Application Information
Important Dates for Applicants - 2023-24 Application:
| Date | Item |
| June 15, 2023 | 2023-2024 PTCAS Applications open |
| October 2, 2023 | Application deadline; PTCAS application must be submitted by this date by 11:59 pm EST |
| October 2, 2023 | Supplemental Fee Payment must be received by 11:59 PM MST on October 2nd, the same date as the PTCAS application deadline |
| November 3, 2023 | PTCAS Verification Deadline (Applications not verified by PTCAS by this date will NOT be reviewed. The verification process may take up to 4-6 weeks, and thus it is in an applicant's best interest to submit to PTCAS ahead of the Oct 2nd deadline) |
January 9-11, 2024 | Class of 2026 Virtual Interviews |
| January 12, 2024 | Campus Visit for Interviewees (optional) |
| Late January through Late March 2024 | Offers of admission sent |
| April 2024 | Class finalized |
| May 29-31, 2024 (tentative) | Orientation to DPT Program |
| June 3, 2024 | Summer semester begins for the Class of 2026 |
The Program follows University policies to facilitate equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for faculty, staff and prospective/enrolled students, by following policies of the Office of Equity and the Regent's laws and Policies, Article 10, nondiscrimination.
University Strategic Priority
Affirmative Action
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physical Therapy Program is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students, including those with disabilities (e.g., mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical) who meet the technical standards of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
If you are an applicant with a disability who would like to engage in a confidential consultation about disability access at CU Anschutz, or who requires accommodations to complete the application or interview process, please contact The Office of Disability, Access, & Inclusion.
Baccalaureate degree
- Must be completed through a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of orientation in late May.
- Note: Prospective applicants who attend quarter-based institutions typically need to complete all degree/prerequisite requirements by the end of the winter term (as spring quarters often continue into mid-June).
GPA
- Qualified applicants have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on all course attempts).
- GPA is one of several important factors in admissions decisions. It is important to consider that the average cumulative GPA of admitted applicants is above 3.6.
- Applicants with a minimum GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 may still be considered for admission only when there is evidence of a significant positive trend in grades over time (evidenced by a last 60-credit GPA of greater than or equal to 3.5) AND strong grades in courses, such as anatomy, physiology, and upper-division sciences (biomechanics, exercise physiology, etc), and there are other unique circumstances or characteristics the applicant brings forward through their application during the admissions process.
- To view competitive GPAs, visit our DPT Statistics Page
- Please see the PTCAS website to learn how to calculate GPAs at http://www.ptcas.org/GPA.
Graduate Record Exam
- GRE is NO LONGER REQUIRED for admission
International Students and English as a Foreign Language Applicants
- Score of 80 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test or a total score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic test.
- If you are an international student or a student who completed a bachelor's degree outside of the U.S., you must also provide a World Education Services (WES) transcript evaluation including the line-by-line course evaluation, cumulative GPA and the U.S. equivalent degree. Please contact PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu to inquire about additional considerations.
COVID -19 Vaccination Requirements
Per CU Anschutz COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all new students, employees, badged affiliates, etc. are required to be fully vaccinated prior to their start date. (Read more about the vaccine requirement here) There are NO religious exemptions available to students, but students may seek a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, which will be reviewed at the campus level according to a strict review process for medical conditions that pose absolute contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination as outlined in the CU Anschutz Medical Campus policy and on the Vaccine Exemptions webpage. This policy states “Currently, the only absolute contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination are (i) severe immediate allergic reaction to a previous dose or to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine, ii) immediate reaction of any severity to a previous dose or known (diagnosed) allergy to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine.” In the event a student receives an approved medical exemption, it should be noted that the exemption could impact (i) the program’s ability to place such a student in certain clinical sites, (ii) the student’s ability to engage in educational activities within close proximity of others (common in DPT lab skills courses), and (iii) the student’s overall progression in the educational curriculum with the cohort.
2023-2024 Application Cycle
Observation Hours:
- Observation hours are not required.
- Becoming a physical therapist is a significant investment of both time and money and it is essential that applicants have broad knowledge about the profession prior to entering a DPT program to ensure being a physical therapist is the right career choice for them. There are many ways to learn about the profession including observing a licensed physical therapist in a variety of settings, conducting informational interviews, referencing the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) website, listening to podcasts, observing other healthcare providers, and more.
References:
We require 2 letters from people who know the applicant well, with the exception of family, friends, and clergy. The most common references we receive are from professors, supervisors, and licensed physical therapists. Applications may not be verified by PTCAS until all materials are received, including letters of recommendation, thus it is in your best interest to have your references submit as early to the Oct 2nd deadline as possible.
Essays:
The application process requires both a standard PTCAS essay as well as University of Colorado specific program essays. We expect that all essays are written in accordance with the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and honesty, as well as our Program’s Honors code and copyright regulations. By submitting an application through PTCAS, applicants are affirming that their essays were written in their own words without the assistance of paid external resources, websites utilizing artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT), or copyrighted from another source.
Coursework Prerequisites
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the start of orientation (end of May), although an application may be submitted prior to completing all prerequisite coursework. Note that only one (1) prerequisite science course may be in progress in the spring semester/winter quarter prior to matriculation.
Courses completed with a C- or below are not acceptable. It is recommended that all science and math courses be completed within five (5) years of entering our program. Anatomy, Physiology and at least one upper-division science (or Exercise Physiology/Biomechanics) must be completed within ten (10) years of entering the program, and preferably within the last five (5) years.
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit is accepted only if a transcript reflects the credit earned (applicants are encouraged to contact PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu if they are planning to use AP/IB credit to fulfill a prerequisite but the specific credit does not appear on their college transcript).
All prerequisite courses must be completed through regionally accredited institutions.
Note: Pass/fail grades received in courses taken in spring, summer, or fall 2020 are accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Options to fulfill Anatomy and Physiology:
Option 1 of 2 Anatomy and Physiology
- Human or Mammalian Anatomy with lab (upper-division preferred) - 4 semester hours or 6 quarter units
- Human or Mammalian Physiology with lab* (upper-division preferred) - 4 semester hours or 6 quarter units
Option 2 of 2 Anatomy and Physiology - Combined Human or Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology with labs (upper-division preferred) - 8 semester hours or 12 quarter units
*If your institution does not offer a Human Physiology lab, please contact PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu to discuss your options for fulfilling this requirement.
Note: Most applicants complete their Anatomy and Physiology requirements through the biology, exercise science, or kinesiology departments of their institution.
Options to fulfill Upper-Division Science, Exercise Physiology or Biomechanics:
- Option 1: Any upper-division science (300/3000 level or higher) - 3 semester hours or 4 quarter units
- Option 2: Exercise Physiology (lower-division OR upper-division are acceptable; upper-division is strongly recommended) - 3 semester hours or 4 quarter units
- Option 3: Biomechanics (lower-division OR upper-division are acceptable; upper-division is strongly recommended) - 3 semester hours or 4 quarter units
While any upper division science in the biology, chemistry, physics or engineering departments will meet the upper division requirement, please note that field related content will provide better preparation. Examples include but are not limited to: cell biology, neuroanatomy/neurophysiology, genetics, microbiology, etc. Courses such as ecology, plant physiology, etc. are not field related.
Additional Course Prerequisites:
- Lab-based Chemistry - (survey or introduction to chemistry courses for non-science majors are NOT accepted) - 8 semester hours or 12-15 quarter units
- Lab-based Physics - (algebra or calculus-based; survey or introduction to physics courses for non-science majors are NOT accepted) - 8 semester hours or 12-15 quarter units
- 2 Psychology courses - (abnormal and developmental psychology preferred) - 6 semester hours or 8 quarter units
- Statistics - 3 semester hours or 4 quarter units
- Writing or English Composition (any writing-intensive course) - 3 semester hours or 4 quarter units
Application Deadline and Verification
Please be aware that the PTCAS verification process is typically 4-6 weeks. It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm with PTCAS that all application materials have been received in order for verification to occur.
While the deadline to electronically submit an application is October 2nd, 2023, PTCAS must verify an application for it to be sent to a DPT program for admissions review. For the University of Colorado to review an application, PTCAS verification must be complete by November 3rd, 2023. Applications not verified by PTCAS by this deadline will NOT be reviewed.
Supplemental Fee
The supplemental fee is a one-time, non-refundable, $50 fee payable to the University of Colorado that must be paid by the PTCAS application deadline of October 2nd. Payment can be made directly at the following link: https://isis-cs.prod.cu.edu/psc/csprod/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/CU_SELFSRV_PUB.CU_APPFEE_PAYMENT.GBL?INSTITUTION=CUDEN. If you have difficulty with the website, please try using a different internet browser. This fee is due at the time the application is submitted to PTCAS (deadline is 10/2/2023), and is in addition to the PTCAS fees. The Supplemental fee MUST be paid in order for your application to be reviewed and considered by our PT Program's Admissions Committee. The supplemental application fee supports a thorough review of each application, by a team dedicated to learning as much as possible about each applicant. If the applicant received a fee waiver from PTCAS, they are also eligible for a fee waiver from the University of Colorado. Documentation of the approved fee waiver must be sent to PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu.
Other Fees
PTCAS Initial Program Designation fee: $160
Each Additional Program PTCAS fee: $60
Virtual Interviews
Class of 2026 Interviews will be held January 9-11, 2024 by invitation only. Applicants will complete two, one-on-on 20-25-minute interviews with a faculty member and/or clinical partner.
Campus Day
For those invited to interview, we will host an optional campus visit the morning of Friday, January 12, 2024. Attendance will not impact admissions decisions.
Invitations to interview will likely be sent in mid-December 2023.
Other program requirements upon acceptance
Admissions Deposit
Students admitted into the program must submit a $1,000 confirmation deposit to hold their place in the class upon receiving an offer of admission. This deposit is applied to tuition and fees for the first semester of attendance and is non-refundable.
Please use this form to pay online via credit card or checking account (ACH) your non-refundable tuition deposit for an academic
program. These fees are non-refundable.
Technical Standards
All students must meet the technical standards of the DPT Program. Every applicant offered admission must sign a document indicating they are able to meet the technical standards in order to be admitted.
Completion of all outstanding prerequisite coursework
Only 1 science prerequisite may be in progress in the Spring/Winter semester prior to matriculation. All prerequisite coursework must be satisfactorily completed prior to matriculation.
Official Transcripts
Official transcripts from every higher education institution ever attended must be sent to the PT Program. This includes all spring/winter course grades. Final transcript(s) showing a conferred degree must be on file prior to matriculation. For incoming students finishing their undergraduate degrees, transcript with a posted degree must be received by June 15th of the summer in which a student is starting the PT Program.
Financial Aid Application
If you intend to apply for financial aid, review the Steps for Applying. Also ensure you use school code 004508 on your FAFSA.
Current CPR certification - Health Professionals course
We require the BLS for Healthcare Providers. Go to the American Heart Association to find a course near you. WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT COURSES TAKEN THROUGH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
Required Immunizations
All students in the School of Medicine must comply with required immunizations and tests. All students must be in compliance with updated vaccines and tests prior to matriculation. All PT students are tracked throughout the Program to make certain they stay in compliance, both regarding School of Medicine and the various clinical setting requirements.
The University of Colorado’s policies require full vaccination against COVID-19 for students, faculty and staff and the University of Colorado as a whole requires full vaccination against COVID-19 on all four CU campuses. This requirement would need to be met at least 4 weeks prior to Orientation, at the start of the PT Program. (Read more about the CU requirement, and find FAQs, here.)
Completed Background Check
All incoming students must give permission for a background check and students are responsible for any associated costs. The contact is made through PTCAS by an external vendor called Certiphi when PTCAS is notified of your accepted offer by the Program. The student will receive an email from Certiphi with the address, StudentEdition@ceriphi.com, that includes a verification code.
If you are planning on applying to the CU PT program and have previously been convicted of a misdemeanor related to any type of assault or have been convicted of any type of felony, please contact Dr. Lara Canham, Chair of PT Admissions, at Lara.Canham@cuanschutz.edu to discuss your situation confidentially.
Completed Residency Form
Completion of the Tuition Classification (Residency) form is required.
All students, even non-residents, must fill out all or part of this form. For information about how to establish Colorado residency, please visit this link . Please contact Tuitionclassification@cuanschutz.edu with any questions regarding residency.
Completed Military Service Form (online) if applicable
Male students born after December 31, 1959 must certify that they have registered with Selective Service (or are exempt from Selective Service registration) in order to register at any state-supported institution of higher education. Please go to www.sss.gov and make sure you have complied with this law prior to your arrival on campus.
Completed Drug Screening
The program will pay for an initial 10-panel drug screening. All incoming students must take and pass a 10-panel drug screening. The screening will occur during the first month of the initial summer semester. The student will be responsible for the cost of any additional screenings required by program or clinical sites.