Admission Requirements

PT Prereqs

The information below applies to the Fall 2024 admission cycle.

In order to be eligible for admission, the applicant must complete a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution before starting the DPT program.  Applications to the DPT program will only be accepted through the PTCAS website.  Note that 22 of the 31 required hours of pre-requisite courses (at least 8 of the prerequisite courses) must be completed by the application deadline. Admission to the program for students who have not completed all prerequisite courses will be conditional pending the completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better before matriculation.  The program has no required – or preferred – undergraduate major. UAMS recognizes that the study and practice of physical therapy is enriched by the presence of students from a variety of academic backgrounds. A demonstrated amount of academic rigor is required however, to ensure that applicants can succeed with the scholastic demands of the physical therapy curriculum.

To learn more about the admissions process, view our online admissions presentation, located on our Information Sessions and Tours page.

Primary Admission Requirements

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

*All of this information is detailed in the PTCAS website application.  All application information to the program should be uploaded to PTCAS by the deadline of October 2, 2023 at 11:00pm CST.

  • A bachelor’s or higher degree completed prior to matriculation from a regionally accredited institution in the United States is required.  Transcripts from institutions outside the United States are not accepted, even after use of an evaluation service.

Prerequisite coursework

  • 22 of the 31 required hours of prerequisite courses (at least 8 of the prerequisite courses) must be completed by the time of the application submission deadline – October 2, 2023 (see Prerequisite Coursework ).
    NOTE:  Admissions is aware that due to COVID-19 and the impact on colleges and universities, some students were issued pass/fail, credit/no credit prerequisite grades. We will accept this grading system for courses taken in 2020 as long as the college or university documents “pass/P or credit/CR” and the credit hours on the transcript.  
  • All but two prerequisite courses must be completed within 7 years prior to the date of anticipated entry into the program.
  • No more than 2 prerequisite courses (6-8 credits) can be from CLEP or AP credit and must be recognized on the granting University official transcript.
    • Although accepted, CLEP and AP credits will not be considered in GPA calculations.
  • A minimum overall OR last 60 credit hours GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
    • If the last 60 credit hours GPA is higher than the cumulative GPA, the last 60 Hours GPA will be weighted more heavily.
    • If a prerequisite course was repeated, program uses the highest grade earned in prerequisite GPA calculations, but all course grades will remain in the cumulative GPA calculations. Please note multiple repeats of prerequisite coursework may negatively affect the application score.
  • All transcripts must be verified in PTCAS by November 15, 2023.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

  • The GRE must be completed within five years prior to application to the program.
    • Use the Institution Code 2121 for UAMS PTCAS
    • Official scores must be received in PTCAS by November 15, 2023 for an application to be considered complete.
    • Self-reported scores and official scores received by mail will not be considered.
  • There is no minimum GRE score required.
  • The program will consider the highest GRE score taken in the last five years.
  • For those with financial need or who are unemployed, the GRE offers fee reduction vouchers. Please see this link for more information.

Observation Hours

  • Completion of a minimum of 60 observation hours (paid or voluntary) in a variety of physical therapy settings including at least 20 hours in each of two separate settings such as outpatient, acute care, rehab/sub-acute rehab, extended care facility, nursing home, home health, wellness/prevention/fitness, industrial/occupational health, and school/preschool. For example, 40 hours in outpatient, 15 hours in pediatrics, and 10 hours in acute care may meet the 60 observation hour requirement, but it does not meet the minimum of 20 hours in 2 separate settings.  Observation hours to be documented in PTCAS and verified by a physical therapist – electronically or by written signature.  It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure all hours are verified by a licensed physical therapist through PTCAS. Observation hours that are not verified or do not meet the minimum requirements will be considered as an incomplete application and will not be reviewed.
  • We require applicants to upload any hours completed to PTCAS
  • The minimum observation hours must be met by the application date or the application will not be processed. Observation hours must be in at least two different settings for 20 hours each, but observation in additional settings to reach the 60 total hours is encouraged.
    Observation hours should be documented on PTCAS and verified. All completed observation hours must be verified by a licensed physical therapist in the PTCAS application by November 15, 2023.

Altus Assessments (CASPer):

  • Complete CASPer test by November 14, 2023 (note -there are very limited test dates! https://acuityinsights.app/).
    • Applicants will need to register for the CASPer test at https://acuityinsights.app/ and choose the school code for UAMS Physical Therapy.  Check the CASPer website for limited available test dates.
    • The cost to take the test for the applicant is $52.
    • CASPer is an online test which assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.

Other documents/requirements

  • Uploaded resume in PTCAS by October 2, 2023.
  • Two letters of recommendation (documented in PTCAS). Refer to PTCAS or https://healthprofessions.uams.edu/programs/physical-therapy/admission-requirements/ for acceptable evaluators.
    • Applicants need to have completed the request for the recommendation in PTCAS by October 2, 2023.
    • Letters of recommendation need to be completed and uploaded into PTCAS by the person completing the recommendation by November 15, 2023.

Supplemental Application 

  • All applicants must complete an Online Admissions Application (OAA) to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Health Professions by October 2, 2023 at 11:00pm CST.
    • The cost to submit the supplemental application for the applicant is $40.

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT:

  • All application information to the program should be uploaded to PTCAS and the application should be submitted by the deadline of October 2, 2023 no later than 12 midnight EST.
  • The Online Admissions Application (OAA) to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Health Professions should be completed by the deadline of October 2, 2023 at 11:00pm CST.
  • We understand it may take time for PTCAS, evaluators, and physical therapists to verify different aspects of your application. Therefore, we recommend that you apply early in order to meet verification deadlines.

All applicant information must be received and verified in PTCAS by November 15, 2023. 

Incomplete applications WILL NOT be reviewed. 

  • All transcripts must be verified by PTCAS by this date.
  • All official GRE scores must be received in PTCAS by this date.
  • All letters of recommendation must be received by this date.

*All required materials should be uploaded to PTCAS. Mailed copies will not be accepted.

*It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure these tasks get completed. If all aspects of the PTCAS application are not received within the deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and therefore, not reviewed.

  • Complete the CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) test by November 14, 2023.

*** Please see CASPer website for details of the LIMITED dates available to take the test. https://acuityinsights.app/

Questions can be directed to ptprogram@uams.edu

One required reference from this specific type of evaluatorSecond reference accepted from this type of evaluatorLetter of reference NOT accepted from this type of evaluator
Physical TherapistXX
ProfessorX
AcademicX
Supervisor/EmployerX
Teaching AssistantX
Physical Therapist AssistantX
Pre-PT AdvisorX
PoliticianX
Health Care ProfessionalX
FriendX
Family MemberX
Co-workerX
ClergyX


Prerequisite Coursework

A completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution by the start of the DPT program is required. In addition, the following 31 semester credits are required for admission. Labs are not required and will not be calculated in GPA unless they are within the full course (ie. if a lab and class grade are combined, the full grade will be used for that prerequisite; if a lab and class are separate, only the grade for the class will used for the prerequisite.)

CourseworkSemester HoursComments
Anatomy3Acceptable courses include: Human, Comparative, Vertebrate Anatomy, and/or Combined Anatomy and Physiology Courses. *
Physiology3Acceptable courses include: Human, Animal, Mammalian, Comparative, Vertebrate Physiology, Pathophysiology, Neurophysiology, and/or Combined Anatomy and Physiology Courses. *
*Anatomy and Physiology courses can be separate or together as one course (e.g. A&P). One combined course will not fulfill both anatomy and physiology requirements; however, two 3-credit combined courses (A&P I and A&P 2) will fulfill both course requirements.
Biology6General and Specialized Courses; acceptable courses include: General Biology I or II (for Science Majors), Embryology, Immunology, Histology, Genetics, Neurobiology, Neuroscience, Zoology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Advanced Biology
Chemistry3General or specialized chemistry
Physics6General or specialized physics*
*One Biomechanics course may be accepted in lieu of a physics course
Statistics3Acceptable courses include: Statistics, Biostatistics, Research Methods and Design*
*Statistics courses may be taken under Biology, Psychology, Mathematics, or Exercise Science
Psychology6Acceptable courses include: General Psychology, Advanced Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, Sports Psychology, Psychopathology, Growth and Development, Lifespan Development, Psychology of Human Behavior, Psychology of Rehabilitation, Psychology of Aging
Medical Terminology1Coursework should include the language of medicine, including an emphasis on word roots and combined forms of words describing various terms of health and disease.
Total31

Only grades of C or higher are acceptable for all prerequisite coursework.  However, admissions is aware that due to COVID-19 and the impact on colleges and universities, some students were issued pass/fail, credit/no credit prerequisite grades. We will accept this grading system during the semesters/quarters impacted by COVID-19 as long as the college or university documents “pass/P or credit/CR” and the credit hours on the transcript. 

No transfer credits are accepted from other degree programs or physical therapy programs.  There is no advanced standing permitted in the PT program. All but two prerequisite courses must be completed within 7 years prior to the date of the anticipated entry into the program. No more than two prerequisite courses (6-8 credits) can be from CLEP or AP credit and must be recognized on the granting University official transcript. Although accepted, CLEP and AP credits will not be considered in GPA calculations.

All prerequisite coursework must be obtained from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.

All questions concerning course descriptions or substitutions should be submitted in writing via email to ptprogram@uams.edu.

Secondary Admission Factors*

  • UAMS recognizes that a diverse educational experience enhances the education for all students and results in additional expertise in providing care to an increasingly diverse patient population.
  • It is the policy of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences and all of its affiliated colleges and organizations not to engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, non-disqualifying disability, age, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, political beliefs or affiliations, and to comply with all federal and state non-discrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders and regulations, including remaining compliant and consistent with the Civil Rights Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. – UAMS Academic Affairs Policy 2.1.3 – Non-Discrimination Statement
  • We value communication skills, leadership, initiative, community service, and clinical experience, as well as accomplishments in athletics, employment and research. Our goal is to recruit and educate a class which will serve the needs of a diverse patient population.
  • We consider factors not reflected in the academic record: evidence of exceptional extra-curricular achievement or work experience; evidence of having overcome social, economic or physical barriers; evidence of exceptional motivation, maturity or responsibility.
  • Extra credit given for applicants who have proficiency in a language other than English

* While these secondary factors will enhance the applicant’s competitiveness for admission, they are not, by themselves, sufficient to admit an applicant.  Incoming students must still meet primary admission requirements.

To learn more about the Accreditation Status of the Physical Therapy program, please CLICK HERE