Doctorate of Physical Therapy Admissions

Admission Status

Our program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. Applicants applying to our program for the class of 2024 and 2025 (entering fall 2021 and 2022) will apply online using the PTCAS application.

UPDATES TO 2020/21 AND 2021/22 ADMISSION CYCLE REQUIREMENTS DUE TO COVID-19

• Completion of 8 out of 12 pre-requisite courses will be required prior to eligibility for interview consideration.
• We recognize that many universities have offered pass/fail grading for coursework due to the transition to online instruction. Walsh University reuires students to take their undergraduate pre-requisites courses for a grade if this option is available.
• Given the current climate of healthcare, Walsh University will alter the observation requirement for the 20/21 and 21/22 cycles.
  • Students who have completed ANY hours in any setting should submit them in order to complete the requirement in full
  • Any number of telehealth observation hours will complete the requirement in full
  • For those applicants who have not been exposed to the profession through observation hours, an alternate essay will be assigned which will complete the observation requirement in full
• Given the current climate of healthcare, Walsh University will alter the letter of recommendation requirement for the 20/21 and 21/22 cycles.
  • We require three recommendations from individuals who are able to comment on the student’s academic performance, work ethic, and/or professional potential. However, for applicants unable to complete observation hours, the professional (PT) reference can be replaced by another academic or “other” reference. Therefore
    • must be academic
    • must be a licensed PT if observation hours were completed
    • The applicants should not have a personal relationship with any of the individuals giving the recommendation (ie- no family, friends, TAs, etc)
• We continue to require the GRE exam.

Admission Policies

The Physical Therapy Program adheres to the non-discrimation policy established by the university:

Walsh University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loans programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Routes of Admission

In consideration of the above policy, any candidate who demonstrates a history of scholastic aptitude along with professional potential will be considered for admission. There are 2 routes of admission into the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy. All qualified students applying to our program are required to successfully complete an interview prior to being accepted. 

1. Traditional - Traditional entry involves a 4+3 model in which the student completes an undergraduate degree in 4 years prior to entry into the graduate program in physical therapy. Click here for more information.

2. Early Assurance - The Early Assurance, direct freshman entry program is a 3 + 3 model, available to a limited number of graduating high school seniors who can either enroll in Walsh University’s Division of Mathematics and Sciences Biology Pre-PT Early Assurance major or the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences Exercise Science pre-PT Early Assurance major. Click here for more information.

The DPT program is professional program which leads to students graduating with a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.  This allows our graduates to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which is a nationwide exam that all graduates of accredited Physical Therapy programs must take in order to obtain licensure to practice.  Passing this licensure exam allows our graduates to apply for licensure in any state.  Each state has their own licensure board and procedures.  The DPT program doesn’t provide licensure - only the completion of a degree which satisfies the requirements to take the nationwide licensure exam. 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

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