Physical Therapy

There are many pieces to the physical therapy school application, including your GPA, GRE score, personal statement, list of experiences, letters of recommendation, and biographical information. Use the navigation below to explore each aspect of preparing for physical therapy programs.
  • What is a physical therapist?

  • A physical therapist (PT) is a health professional concerned with restoration and maintenance of a patient's ability to function following disease or injury. Stroke victims, injured athletes, children with muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, amputees, paraplegics and people with minor joint or muscle aches are among the patients a physical therapist may work with. The physical therapist treats patients with physical modalities such as heat, cold, electricity, ultrasound, water exercise, and pressure. The goal of therapy is to improve circulation, strengthen muscles, restore gross motor skills, correct deformities, relieve pain and expedite recovery.

    See the APTA's "About PT Careers" page to learn more about this profession

  • Becoming a physical therapist

  • Obtain a bachelor's degree and complete all pre-PT requirements, including prerequisites, the GRE, and experiences (4+ years)

    Attend an accredited DPT Program (3 years) 

    Optional: Complete residency (1 year)

    Optional: Complete fellowship (length varies)

    Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) 

    Become licensed in the state you wish to practice

  • Physical Therapy Prerequisites
  • Physical Therapy PrerequisitesCourses to Take at UC Davis
    Most schools require: 
    General BiologyBIS 2ABC
    General ChemistryCHE 2ABC
    Physics with labPHY 7ABC
    Human Physiology with LabNPB 101/101L OR NPB 110C/101L
    Human Anatomy with LabEXB 106/106L OR CHA 101/101L
    PsychologyGeneral (PSC 1) AND other courses may be required
    StatisticsSTA 13 OR STA 100
    Some Schools Require 
    Upper Division BioMany course options, including in BIS
    Kinesiology/BiomechanicsNPB 109
    Exercise PhysiologyEXB 101
    Neuroscience/NeuroanatomyNPB 100 OR NPB 110B / NPB 124
    Medical Terminologycourse not offered at UC Davis
    English Composition

    any combination of ENL and UWP courses*

    *Make sure the course is writing intensive, there may be some grey area with some courses. Updated 11/2022

    CommunicationCMN 1


    * Check your major requirements before choosing classes.

    See the PT School Prerequisite Chart for a sample list of physical therapy schools and their requirements.

    Note: The above courses are only suggested, not absolute. 

    You can choose any major and apply to PT programs. If you choose a non-science major, you still have to take the science prerequisites required by PT programs. 

    HPA recommends that pre-PT students maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, although many PT programs will have GPA averages above this minimum. 

    Complete all of your prerequisite courses for a letter grade - DO NOT take any of them P/NP.

    Each PT program has different prerequisites. Check each school's prerequisites before applying.

  • Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by most PT programs prior to application. 

    The exam is available on a continuous basis throughout the year.

    The GRE includes three sections:
    Verbal Reasoning
    Quantitative Reasoning
    Analytical Writing

    The exam cost $220 each time you take it.  You are only allowed to take the GRE every 21 days after your previous exam.

    The GRE is not a course-dependent test, meaning there are no specific UCD courses you need to take to prepare. The best way is to give yourself time to study the test by buying test prep books or taking a test prep course.

    Whatever you do, do not take the test without preparing! Click here to register for the GRE.

  • PT Experiences

  • Most schools require experience in the physical therapy environment in at least two settings. Experience in the inpatient setting is either required or highly recommended by programs. Generally, the inpatient setting can be difficult to obtain. The hours required differ for each school's program. 

    Experiences may typically need to supervised and verified by licensed physical therapists. 

    Examples of physical therapy experiences include:
    Shadowing/interviewing a physical therapist
    Working or volunteering in a physical therapy clinic, hospital, and/or long-term care facility (i.e. senior care) 
    Becoming a physical therapy aide or athletic trainer
    Here are some good places to start looking for experiences at UC Davis:
    Health Related Experiences through the Career Center (CC)
    Global Health Internships through Study Abroad
    Health Related Internships through the Washington Program
    Completing community service
    Join a Pre-Health related club or other student organizations through the Center for Student Involvement

    For PT experiences, print out this verification form from PTCAS prior to the end of your PT experiences and have the PT sign the form while you are still in contact with the PT.

  • Applying to Physical Therapy Programs
  • PTCAS

    The  PTCAS admissions cycle begins late June/early July and closes early June the following year. 

    Not all schools and programs participate in PTCAS. If a program does not use PTCAS, you will need to apply through their specific program application found on the admissions website. 

    Personal Statement

    The personal statement prompt for the 2024-2025 application cycle:

    "Every applicant is unique in their own way, possessing individual qualities, abilities, and backgrounds. What unique traits will you bring to the physical therapy profession that will help you to be successful?" 

    In addition to updating the personal essay prompt, clarifying instructional text will be added to the top of the essay page within the application, reading:
    "DPT program faculty and admissions committees are looking for you to use this essay to persuade the reader that the physical therapy professions is the right fit for you. Please keep this in mind as you complete your personal essay."  

    PTCAS allows 4500 characters (including spaces) for your personal essay.

    The personal statement is your first chance to provide PT program admissions committees with subjective information about your qualifications and your reasons for choosing a particular career. In other words, the personal statement is your initial opportunity to present yourself as an interesting and unique applicant who deserves a closer look.

    Letters of Recommendation

    Many physical therapy programs require 1-4 letters of recommendation, or references. References can be from physical therapists, science faculty, major faculty, advisors, or others that can attest to your abilities. 

    Interviews

    Some PT programs require interviews, and interview formats vary by school.

    Examples of interviews include one-on-one conversation with faculty, physical therapists, or a panel of interviewers.

    Supplemental Applications

    Some schools will also require a supplemental application. A supplemental fee is usually required and the cost will vary among schools. It is the responsibility of the applicant to check the requirements for each school to ensure all have been fulfilled. Failure to submit required materials by the each school's deadline may jeopardize the applicant's eligibility for admission consideration.

    Choosing PT Programs

    There are over 200 accredited PT programs in the U.S., with 14 programs in California. See the APTA's list of programs. 

    There are a variety of factors that go into choosing which PT programs to apply to, including location, environment (i.e. urban), tuition, class size, focus or mission statement, etc. Spend some time researching schools online and create a spreadsheet that tracks the factors most important to you. HPA also recommends meeting with an advisor to discuss your school list. 

    California PT Programs:
    Azusa Pacific University
    California State University, Fresno
    California State University, Long Beach
    California State University, Northridge
    California State University, Sacramento
    Chapman University
    Loma Linda University
    Mount Saint Mary's University
    Samuel Merritt University
    San Diego State University
    University of California, San Francisco - San Francisco State University
    University of Southern California
    University of St Augustine for Health Sciences
    University of the Pacific
    Western University of Health Sciences

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More questions? Check out our FAQ page or schedule an appointment with an advisor!