon acceptance of an admission offer; this deposit will be applied toward the student’s first semester.

Upon acceptance of an offer of admission, applicants who were actively enrolled in coursework at the time of application must request final official transcripts from their final institution to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions at UNTHSC. (Final transcripts must list all courses including those that were in progress between initial application and final matriculation into the DPT program.)

It is the policy of the Health Science Center not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or disabled veteran of the Vietnam era status, in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment policies. Questions or complaints should be directed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at 817-735-2357.