Doctor of Physical Therapy Application and Admissions Process

DPT Application and Admissions Process

Important Dates

• Applications open: June 15, 2026
• Priority application deadline: April 20, 2027
• Final application deadline: June 1, 2027 – all materials due in PTCAS
• Classes start: August 23, 2027

We encourage applicants to submit all materials by the priority application deadline for the opportunity for review and potential offer earlier than the general pool of applicants.  

All applications must be submitted through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application System (PTCAS). After an application has been submitted and verified by PTCAS, the applicant will receive an email from the Wilson College DPT Program Admissions Office. 

Application Requirements

The DPT Program offers two pathways of entry:

Traditional Pathway 
For applicants who: 

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; and
• Complete all required prerequisite coursework

Licensed Healthcare Professional Pathway
Required prerequisite coursework is waived.

For applicants who:

• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; and
• Have held an active clinical license for at least one year in one of the following professions: 
  • Athletic Trainer, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Registered Nurse (LPN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Occupational Therapist (OT), Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), or Respiratory Therapist (RT).
     

Admissions Criteria 

Prerequisite Courses

Applicants applying through the Traditional Pathway must complete the required prerequisite coursework. 

• Applicants may apply while prerequisite courses are in progress.
• At the time of application submission, applicants must have completed at least six of the nine required prerequisite courses.
• All nine prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation and verified by official transcripts.
   

Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of B or higher is required.

1. Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
   a. Must have been completed in last 10 years.
2. Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
   a. Must have been completed in last 10 years.
3. General Biology I (with lab)
4. General Chemistry I (with lab)
5. General Physics I (with lab)
6. General Physics II (with lab)
7. Two Psychology Course (i.e., General, Abnormal, Developmental)
8. One Statistics (i.e., General Statistics, Biostatistics, Research Design)

Encouraged and Recommended Prerequisites:

1. Pathophysiology
2. Neuroscience
3. Medical Terminology (certificate or course)
4. Kinesiology

Other Requirements

Holistic Considerations  

A holistic admissions approach will be utilized for applicants with a lower GPA and will consider admissions on an individual basis for provisional acceptance. The holistic considerations will account for specific experiences such as:    

• Wilson College graduates
• Current military service or veteran  
• Rural community location  
• First generation college professional  
• Completed psychosocial questionnaire(s) - self-regulation, grit, emotional intelligence, resilience 
• Returning college student – previous workforce experience.  
• Documented service experience  

Academic Requirements  

Degree requirements: Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. 

1. A minimum cumulative GPA and prerequisite course GPA of 3.0 or greater is required for admissions.
   a. Course Forgiveness Repeats for Course Science Prerequisites = 1 maximum.  
2. The Admissions Committee uses a holistic review process and may consider applicants with a GPA below 3.00 in limited circumstances when clear and substantive evidence of readiness for the rigor of the program is determined (Emotional intelligence, strong prerequisite/science performance, upward academic trend, rigor of coursework, and / or substantial professional/clinical experience).  
3. Applicants whose academic record does not fully reflect their potential are invited to provide additional context, background or life circumstances that influenced their academic performance.  

Observation Hours:  

A minimum of 50 observation hours, volunteer or work, with a licensed physical therapist is required. Observation at two separate practice type locations is required unless the experience provided extensive work hours well exceeding the minimum requirement. A document describing the observation hours must be uploaded electronically and must contain the applicant’s name, number of hours, the clinic director’s or supervising PT’s name(s), PT(s) license number(s), and signature(s).  

Recommendations:  

The applicant must submit two letters of recommendation; one from the applicant’s choice such as an employer, boss, or mentor and the other from a professor or licensed physical therapist whom they observed. Recommendations cannot be provided by clergy, family, or friends.  

Personal Statement:  

The applicant must submit a one-to-two page personal statement that provides a genuine reflection into personal motivations for pursuing the physical therapy profession and readiness for the academic and professional demands of an accelerated hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. The statement must share authentic experiences that inspired the decision to pursue physical therapy, highlight personal values consistent with the profession, and demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for meaningful communication (graduate level writing), personal connection, and professional reflection. Applicants must write authentically in their own voice. The use of AI including generative AI systems, Grammarly, or similar automated writing or editing services is not permitted; The admissions committee expectations is original work, and any evidence of AI-generated or edited content may result in the application denial. The emphasis is an authentic personal statement. The holistic admissions approach is built on trust and integrity.  

Virtual Interview:  

Applicants selected to advance in the admissions process will be invited to complete an asynchronous video interview through the Kira Talent platform. This interview allows applicants to respond to a series of structured questions designed to assess professionalism, communication skills, critical thinking, and alignment with the values of Wilson College and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. For each question, applicants will be provided a brief preparation period before recording a timed video response. The asynchronous format allows candidates to complete the interview within a designated time window while providing the admissions committee with a standardized method for evaluating all candidates. Applicants are expected to complete the interview independently.  

Info Session Attendance:  

Applicants are expected to attend at least one Doctor of Physical Therapy Program information session or admissions webinar. Attendance demonstrates a commitment to learning about Wilson College, the DPT Program, and the admissions process.

Additional Information: 

International Coursework and English Language Proficiency

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have current authorization to reside in the United States throughout the duration of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Applicants whose native language is not English and whose degree and prerequisite coursework were completed in a country where English was not the primary language of instruction must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Minimum acceptable scores are an IELTS score of 7.0 or greater, a TOEFL Internet-Based Test (iBT) score of 100 or higher, or a TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT) score of 600 or higher.

Applicants who have completed coursework outside the United States must also submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation from World Education Services (WES).