Physical Therapy

All students must earn a Bachelor's degree prior to entering the PT Program. Students may complete their degree while applying, but they must complete their degree before matriculating in the program. Accepted students completing a Bachelor's degree will need to submit a final transcript demonstrating the issuance of their degree. Students enrolled in either of UWL's Dual Degree Programs are exempt from this requirement.

The program does not require the Bachelor's degree be completed in any particular major or discipline, nor does the program have any bias toward a particular major or discipline. 

There are ten courses that must be completed prior to beginning the program. Students who have not completed the courses may apply, if the demonstrate a plan to complete those courses before the program starts. Visit the Prerequisite Coursework page for more information. 

Cumulative GPA

A minimum cumulative GPA on all post-high school courses of 3.00, calculated on a 4-point scale, is required of all applicants.  The cumulative GPA calculated by PTCAS and listed on the applicant's PTCAS application will serve as the cumulative GPA of record.  Applicants not meeting the 3.00 requirement will be removed from consideration.  For questions regarding cumulative GPA calculation please contact PTCAS or review the PTCAS website.

Prerequisite GPA

A minimum GPA of 3.00 in the program's ten prerequisite courses is required of all applicants.  For repeated prerequisite courses, only the single best effort is included in the prerequisite GPA calculation. Applicants not meeting the 3.00 prerequisite GPA requirement will not be considered for admission. 

International Applicants

For international applicants the program will include the coursework listed in the individual's foreign credential evaluation in determining GPA values.

All applicants are required to take the GRE general exam and submit official results directly to PTCAS.  No exceptions will be made to the GRE requirement, regardless of professional and/or academic background. The program will not accept subject exam results as a substitute for general GRE exam results. 

The deadline for completing the GRE is October 1 but may be completed sooner if you wish your application to be considered prior to November 1.  GRE scores remain valid for five (5) years. 

The program's PTCAS GRE code is 0344. This code will result in ETS electronically forwarding test results directly to PTCAS for inclusion with your PTCAS record. The program requires applicants achieve the following minimum scores in the three GRE categories:

• Verbal - 143
• Quantitative - 143
• Analytical/Written - 3.0

Applicants not meeting the minimum score requirement in any of the three categories will not be considered for admission.

The program does not require observation hours in physical therapy.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA or GRE scores may request special consideration. This request should be received electronically and should describe the following:

• Your experiences and factors believed to justify admission, despite the lack of meeting the minimum requirements listed above.
• Your current cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA and GRE scores.
• If you are still in college, what is your current college and major.  If you have already graduated from which college did you graduate and what was your major.

The letter requesting special consideration must received prior to the completed application. The Admissions Committee will consider each request on a case-by-case basis. Once the committee has considered the request, the members of the committee will vote on whether to allow the applicant to apply to the program. The applicant will then be notified of the committee's decision.

Please submit your letter for consideration to Paul Reuteman, Chair of the Admission Committee, at preuteman@uwlax.edu.

Applicants who wish to transfer credit from a CAPTE accredited program may make a written request to the Program of Physical Therapy Admission Committee, submitted via email to pt@uwlax.edu.

The request should describe the extenuating circumstances and a copy of your PT program transcript.

The Admissions Committee will consider each request on a case-by-case basis. Once the committee has considered the request, the members of the committee will vote on whether to allow the applicant to transfer credits and be granted advanced placement into the PT program. The applicant will then be notified of the committee's decision via email and a formal plan will be developed between the Chair of Admissions and the student.