Physical Therapy

Students interested in becoming physical therapists have numerous obligations including the development of a strong science foundation and involvement in diverse extracurricular activities. It can be a bit daunting, but it is possible to do everything you need to do by starting now and working consistently throughout your undergraduate years.

Please read the basic information we have provided while recognizing that the majority of support the Prehealth Advising Office provides students is through face-to-face advising appointments. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss any questions you may have as you navigate your journey to becoming a physical therapist.

Academic Planning

Choosing a Major

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs do not require or favor ANY specific major. We encourage you to consider a major that interests you and one that will provide an alternative pathway if your career goals regarding physical therapy change. No matter what you choose to major in, you will be most prepared if you counsel with both your major academic advisor and your prehealth advisor on a regular basis. 

• Find a Degree
• Major Exploration

Prerequisite Requirements

Below is a list of the most commonly required prerequisites for PT programs. Please note: this table is NOT all-encompassing, and we strongly encourage you to thoroughly investigate schools you are interested in to determine their specific prerequisites.

• Human Physiology – BIOL 2420
• Human Anatomy – BIOL 2320
• Biology – BIOL 1610/1620 with labs (some schools only require one semester)
• General Chemistry – CHEM 1210/1220 with labs 1215/1225
• Physics – PHYS 2110 and 2120
• Psychology – PSY 1010
• Statistics – STAT 1040 

Extracurricular Activities

A common misconception students have about PT school is that good grades and a high GRE score are the only things admissions committees will look for. While these metrics are certainly an important aspect of your application, they are not enough on their own to earn you a place in PT school. Your extracurricular preparation is a vitally important aspect of your application, and we strongly encourage you not to overlook it. To help you best prepare, we have broken down extracurricular activities into the areas listed below.

PT Observation Hours

What is involved in the typical day of a PT? Can you handle the sights/sounds/smells associated with working as a physical therapist? What can you do to help patients who are unmotivated and discouraged about their recovery? If you’ve wondered about these questions, observing a physical therapist will help you answer them!

PT observation hours are required by most programs. The schools you are interested in need to see that you have an honest understanding of what it takes to be a physical therapist and that you are ready for the career ahead of you. Don’t wait until you are ready to apply to earn these hours—start early! Many schools recommend you have exposure to many different physical therapists who work in a variety of settings.

Service & Volunteering

Becoming a successful PT includes developing a service-oriented outlook. Because of this, PT schools are looking for how you have developed this character trait through your involvement in various activities. Many physical therapists will tell you that service plays a key role in their influence on the community and their ability to help their patients.

Your service and volunteer repertoire need not be limited to medically relevant exposure; rather, find things that you are passionate about and be mindful of volunteer and service opportunities that arise.

Research

Oh no—the “R” word! Typically, PT schools don’t require research experience for admission. However, we feel that research is a great way to distinguish yourself because it demonstrates that you have an intimate understanding of the scientific method. Being involved in research will help you develop critical thinking skills and will allow you to be an informed consumer of new research studies that will be presented to you as a PT. Plus, there’s no better way to solidify concepts you learn in class than actively applying them in the lab. (And it’s fun, too!) 

Leadership

All health professionals are leaders to some degree and PT schools appreciate students with these skills. There is no one way to gain leadership experience, but some common ways are getting involved in a club and participating in club administration, student government, working as a tutor, TA, SI, etc. Remember, demonstrating leadership doesn’t always come with a “title”! You can demonstrate leadership many different ways and through a variety of activities.