Physical Therapy Admissions Requirements

1
Physical Therapy Admissions Requirements
David A. Lake, PT, PhD Armstrong Atlantic State
University Savannah, GA
2
Prerequisite Categories

• Require Baccalaureate degree
• Require GRE and Scores
• Require GPA and level required
• Volunteer hours requirement
• Course Requirements

3
Limitations

• Reviewed only those Programs who have other than
  a freshman entry
• At least one program did not respond to requests
  for information

4
Demographics

• 186 accredited, professional (entry-level)
  physical therapy programs included
• 73 DPT programs or transitioning (and included
  their new requirements by their request)
• 113 MSPT or MPT Programs

5
Require Bachelors Degree
6
Require GRE
7
Require Minimal GPA
8
Minimal GPA Required
9
Require Volunteer Hours
10
Volunteer Hours Required
11
Course RequirementsNumber of Required Courses

• Number of required courses in physical therapy
  programs range from 0 to greater than 28.
• Limitations
• General Education requirements to match
  institutional requirements
• Alternatives allowed (examples Social Science
  course or Psychology course Advanced Biology
  course or Cell Biology course)

12
Number of Required Courses - All Programs
13
Number of Required Courses - Post-Baccalaureate
Programs
14
Courses Required by gt 50 of Programs
15
Courses Required by lt 50 of Programs
16
Courses Required by lt 10 of Programs
17
Is There Consistency in Admissions Requirements?

• No and Yes
• No - are many differences
• Yes
• gt75 Programs require a degree
• gt75 Programs require a minimum GPA 75 of
  those Programs require a 3.0
• 80 of Programs have between 9-15 prerequisite
  courses

18
Is There Consistency in Admissions Requirements?

• Yes - gt75 Programs require the following
  courses
• 2 courses in anatomy physiology
• 2 courses in physics
• 2 courses in general chemistry
• 1 course in statistics
• 1 course in biology
• 1 course in psychology

19
How does this Compare?

• gt75 PT Programs
• 2 courses in anatomy physiology
• 2 courses in physics
• 2 courses in general chemistry
• 1 course in statistics
• 1 course in biology
• 1 course in psychology

• Podiatry
• 2 courses in biology
• 2 courses in physics
• 2 courses in general chemistry
• 2 course in organic chemistry
• 2 courses in English
• 1 college requires 3 courses

20
How does this Compare?

• gt75 PT Programs
• 2 courses in anatomy physiology
• 2 courses in physics
• 2 courses in general chemistry
• 1 course in statistics
• 1 course in biology
• 1 course in psychology

• Chiropractic
• 2 courses in biology
• 2 courses in physics related studies
• 3 courses in chemistry
• 5 courses in the social sciences humanities
• 2 courses in English
• 2.5 GPA, 90 sem hrs with at least 30 UD

21
How does this Compare?

• gt75 PT Programs
• 2 courses in anatomy physiology
• 2 courses in physics
• 2 courses in general chemistry
• 1 course in statistics
• 1 course in biology
• 1 course in psychology

• Medical Schools
• 2 courses in biology (97.6)
• 2 courses in physics (95.1)
• 2 courses in general chemistry (95.9)
• 2 courses in organic chemistry (92.7)
• Other Requirements (33.3)

22
Number of Required Courses - Post-Baccalaureate
Programs
23
Number of Required Courses - Medical Schools