Written By: Jackie Johnson, PT, DPT

There are many factors to consider while preparing to apply to physical therapy (PT) programs. Although many requirements will be similar (think prerequisite classes, minimum GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendations, volunteer hours in various settings, etc.), there will be differences. If you miss just one requirement, you are automatically denied acceptance. Think of how many applicants apply to each school! This is an easy way to weed out applications. Don’t let this be you. 

Stay organized

I believe the best way to avoid missing application requirements is using an excel spreadsheet. You can list out each school you are applying to and document their specific requirements. Being organized is key and keeping everything in one document can help you not feel overwhelmed and miss something.

A quick, personal side note: The above technique would have saved my husband some heartache (and money) when he was applying to PT school. My husband was rejected by all the schools he applied to in the first round because he had ONE class that was not taken within 5 years of applying. He was immediately denied and he had to retake pre-calc despite already taking Calculus I, II, and III (He was initially an engineering major before changing his major about 10 times). Time is money… and he wasted a bunch that year.

Plan for your finances ahead of time

Speaking of money…. Keep in mind the following: 

• Something to consider when you feel you need to apply to 20+ schools is that you have to pay an application fee for each school you apply to.

• Consider the return on investment (ROI) of PT school vs your potential earnings as a practicing clinician. The setting you end up working in may change, but look into all avenues so you can make an informed decision. In my opinion, the impact this will have on you financially after you graduate is tremendously overlooked. I know many very intelligent and great clinicians who are struggling financially because they attended their “DREAM school” and took out $200k+ in student loans in order to fund that dream. If you think through this, your 40 year old self will thank you.

I do not want to discourage you however! PT is a great career! But be realistic and creative. Look into scholarship or grant opportunities that would be available for you. You would be surprised at how many are out there. Also keep in mind: 

1. What the cost differences are between in-state vs. out of state tuition?

2. The cost of living for the area the school is in?

3. Can you stay with family for free?

4. Is public transportation available?

5. Are you able to work part time during the program?

The list goes on and on. Again, play this card right and your 40 year-old self will thank you. 

Keep in mind accreditation

So we talked about tracking requirements to apply and finances to consider, now let's talk about one thing you need to ensure about each school you are applying to: accreditation. Ensure the programs you are applying to are accredited through the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Their role is to assure the quality of the physical therapy education you receive to ensure the students become competent clinicians.

You will want to apply to schools that are CAPTE certified because in order to sit for the PT licensure exam, you must have graduated from a CAPTE - accredited program. Obviously the goal is to pass the licensure exam so you can create income, thus this is essential.  The APTA website has a map of all the PT programs that are accredited through CAPTE. Easy enough and such a timesaver!

Ensure you understand the application process

Another factor that will save you time is that most, but not all, schools use PTCAS (The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service). This allows you to fill out a single application to apply to multiple programs. If a school does not participate in PTCAS, you need to apply with them directly. There is a PTCAS Quick Start Guide and FAQs within the. This includes application cycle dates, application fees, and participating programs, which are other important things to keep track of in your excel spreadsheet. 

Now for a word of caution: Just as the medical field is always evolving and improving, make sure you are checking sites like PTCAS and APTA often to ensure policies and above information has not changed. They are great resources to reference during this process. If i had to paraphrase this information in one word , it would be ORGANIZATION. Staying organized = less stress. This way, you can conquer the rest of undergrad and be fully rested before grad school :)

If you need any help or have questions about the application process for PT school let us know!