How to Apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The application process for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has the following main steps:

• Complete an online admission application to the UAMS College of Health Professions through Workday.
• Complete an application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.
• Complete an on-campus admission interview (if invited).

If the applicant is admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, additional requirements must be met before they enroll in the program.

• Receipt of state authorization for out-of-state distance education and/or out-of-state clinical placement (if applicable)
• Completion of the required immunizations and tests
• Submission of the UAMS Student Pre-Enrollment Medical Form
• Major medical health insurance coverage that meets minimum standards as designated by UAMS
• Completion of a criminal background check and drug screen

Re-Applying and Re-Admission

Students who have applied for a previous admission cycle or who withdraw or are dismissed from the UAMS College of Health Professions for any reason must re-apply for admission. Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details about the process.

The application deadline for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is Sept. 16 at 11 p.m. Central time, but submission prior to the deadline is highly encouraged. Applications not completed by this date may not be considered for admission to the program.

Applicants should begin the process the previous summer. Applicants who wait until September to begin the process often do not meet the application deadline.

This schedule represents the admission timeline in a typical year. In any given year, the schedule may have to be adjusted.

Dates	Event
Jun 15	Tentative date for PTCAS application to open
Sep 16	Deadline for regular admission
Oct 18	All aspects of the application must be received and verified by PTCAS
Jan 11 and 12	Interviews for regular admission applicants.
Jan through Feb	Initial acceptance letters for regular admission and alternate letters mailed. All accepted applicants are required to submit a non-refundable $500 matriculation deposit at time of acceptance. This deposit will be applied towards the first semester’s tuition.
Aug	Entering cohort begins first semester of program.

To apply to a UAMS College of Health Professions degree program, you must complete the online admission application through Workday. Please note that a non-refundable fee of $40 is required and must be submitted along with your application.

You can save your application and return to it at a later date. However, it will not be considered for review until it is submitted and the application fee is paid. After submitting your application, you will need to return to the application site to complete any remaining action items related to your application.

Please note that the application and fee through Workday are in addition to the application and fee required by the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. You will be asked to provide your Workday Admissions Application number to complete the PTCAS application.

The application in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, additional documents and all other required documentation must be submitted by Sept. 16 at 11 p.m. Central time. 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 Oct. 18. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

• All transcripts must be verified by PTCAS by this date.
• All official Graduate Record Examinations General Test scores must be received in PTCAS by this date.
• All letters of recommendation must be received by this date.

All necessary documents for applications must be submitted to PTCAS. Mailed copies will not be accepted.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to check PTCAS frequently to ensure all your required information has been received and verified in PTCAS.

You must also update fall grades in PTCAS per the Academic Update deadlines.

Official Transcripts

Arrange for each post-secondary academic institution you have attended to forward an official transcript of your coursework directly to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.

All transcripts must be verified in PTCAS by Oct. 18.

For more detailed information about official transcripts, please refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website.

Note: If you are admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, you will also need to provide final official transcripts to UAMS reflecting the completion of your degree and any courses that were in progress at the time of the application deadline.

International Transcripts

Transcripts from institutions outside the United States are not accepted, even after the use of an evaluation service.

Graduate Record Examinations General Test Scores

If the applicant did not originally give Educational Testing Service the Institution Code of 2121 when taking the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, they must have ETS send their GRE scores to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service with the Institution Code 2121. This may result in additional fees from ETS.

Self-reported scores and official scores received by mail will not be considered.

Official GRE scores must be received in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service by Oct. 18 for an application to be considered complete.

Refer to the admission requirements for more details about the requirements for professional observation.

Professional Observation Documentation

Applicants must upload documentation of all completed professional observation hours to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.

The minimum required observation hours must be met by the application date; otherwise, the application will not be processed.

All completed observation hours must be verified in PTCAS by a licensed physical therapist by Oct. 18, either electronically or by written signature. It is the applicant’s 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 result in an incomplete application and will not be reviewed.

Refer to the admission requirements for more details about the requirements for professional observation.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must request two letters of recommendation through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service by Sept. 16.

The individuals providing the recommendations must complete and upload the letters to PTCAS by Oct. 18.

Refer to the admission requirements for more details about the requirements for the letters of recommendation.

English Fluency and Literacy Test Scores

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native language is not English, are required to demonstrate fluency (speaking) and literacy (reading and writing). The Test of English as a Foreign Language and the International English Language Testing System are the two accepted tests for this purpose.

An official copy of the test scores must be sent directly to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service from the respective testing service.

Refer to the English Fluency and Literacy Requirement policy for details.

The most qualified candidates will receive a notification from the program to arrange an admission interview. These interviews will be conducted on campus in early December.

If the applicant is admitted to the program, the following additional requirements must be met before they enroll in the program.

Final Official Transcripts

If you are admitted into the program, you will also need to provide final official transcripts to UAMS reflecting the completion of your degree and any courses that were in progress at the time of the application deadline. Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details about submitting official transcripts to the college.

State Authorization of Distance Education and Clinical Placement

Students enrolling in a distance education program who are not residing in Arkansas, as well as students who are going to a state other than Arkansas for clinical experience, must have prior approval from that state’s higher education agency. Federal Program Integrity standards require UAMS to gain this approval.

Fortunately, Arkansas along with many other states have joined the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Members of the SARA provide automatic approval to other member states to “operate” in that state. More information on state authorization for distance education to include out-of-state clinical placement of students can be found on the UAMS Academic Affairs website.

Should you have any questions regarding state authorization or the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, please contact Tina Maddox, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs, at 501-686-5730 or TMaddox@uams.edu.

Immunizations and Tests

Accepted students must show documentation of certain required immunizations or tests prior to enrolling in a UAMS College of Health Professions program. Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details.

Pre-Enrollment Medical Form

Thirty days prior to their first semester’s registration, all individuals admitted must submit the UAMS Student Pre-Enrollment Medical Form. This form is used by UAMS Student and Employee Health Services to verify required immunizations and to establish a baseline for treating illnesses occurring after admission.

Health Insurance

All students admitted to a UAMS College of Health Professions degree or certificate program are required to have major medical health insurance coverage at all times that meet minimum standards as designated by UAMS. For health insurance information, please refer to the UAMS Student Life website.

Background Check and Drug Screen

When required, admitted applicants or students must obtain a criminal background check and drug screen. Background checks and drug screens are meant to ensure the safety and compliance of all UAMS College of Health Professions students with various clinical sites. Refer to the Background Checks and Drug Screens for Applicants and Students policy for more information.

If you have questions or concerns on these two items, please contact Phyllis Fields, associate dean for student affairs at PAFields@uams.edu or 501-686-5730.