Complete all required undergraduate prerequisites. Some schools, such as the University of North Dakota, do not require a bachelor's degree for admission as long as the student has earned at least 90 credits and a minor in a specific discipline. Others require applicants to complete their bachelor's degree before enrolling. Each school will also have specific required courses. Common prerequisite courses include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, and statistics. Students must generally have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and a C or better in each required course to be considered for admission .
Register for and take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The GRE is a standardized test administered worldwide that tests students' abilities in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Most physical therapy schools require a GRE score, although some only require it for certain applicants and some do not require it at all.
Complete all required observation hours. Most physical therapy schools require applicants to spend a certain number of hours working with, volunteering with, or observing a licensed physical therapist. For instance, Marymount University requires 40 hours of observation or volunteering, while Eastern Washington University requires at least 70 hours in at least two different types of physical therapy facilities. Schools that require documentation of these hours will generally provide their own form for the supervising professional to sign.
Fill out all required application forms. Many schools use the Physical Therapy Centralized Admission Service (PTCAS), where students can fill out one application and submit it to multiple schools. Other colleges, like the University of North Dakota, do not participate in PTCAS and require students to submit the university's own application. Aside from collecting demographic data and information about students' academic and employment history, the PTCAS application also requires applicants to write an essay about why they want to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Provide letters of recommendation. Each university may have a slightly different policy on recommendation letters, so it is important that students know what is required. For example, the University of North Dakota requires that three recommendations be sent directly to the school by postal mail. Eastern Washington University also requires three letters -- one from a science professor, one from a physical therapist, and one from a former employer -- but these recommendations must be submitted electronically to PTCAS.
Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Schools that use PTCAS require applicants to submit transcripts through the service as part of their completed application, while schools which do not use PTCAS have students send their transcripts directly to the university.
Attend an interview. After reviewing applications, schools select a certain number of the most well-qualified applicants for an interview. These are typically held on campus on a specific day, and alternate interview dates or locations are generally only allowed under extreme circumstances, so students should plan in advance to come to campus on the arranged interview day.