Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy Graduate Programs

Health-related careers are always a good field to major in, as people will always need health care services. Physical therapy is an excellent career choice, as there is a need for licensed physical therapists and opportunities in the field are growing. Getting into a physical therapy graduate program is tough, however. There are many applicants, so competition is stiff for a limited number of spots. Here is what you need to know to apply for a graduate degree in physical therapy.

Bachelor's Degree

• Before you can pursue a graduate degree in physical therapy, you need to have completed your baccalaureate degree from an accredited university. Pursuing the Doctor of Physical Therapy doesn't require a particular undergraduate degree. Schools offer pre-physical therapy programs in a similar way that they offer pre-med programs to ensure students have the necessary sciences courses before they pursue the DPT. Many students will major in a science or other related major to be readily prepared for the DPT.

Prerequisites

• Pursuing a DPT degree requires completion of a number of prerequisites before you can be fully admitted to a program. Before you apply for the DPT, you need to complete two chemistry classes with labs, two physics classes with labs and an introduction to psychology, along with two other social science courses, medical terminology, statistics and 12 hours of biology. While there may be some slight variation of course requirements from school to school, the science requirements generally remain the same regardless of institution.

Physical Ability

• You have to be physically capable of being a physical therapist before applying to a graduate program. Prospective DPT students have to be able to complete and perform all the necessary functions associated with physical therapy whether they have needed accommodations or not.

Observation

• Before applying for a graduate physical therapy program, you will need, at minimum, 80 hours of volunteering or observing experience under a licensed physical therapist. This requirement will give you the necessary experience to decide whether physical therapy is really right for you.

GPA and GRE

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is needed in your junior and senior level courses from your undergraduate degree when applying for a graduate degree in physical therapy. You will also need a 3.0 GPA or higher in all of the prerequisite coursework as well. The GRE is needed upon applying to a graduate program in physical therapy, and you will need at minimum a combined score of 1000 to be considered for any program. While these are the minimums necessary to be considered for admission, it is best to have well above the minimums since graduate physical therapy programs are very competitive.