Applying to physical therapy school is complicated. Many factors are considered in admission and these differ in importance by school. Know that we are here to help! Advisors at Health Professions & Prelaw Advising can help you develop your best strategy and troubleshoot problems you encounter in your application.
You are encouraged to attend a PTCAS Application Workshop so you can get started early on your application and find out the steps involved.
Research programs #
There is variation in the application eligibility among PT programs. Course prerequisite requirements, shadowing observation hours, minimum GPAs, courses that must be completed at application, and testing requirements vary for PT programs. As soon as you decide that you want to study to be a PT, you should start compiling a list of programs that you are considering. A spreadsheet is a good way to track the differences.
You can find a list of programs that use PTCAS (“Participating Programs”) and begin researching admission requirements for participating PTCAS programs in the PTCAS Directory.
The PTCAS application #
To apply to most physical therapy schools, you will need to submit an application through the centralized application service called PTCAS administered by the American Physical Therapy Association and Liaison. The PTCAS application has multiple sections that you will complete providing biographical information, academic history (coursework and test scores), and your supporting information (observation hours, letters of recommendation, personal essay, experiences and achievements, and school-specific “Program Materials”). PTCAS Applicant Help Center provides detailed instructions to help you complete your application.
Once you complete your PTCAS application, it will be processed and sent to the physical therapy programs that you select to receive it.
Academic history #
On the PTCAS application, you will fill out information for every college course you have taken, so you will need to refer to transcripts from every college or university you have attended.
You will need to order official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended to be sent to the application service.
Dual enrollment courses (college courses taken during high school) are included and should be listed under the college where you took them.
At IU Bloomington, you can order your official transcript from One.IU. There is a single form that students use to request both paper and electronic transcripts. You can use the task "eTranscript Request (recent students)" or "eTranscript Request (former students)". Because Indiana University cannot send attachments with electronic PDF transcripts, you must request a paper transcript that is sent to PTCAS.
Within this section, you will also include your GRE tests scores.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) #
The GRE is a standardized exam required by some physical therapy programs. The GRE Requirements and Codes by Program chart shows the programs that don't require this test (46%), the programs that do require this test (43%), and the programs where the test is optional (11%).
Students can use the PTCAS Directory "compare program" feature to view programs that provide their GRE average scaled sores.
This exam is designed to measure general academic ability and is a computerized exam offered year-round by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The GRE is typically taken in the spring or summer prior to application and you should plan on spending at least two to three months preparing for the exam. For more information on the GRE, visit the ETS website.
Observation hours #
You will provide each therapist’s contact information in your PTCAS application. It is important to keep a log your shadowing hours, confirm those hours with each physical therapist you shadow, and maintain their current contact information so you can reach them at the time you are applying.
Most programs require that your observation hours be verified by the licensed physical therapist that you shadowed. The detailed PTCAS instructions outline how to add observation hours and explain the process for obtaining vertification.
You should complete required shadowing observation hours prior to applying. This is an indication that you understand the profession. Also, most programs ask for a letter of recommendation from a licensed PT, and it is important to get to know PTs well so you have recommenders who can provide a strong letter with enthusiastic support!
Letters of recommendation #
Requirements for letters vary by program but typically require a letter from a licensed physical therapist and an academic source (instructor). You need to be prepared with three recommenders but research what the programs require. It is important to get to know physical therapists and your professors well so that you have letter writers who can provide a strong letter with enthusiastic support for your application.
Tips:
- Ahead of time, inform your letter writers about the process. Have conversations with instructors before classes conclude for the spring term.
- You generate the request for the letter of reference through PTCAS after the NEW PTCAS application cycle opens mid-June. Set expectations on the time frame when you will do this. (Warning! If you started to work in the previous PTCAS application cycle, note that references, essays, payments, and program-specific information cannot be copied into the new application.)
- Letter writers complete the reference electronically.
- Explain approximately how many schools you plan to apply to. Letter writers will receive email requests each time you complete the request under each respective school's program materials. Letter writers can use the "reuse" feature when they complete the request. This is explained in the instructions that the letter writer receives from Liaison.
- Ask that they monitor the email inbox and look for an email from support@ptcas.myliaison.com. Also, remind them check any junk or spam folders just in case.
- It helps to read the process to understand how you generate a request through a school’s program materials. Read the reference instructions.
Personal essay #
A personal essay is required for the PTCAS application.
For the 2026-2027 application cycle, the PTCAS essay prompt has been updated to:
"As a prospective Doctor of Physical Therapy, how do you see yourself having an impact on the profession upon entering the field? Consider areas such as practice, education, research, leadership, or community-based endeavors."
Writing tips: Reflect on where you want your career to go. What do you aspire to do as a physical therapist? What do you plan to accomplish in the profession? Reflect on your experiences and consider ones aligning with an area(s) mentioned in the prompt. Determine which of your past experiences provide evidence supporting how you will make an impact. Share an experience in your writing using the "show, don't tell" narrative writing technique.
The essay has a 4,500 character limit. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation.
You are welcome email hppla@iu.edu for feedback on a draft of your essay. Please schedule an appointment with a HPPLA advisor to discuss. Please allow for one week to review prior to this discussion.
Early in your undergraduate career, pre-health students are encouraged to start a journal documenting your experiences during shadowing observations, volunteer community service experiences, and extracurricular experiences. This will help you begin to lay the foundation for writing your personal essay during the spring prior to application. Visit Keeping a prehealth journal for suggestions.
Personal essay help for IU Bloomington students #
Make sure to attend one of the Personal Statement Writing Workshops offered by Health Professions & Prelaw Advising. Schedule an appointment with a HPPLA advisor for feedback on a draft of your personal essay. Getting feedback early will help you submit a compelling essay!
Experiences and achievements #
The application includes two sections where you can provide information on experiences and achievements.
The PTCAS experience instructions explain which category to use and what information is to be entered for employment, extracurricular activities, research, and volunteering. If you shadowed any other professionals, you could also include that information with your extracurricular activities.
Achievement types include awards, honors (the Dean's List and honor societies), and any scholarships earned.
Program materials #
In addition to the above items that are required for submitting your PTCAS application, some physical therapy programs will require additional materials. These include information on your prerequisite courses, your resume, and additional school-specific essays. Schools may ask you to answer school-specific essay questions, such as, “Why have you selected our school or program?” Or schools may also ask you to write essays that address other behavioral situations such as, “Describe a time you faced a set back in your academic and/or personal life and how you overcame it.” It is important to review these school-specific requirements early in the application cycle, so that you can begin preparing them. Work on these early and a HPPLA advisor can also provide feedback on your drafts of these essays.
Interview #
Before admitting you, many physical therapy schools will want to meet you in person. An interview helps schools evaluate personal qualities they can’t observe directly in your written application. Selected applicants are invited for an interview. You should prepare carefully for this crucial component of the admissions process.
Physical therapy schools use interviews to gain insight into how you would interact with patients. Schools also use the interview to assess factors such as motivation and ability to cope with conflict. They want to know how likely it is you would take a spot if they offered one, so it is important that you express your enthusiasm and sincere interest in the school!
In a job interview, the most important question for your interviewer is probably, “What can this person do for our organization?” For your interviewer at a PT school the most important question may be, “Would I trust this person as my own physical therapist?” One of your most important goals is to demonstrate that you are able to connect with others on a personal level.
To prepare, review your personal essay and activities listed on your application. It’s helpful to practice responding to interview questions (you can obtain a list of questions in the HPPLA office). You may be asked situational ethics questions that require you to think through how you would respond when faced with difficult decisions as a healthcare provider. Study the school’s curriculum via its website and prepare to ask questions about the school’s program in the interview.
Make sure to attend one of the HPPLA sponsored Interview Skills Workshops in the fall semester and schedule an appointment with a HPPLA advisor for a mock interview.