Physical Therapy Profession and Degree Program
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Applying to the DPT Program
The University of Washington Division of Physical Therapy endeavors to select applicants who have the ability to become highly competent physical therapists. As an accredited physical therapy program, the University of Washington Curriculum in Physical Therapy adheres to the standards and guidelines of the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. Within these guidelines, the University of Washington Division of Physical Therapy has the freedom and ultimate responsibility for the selection and evaluation of its students, the design, implementation, and evaluation of its curriculum, and the determination of who should be awarded a degree. Admission and retention decisions are based not only on prior satisfactory academic achievement, but also on non-academic factors which serve to insure that the candidate can complete the essential functions of the academic program required for graduation.
The Division has the responsibility to the public to assure that its graduates can become fully competent and caring physical therapists, capable of doing benefit and not harm. Thus, it is important the persons admitted possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concern, and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice physical therapy.
Enrollment in the program is limited to 30 students each year and the application process is competitive.
Residence
Application is restricted to those who are US Citizens or US Permanent Residents by the autumn program entrance date. For questions concerning eligibility, contact the Residence Classification Office at 206-543-5932, or visit their website: www.washington.edu/students/reg/residency.html
Please note it is difficult to establish Washington State Residency for individuals residing elsewhere in the USA. Requirement details can be found at the same website.
Graduate Record Examination and Other Tests
Applicants are REQUIRED to submit scores from the General Test portion of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) with their applications. The General Test of the GRE measures verbal, quantitative and analytical skills that have been developed over a long period of time. The test is available year round in computer-based format. Advance registration is required and students should plan ahead in order for scores to be reported in a timely manner. Those who have taken the test in the past must inquire early to be sure their scores can be properly reported.
In addition, applicants who have obtained their bachelor's degrees from non-English speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). These exams are also available throughout the year from computer-based testing centers, similar to the GRE.
There are many options available for GRE, TOEFL, and TOEIC test preparation and registration. Visit the Educational Testing Service Website http://www.ets.org/ for more details. Or contact them at 609-921-9000 (phone) or 609-734-5410 (fax).
Physical Therapy Experience
Most successful candidates have gained extensive observational exposure to physical therapists working in a broad variety of PT service delivery environments and with many different types of patients. In addition, effective applicants are able to obtain strong letters of reference from physical therapists with whom they have interacted. Students are expected to arrange their own PT-related work or volunteer experiences. Training is usually acquired on the job. Becoming a volunteer in the physical therapy department of a hospital or a private physical therapy clinic is a good place for novices to start.
The Physical Therapy Curriculum Office maintains a job opportunities folder that contains listings of PT-related employment appropriate for non-professionals. Applicants are welcome to review this folder in person at the PT Curriculum Office (Suite CC-902, University of Washington Medical Center). Please contact us if you have questions regarding what experiences may be considered relevant to physical therapy (206-598-5333, e-mail gleep@u.washington.edu).
Minimum Academic Requirements
Prior to the application deadline of December 15, the student must have met the following minimum academic requirements:
* 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on all college-level courses
* 3.0 GPA on PT prerequisite courses alone
* 2.0 (C) or higher grade on each PT prerequisite course
* Some PT prerequisite courses completed
These same minimum requirements must be maintained until program entrance and all prerequisite courses must be finished at that time. Finally, applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree before they start the program.
To meet PT prerequisite requirements, credits may be used from college-level coursework taken any time in the past. Courses may be taken at any accredited institution of higher education (e.g., community college, college, or university).
PT Prerequisite Courses
Under each prerequisite subject listed below, courses in parentheses are the suggested UW equivalents. Course content, level, and credit at other schools may vary somewhat and yet be considered sufficiently comparable. Students attending Washington community colleges should check the "UW Equivalency Guide" to determine equivalencies. Others should compare the course descriptions in their college catalogs with the following descriptions to ensure approximate equivalencies.
Chemistry -- Two courses that cover atomic theory, periodic table, quantum concepts, gas laws, structure and bonding, reaction types, chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry, and acid-base reactions. These courses should include laboratories. Recommended preparation: high school chemistry and advanced algebra. (CHEM 142 & 152). Note that an alternative series (CHEM 120 and 220), covering basic principles of inorganic and some organic chemistry, is also acceptable.
Physics -- Two courses that cover mechanics, sound, heat, and electromagnetism, and incorporate lab work. Recommended preparation includes high school physics, algebra and trigonometry. (PHYS 114-lecture with 117-lab, and PHYS 115-lecture with 118-lab)
Anatomy -- One course that covers systemic human anatomy with correlated lectures and demonstrations. Lab helpful, if available. (BSTR 301)
Physiology -- One course that covers human physiology for non-majors and health science students. Lab helpful. (BIOL 118/119)
Note: Two courses that cover integrated anatomy and physiology are an acceptable substitute for stand-alone anatomy and stand-alone physiology courses.
Biology -- Two courses that cover living systems and focusing on such topics as cell structure/function, genetics, metabolism, development, diversity, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Laboratories valuable. (BIOL 161/162 -or- BIOL 180/200)
Behavioral Science -- Any two courses in behavioral science, including psychology, sociology, and anthropology.
Statistics -- Any introductory course including elementary concepts of probability and sampling, as well as basic principles of hypothesis testing and data analysis. (STAT 220 or STAT 311)
Criminal History Background Check
Applicants should realize that most clinical internship placement sites require potential traninees to undergo an extensive criminal history background check, especially for crimes against vulnerable populations. To ensure that all students offered positions in the PT program have no such detrimental history and therefore will be able to finish the clinical portion of the curriculum, the completion of a fee-for-service criminal background check request form will be required of applicants accepting admission.
Profile of the Class Entering in 2008
Students offered admission for Autumn Quarter 2008 had strong academic records, high standardized test scores, broad volunteer and/or paid PT-related work experience, a cogent personal statement, and excellent letters of recommendation.
Total qualified applicants: 291
Students accepted into program: 32 (3 were reapplicants)
Prerequisite GPA (average): 3.8 (range: 3.1 - 4.0)
Cumulative GPA (average): 3.7 (range: 3.1 - 4.0)
GRE General Test (average % rank): 65-75 (depending on section)
Past research has shown that the average number of PT experience hours falls in the range 200-500, volunteer and/or paid.
How To Apply
Applicants must apply to both the Division of Physical Therapy and the University of Washington Graduate School
Selection Process
The physical therapy application review committee members use the following criteria to judge the applicant's ability to succeed in the curriculum and in the profession:
- Academic ability as evidenced by the quality and quantity of coursework, academic performance, and GRE scores;
- Knowledge of the nature of the physical therapy profession and demonstration of qualities consistent with the role of the physical therapist as shown by physical therapy experience, application essay, and letters of recommendation;
- Ability to communicate as documented by letters of recommendation and demonstrated in the application itself; and
- Involvement in constructive activities (i.e., organizations, projects, creative endeavors, other employment, honors, etc).
The Physical Therapy Advisory and Evaluation Committee of the UW School of Medicine considers the recommendations of the application review committee and makes the final decision on which applicants will be recommended for acceptance into the University and the physical therapy program.
Letters notifying students of the decision of the Physical Therapy Advisory and Evaluation Committee will be mailed by mid-February 2009. Entrance into the program for those recommended is contingent upon acceptance by the UW Graduate School and upon meeting the program requirements (residence, completed prerequisites, and minimum grades/GPA).
Policy on Re-applicants
There is no limit to the number of times a student may apply to the program. A new file is created annually for the applicant and the current file is the only one seen by the application review committee.
Policy on Returning Students
Returning students who previously dropped out of the program, or students declining an offered position must re-apply and are subject to the same review process used for other applicants.
Equal Opportunity and Accommodation
The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.
The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation, contact the PT Curriculum Office at 206-598-5333 or Disability Resources for Students (DRS) at 206-543-8924 (voice) 206-543-8925 (TTY) or uwdss@u.washington.edu (email).
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