Doctor of Physical Therapy: Admissions

Submit application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). The program does not accept applications through the AHU website.

Apply at PTCAS

Provide evidence of an earned bachelor's degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited college or university by his or her start date in the program.

Official Transcripts
Transcripts from each regionally accredited college and university attended, whether or not a degree was awarded, must be submitted directly to PTCAS. Failure to disclose all colleges and universities previously attended could result in denial or dismissal. We do not accept transcripts delivered to our campus.

Transcript Evaluations
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applicants, we are unable to provide individual transcript evaluations. If you have questions or concerns regarding specific courses and if those courses fulfill our prerequisite requirements, you are welcome to email your inquiry to our program admissions team. In this email, please include the course description(s) with the course code(s) and the name of the institution(s) where the course(s) was completed. Please indicate which requirement you are looking to fulfill with each course that you submit.

International Transcripts
We require course-by-course transcript evaluations of college or university work that has been completed outside of the Unites States. All non-U.S. transcript evaluations must be completed through World Education Services (WES) and sent directly to PTCAS. You can contact WES at Call212-966-6211, info@wes.org, or at www.wes.org.

Present a minimum cumulative, science, and prerequisite grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Higher GPA's are more competitive within the applicant pool.

Must have completed the following prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university. It is recommended that these prerequisites be completed within the five years immediately prior to application to the program. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the program though 75% should be completed prior to application to the program. Grades of “C” or better are required in all prerequisite courses. Three quarters are considered equivalent to two semesters of course work.

• Anatomy and Physiology, two semesters with lab (Anatomy with lab, one semester, and Physiology with lab, one semester, may be substituted)
• General Biology, two semesters with lab
• General Chemistry, two semesters with lab
• General Physics, two semesters with lab
• Statistics
• General Psychology
• One course in human development across the lifespan (e.g., developmental psychology, human growth and development)

It is assumed that the applicant is computer literate and familiar with the use of computers at home, on the job, or in school.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all applicants.

On the Revised General Test, scores of 151 or greater on the Verbal (≥460 on the General Test) and 152 or greater on the Quantitative (≥660 on the General Test) Reasoning sections, and 3.5 or greater on the Analytical Writing section are recommended. Higher scores are more competitive within the applicant pool.

Test scores more than five years old will not be accepted.

If there are multiple test scores available for an applicant the program will consider the highest score earned in each section of the GRE. For example, if the applicant’s Verbal Reasoning test score was 153 on their first attempt and 147 on their second attempt, the program will use the first (higher) score when considering the application. However, if the applicant has scores from both the prior General Test and the revised General Test, the program will use the scores from the revised General Test.

The program requires that one official copy of the GRE scores be sent directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) to AHU's (“Adventist U of Health Sciences”) PTCAS code - 1777.

Three electronic references are required from the following: two physical therapists and one person of the applicant’s choice (employer, professor, academic advisor, etc.). References from friends or family members will not be accepted.

The applicant must arrange for PTCAS to receive all of the applicant’s references by the program’s application deadline date.

All graduate students for whom English is not their primary language must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction in the United States; or
• A minimum score of 570 on the paper-based TOEFL exam; or
• A minimum score of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL exam; or
• A minimum total score of 89 on the Internet-based TOEFL exam
  • Composite of reading, listening, and writing: 63
  • Speaking: 26

All applicants who meet the minimum admissions requirements will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants found to be competitive will be invited for an interview. The interview process serves a dual purpose:

1. It provides a realistic evaluation of eligibility for admission into the program as it assesses oral communication skills, professional behaviors and attitudes, ability to interact in a group, knowledge of the profession, ability to solve problems, and motivation to pursue a career in physical therapy. The applicants' written communication skills will also be measured with an on-site writing sample.
2. It gives the applicant an opportunity to learn more about the program's teaching and learning philosophy and to spend time with faculty to appraise the program in terms of meeting personal and professional growth.

Interviews will begin after the preferred deadline of November 1, and may continue until the class is full.

The primary requirement for admission into the DPT program is the applicant's ability, as appraised by the program's Admissions Committee, to successfully complete the 3-year curriculum. Applicants who are admitted into the program have strong academic records as evidenced by their cumulative, science, and prerequisite grade point averages and GRE scores, their breadth and depth of science background and their demonstrated consistency of academic performance. A firm and clear commitment to the profession of physical therapy and to fulfilling the missions of the University and program are additional criterion for admission and are assessed through the writing samples and interview process. Qualities such as maturity and effective interpersonal relationships, as determined from the references and the interview are also important admissions criteria.

Applicants are reminded that, due to the competitive nature of the admission process, meeting the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee admission to the program.

Admission decisions may occur until the program start date in May.

Two seats in the DPT program will be held for AHU undergraduates who meet and maintain specific stringent academic criteria (including 3.7 GPA), meet all pre-requisite coursework and complete their BS degree. A DPT Application must be completed through the PTCAS system and candidates will need to successfully complete the interview process.  Interested AHU undergraduate students must complete the “Intent for Preferential Admission” form and required essay while enrolled in the BSBS program. The complete requirements and process can be obtained from a students academic advisor. If there are multiple qualified students that have completed the Intent form and meet all the requirements prior to program enrollment, the DPT Program Admissions Committee will choose the top two candidates for the preferential admissions seats. All other students will still be considered for admission to the program (like any other non AHU student).

Verification of tuberculosis screening test upon entry into the program with repeat testing only if it is required by a clinical partner. If test is positive, refer to the guidelines provided in the AHU Student Handbook’s Communicable Disease Policy.

Updated verification, on the AdventHealth University Student Immunization Form, of the following vaccinations or immunity titer including:

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (adequate titer, 2 vaccines, laboratory proof, letter from diagnosing physician, or medial record history of having chickenpox)
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap required)
• Hepatitis B (3 vaccines)
• Influenza (annually)
• Any other vaccinations or immunizations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for health care providers.

Completed and signed Student Health Assessment Form for Professional Programs within the three months prior to the start of the program. Students must update their records annually by submitting the Student Annual Medical Requirements Form.

All students admitted to the DPT program must complete a criminal background check. A student may encounter potential problems with clinical education placement and/or licensure as a physical therapist if he or she has a criminal record. For specific information, contact the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice, or the board that regulates physical therapy licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice. If a student has a criminal record, it is the responsibility of the student to inquire with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice, or the board that regulates physical therapy licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice, as to whether a criminal record may limit the student's ability to obtain licensure as a physical therapist or practice in certain settings.

Each student who is enrolled in the program must complete the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification. This training and certification must occur no later than the start of the second trimester and must be maintained throughout the remainder of the professional curriculum. Proof of this certification must be presented as requested by the program. Online training courses will not be accepted.

Each applicant who is accepted into the program must demonstrate proof of health insurance, through the use of the AHU Verification of Insurance Form, prior to entry into the program and must maintain health insurance throughout their enrollment. Health insurance is required of all students in the DPT program.

Each applicant who is accepted into the program must undergo and pass a drug test prior to entry into the program.

The applicant's acceptance letter will contain a deadline indicating when the nonrefundable $500 deposit must be received by the University, this in order to reserve the student’s place in the program. Once the student enrolls in the program, this deposit will be applied toward the student's account. Students who have paid the deposit, but decide not to, or become ineligible to, enroll in the program, for any reason, will forfeit the deposit. If that student is admitted to the same program at a later date, he or she will be required to pay the full deposit amount again. A professional program deposit is not transferable to another department.

In addition to the information regarding the required deposit, the acceptance letter will include an Essential Functions Acknowledgment form. In order to successfully complete the program, students must perform the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program's Essential Functions. If the student is an individual with a disability and needs reasonable accommodation in order to fully participate in this program, the student must follow the directions provided in AHU’s Catalog under “Rehabilitation Act (1973) Section 504: Services for Students with Special Needs.” The student must complete and submit the signed Essential Functions Acknowledgment form along with their deposit.

The program reserves the right to rescind an acceptance offer if the above are not completed by the start of program classes.

The Program supports and upholds the nondiscrimination policy of the University.

View the DPT Essential Functions