Prospective Student Checklist

Physical Therapy school can be challenging. Not only is the doctoral level coursework rigorous, but the schedule is busy. Effective time management and study habits are very important. Program curricula (class schedules and timing) are fixed, and content is cumulative, meaning that concepts build throughout a curriculum. You must demonstrate competency within each course and each assessment, and not passing a course can sometimes impact your ability to graduate on time. Therefore, adequate preparation prior to entering a DPT program is essential.

✅ I completed the prerequisite coursework for the programs I’m interested in.

✅ I took the most rigorous coursework available to prepare me for a doctoral-level curriculum.

✅ I may have not taken the most rigorous courses, and I understand how this may impact the competitiveness of my application and readiness for PT school; however I believe I’ve displayed qualities and attributes that are consistent with a strong learner such as critical thinking, time management, resilience, curiosity, professionalism and self-reflection.

✅ I earned a B or better in prerequisite courses, especially in Anatomy, Physiology and my upper division science. If not, I know what I can do to strengthen my foundational coursework prior to entering a DPT program.

✅ I have considered retaking key prerequisite courses if I struggled in them (i.e., less than a B).

✅ I understand that PTCAS calculates GPAs differently from some institutions. You can use the PTCAS GPA calculator to project your GPA in the application process.

✅ I understand that a typical DPT semester includes 12-18 credits of full-time graduate level coursework.

✅ I understand that graduate school can be stressful, and I have stress management techniques and support/resources available. I have successfully managed periods of high stress before.

While many programs do not require the GRE, after graduating from PT school, you must pass a standardized licensure exam, the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), to practice as a physical therapist. If you don’t pass the NPTE on the first try, you can re-take it, but there are a fixed number of times you can sit for the exam. Therefore, it is important to consider if you have taken a standardized test like the GRE before, as it might help you understand if you are ready for future standardized tests like the NPTE.

✅ I recognize that strong GRE scores are correlated with success on the NPTE, an exam that I’m required to pass to practice Physical Therapy upon graduation.

✅ I have considered taking the GRE as a self-assessment tool to gauge my readiness for PT school and becoming more comfortable with high-stakes exams such as the NPTE.

✅ I have considered taking the GRE at a testing center, instead of at home, to simulate the NPTE testing environment.

✅ I have not taken the GRE, but I have taken standardized tests like the SAT or ACT which could help gauge my capacity for performance on standardized exams.

✅ I have not taken a standardized test, but I have been able to demonstrate strong test-taking strategies on multiple closed-book exams in the past. I understand that I may still need to seek out resources to be adequately prepared for a test like the NPTE.

✅ Alongside the GRE, I understand that recent research shows my cumulative pre-PT school GPA is a strong predictor of PT school and NPTE board licensure exam success.

Clinical rotations in a DPT program allow you to apply the knowledge gained in school to real-world scenarios. Being ready for clinical rotations ensures you make the most of this critical phase of your education, setting a strong foundation for your future career as a physical therapist.

✅ I recognize that successful physical therapists (and student physical therapists) should display the following traits and behaviors when in the clinical setting, and I have exhibited (or observed) these myself in the past. Note: this is not an exhaustive list.

✅ Effective communication (demonstrating modes and methods that are effective in meeting the needs of all individuals and populations)

✅ Professionalism (acting with integrity and respect)

✅ Critical thinking (showing problem solving skills and adaptability)

✅ Self-Awareness/Self-Improvement (accountability and desire to continuously seek development opportunities)

✅ Patient/client management (demonstration of person-centered care, compassion, empathy and caseload management)

Physical therapy programs train students to be generalists, meaning you graduate from a DPT program with the ability to work across a variety of settings with different patient populations. Like many healthcare professions, a career in PT can be very rewarding but also demanding. Therefore, it is important to carefully research the profession and get a variety of perspectives.

✅PT school is a major time and financial commitment—I feel confident that this is the right career path for me.

✅I have thoroughly explored the profession through several of these strategies:

Shadowing physical therapists in multiplesettings (Link application guide for observation hours from ACAPT)
Volunteering or working in a PT clinic
Listening to PT-related podcasts from multiple sources
Conducting informational interviews with practicing or retired PTs
Researching the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) website
Attending or volunteering at a professional conference
Shadowing or interviewing other healthcare professionals to understand interprofessional teamwork within healthcare

✅I understand that PTs work in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to:

Outpatient private practice or hospital-based clinics
Inpatient acute care or rehab hospitals
Home health and skilled nursing facilities
K-12 school systems
Research
Academia
Industry (medical device sales, product development, consulting, etc)
Hospital and healthcare administration

✅ I aware that Physical Therapy programs graduate generalist practitioners and that following graduation I can do additional post-professional training to become a specialist in a focused area. (Example: Specialist Certification)

✅ I have a realistic understanding of a day in the life of a clinical PT, including but not limited to:

Work schedule
Patient load (how many patients are seen each day and for what duration)
Expectations for documentation
Working and communicating with other health professionals

There are over 300 PT programs across the United States, and they vary based on length, class size, cost, and format (in-person vs hybrid). Most programs have a lot of information on their websites, and many also offer information sessions and tours.

✅I have identified what matters most to me in a PT program. (i.e., program location, program length, summer or fall starting date, clinical education structure/length of experiences, research, etc.)

✅I researched each program’s mission, values, and student support systems.

✅ I have looked at informational videos or I’ve attended virtual or in-person information sessions available at the programs I am interested in.

✅ I understand that some programs offer residential/in-person pathways, some offer hybrid pathways, and several offer both.

✅ I recognize that while a hybrid format may provide greater flexibility due to the nature of online instruction, it still has the expectation that I will be present “live” at my computer for synchronous class sessions daily. I am also aware that there will also be asynchronous class materials that I will be responsible for completing outside of scheduled classes.

✅ I have considered what my personal support system will look like while I’m in a DPT program.

PTCAS GPA calculator: https://help.liaisonedu.com/PTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center/Submitting_and_Monitoring_Your_PTCAS_Application/Verification_and_GPA_Calculations_for_PTCAS/3_Calculating_Your_GPAs

Mitch Wolden, Brent Hill, Sara Voorhees, Predicting Success for Student Physical Therapists on the National Physical Therapy Examination: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Physical Therapy, Volume 100, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 73–89, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz145. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/100/1/73/5580536

Kume, J.; Reddin, V.; and Horbacewicz, J. (2019) "Predictors of Physical Therapy Academic and NPTE Licensure Performance," Health Professions Education: Vol. 5: Iss. 3, Article 13.

DOI: 10.1016/j.hpe.2018.06.004
Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol5/iss3/13

Financial Aid FAQ for Prospective Students: https://acapt.org/resources/students/student-resources/financial-aid-faqs-for-prospective-physical-therapy-education-students

Western Interstate Commision on Higher Education (WICHE): https://www.wiche.edu/

US Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm

Specialist Certification: https://www.apta.org/your-career/career-advancement/specialist-certification