Apply to the School of Physical Therapy

University of Puget Sound's School of Physical Therapy participates in in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Students who wish to apply to programs that are on the PTCAS system need only submit one application, one set of references, and one set of official transcripts directly to the PTCAS system. The complete application is then distributed to each program that you select.

The physical therapy admission committee takes the overall application into account. Decisions are made based on a balance of academic performance in undergraduate work, GRE scores, demonstrated understanding of the nature of the profession, answers to essay questions on the application, writing abilities as demonstrated on the GRE and on the essay questions, and information contained in the personal references. You must achieve all published minimum criteria in order to be considered for admission.

Profile of 2023 Admitted Class

• Average overall GPA: 3.53
• Average Prerequisite GPA: 3.71
• Average score on Verbal GRE: 58th percentile
• Average score on Quantitative GRE: 48th percentile
• Average score on Written GRE: 61st percentile

• Apply online via PTCAS.
• Submit official transcripts from every college attended via PTCAS.
• Three (3) letters of Recommendation are required to be submitted via PTCAS.
  • One must be from a US licensed physical therapist.
  • One must be from a college professor who has taught you in a college level course (a reference from a Teaching Assistant, or from an Academic Advisor who has not taught you in a graded course, will not satisfy this requirement).
• Observation hours: Appreciation of the breadth and depth of the physical therapy profession is required. There is no minimum number of hours of exposure, but the applicant must demonstrate knowledge across the spectrum of the profession in writing submitted for the application.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Submit official scores directly to PTCAS using the Puget Sound/PTCAS code: 7694. Scores should not be more than five years old. Any applicant who is not a native English speaker, regardless of years spent in the United States, is required to submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IETLS) scores.
• $50 Application Fee, submitted electronically through your application portal or directly to Puget Sound via US mail. Checks should be made out to University of Puget Sound and reference the student's full name, PTCAS ID number, and the PT program (for example: "Robin Jones, 20111219620, PT"). This is in addition to any fees you pay to PTCAS.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to academic challenges associated with the COVID-19 crisis, prerequisite courses receiving CREDIT during Spring 2020 through Summer 2022 will be accepted. A letter grade is not required for prerequisites taken during this period.

Baccalaureate degree completed, or realistic plan of completion, before beginning of physical therapy classes. You may major in any field that maximizes your talents and interests; there is no preferred major.

Overall GPA of all baccalaureate work of 3.0 or better. If applicant has multiple degrees, the GPA of the more recent degree completed is used as qualifier.  Completed graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better will qualify an applicant with a low undergraduate GPA.

Completion of all prerequisite courses, or realistic plan of completion, before the beginning of physical therapy classes if one or more prerequisite course(s) is incomplete at the time of application. Prerequisite courses include:

• Fundamentals of Chemistry I, II (CHEM 110 / 120 or 115 / 230) or equivalent (one-year series with labs).
• General College Physics (PHYS 111 / 112 or 121 / 122) or equivalent (one-year series with labs).
• Human Anatomy and Physiology (EXSC 221 / 222) or equivalent (with lab). (At some universities human anatomy and physiology will be offered within the biology department.
• Introduction to Applied Statistics (MATH 160) or equivalent.
• One course in psychology or sociology emphasizing human behavior or disability. Puget Sound courses that fulfill the requirement include Introductory Psychology (PSYC 101); Developmental Psychology (PSYC 220 or 221); Psychological Disorders (PSYC 320); Deviance and Social Control (SOAN 206); or Disability, Identity, and Power (SOAN 370).

All prerequisite courses must be taken for a grade. You must earn a grade of 3.0 or higher in *each* Anatomy and Physiology course, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all prerequisite courses. (IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to academic challenges associated with the COVID-19 crisis, prerequisite courses receiving CREDIT during Spring 2020 through Summer 2022 will be accepted.) If your prerequisite courses have been completed more than 10 years prior to application, write a letter to the program director (pt@pugetsound.edu) requesting a waiver of this rule. You must demonstrate how you kept the prerequisite knowledge current.

School of Physical Therapy Advising Manual (PDF)

Applications for Fall semester 2025 must be submitted by 8:59 p.m. PDT (11:59 p.m. EDT) on November 1, 2024.