DPT Admissions

Entry to Profession Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is designed for those individuals with an undergraduate degree in a field other than physical therapy.  Applicants should have a sufficient knowledge of the physical therapy profession to make an informed career choice. Applicants are also encouraged to visit with and observe physical therapists in a variety of practice environments.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is participating in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).  Individuals wishing to apply to the UNC DPT program for Fall 2010 admission will utilize the PTCAS online application form.  The PTCAS application will be available on July 15, 2009 and can be found on the PTCAS website at http://www.ptcas.org/NorthCarolina

Admission Requirements

• Four-year degree or a senior on track to graduate
• Completion of prerequisites
• Completion of GRE exam
• Volunteer/ Job-shadowing experiences specifically involving Physical Therapy

Admission Statistics

We admit 24-30 students each fall for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Admission is highly competitive for these seats. We receive approximately 400 applications last year, and that number has progressively risen each year. To be considered, applicants need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.2. Click here to review the admission statistics for the most recently admitted classes.

Volunteer/ Job Shadowing

Volunteer work is a very big aspect of our Physical Therapy admissions. we are looking for those who can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the Physical Therapy field. We do not have a minimum number of hours that are required, but there are several key things to keep in mind while compiling these hours.

1. Volunteer or shadow at several different places. A nursing home or long-term rehabilitation facility will give a good understanding of geriatric physical therapy and will stand in stark contrast to orthopedic physical therapy performed at a sports-related clinic. It would also be beneficial to volunteer at a hospital and observe in-patient/ acute treatments and compare them to treatments done on an out-patient basis.
2. Actually observe the activities of the Physical Therapists. If you volunteer, your activities will likely be limited unless you specifically request observation hours. It is also important to observation procedures for paperwork/documentation, managerial support, business practices, etc. All of these things should be things that you considered.
3. Know that the experience is more valuable than the hours. Understand what you are observing so that you can have a general conversation with a faculty member. A good general foundation with 50-100 hours will be a lot more helpful than an internship with hundreds of hours but little experience.

Supplemental Materials

Currently applications will be processed using PTCAS. To review application instructions and program information, click here.

The following supplemental materials are required:

1. GRE scores (Institution code #5816, Department code #0619). See UNC PTCAS page for specifics.
2. North Carolina Residency Form  ALL applicants who wish to be considered for in-state tuition MUST complete a residency form. (If you have never lived in NC, there is no need to complete this form.) Applicants should complete either the short form (for residency of 3+ years in NC) or the long form (for residency of <3 years in NC). Do not complete the Graduate Student online residency form as the Doctor of Physical Therapy is a professional program and is not affiliated with the UNC Graduate School.  
3. Supplemental fee payment information (all supplemental fees are non-refundable)
   

          Payment by Credit Card

Payment by Check/Money Order:

• Please use the name you used on your PTCAS application
• Your PTCAS ID Number
• Specifically identify the program for which you are applying (ex. eDPT)
• Make check/money order payable to: the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

A WAIVER for the supplemental fee is available to qualified individuals. If you applied for, and were granted, a fee waiver for the PTCAS application, you will automatically be granted a waiver for the UNC Department of Allied Health Sciences (UNC DPT) fee. Please send a brief note of confirmation regarding the PTCAS waiver and/or a copy of the PTCAS waiver confirmation, with your PTCAS ID #, to Seletha Shaw at the above address.

Applicants can verify receipt of their materials online at PTCAS once the application has been submitted and the PTCAS application fee paid. You are not required to submit anything directly to our admissions office, including transcripts and letters of recommendation. All information should go directly to PTCAS

For questions regarding Admissions contact the Division of Physical Therapy Registrar at: eDPTUNCadmit@med.unc.edu

Matriculation Requirements

Students must have graduated from an accredited four-year program and must have completed all of the prerequisite courses by the end of the fall semester in which they apply.

Consideration for Admission:

Admission decisions are substantially influenced by the applicant's ability to demonstrate personal characteristics considered consistent with the expectations of professional behavior and the delivery of patient/client centered services. To be successful, applicants also must demonstrate the ability to be successful in the academic and clinical program.   Exposure to the diversity of the profession is important in enabling applicants to make informed decisions about physical therapy as a career choice and to provide the applicant with meaningful information for the written application materials and during the interview process. The applicant should get a thorough exposure to the physical therapy profession. Sometimes applicants will choose to only visit a local hospital. While the physical therapy department may be an excellent one, it may not represent the diversity that actually exists in the profession. In addition, the applicant may wish to visit home health agencies, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, pediatric developmental centers, educational settings (schools), and sports medicine clinics. Personal interviews are required for applicants who reach the final stage of the admission process. Preference is given to applicants who are North Carolina residents, with a target enrollment of 85% North Carolinians.

Prerequisite Courses

Semester equivalents of the following courses are required to be considered for admission:

1. Introductory Statistics
2. Principles of Biology I with Lab (or equivalent introductory course)
3. General Chemistry I with Lab (or equivalent introductory course)
4. Anatomy with Lab**
5. Physiology**
6. General Psychology (or equivalent introductory course)
7. Exercise Physiology
8. General Physics I with Lab ( algebra-based is preferred)
9. General Physics II with Lab ( algebra-based is preferred)

** A four-hour semester course that combines anatomy and physiology will satisfy both the anatomy and physiology requirements (e.g., UNC's BIOL 252) However, if you start a two-part series, you must complete both parts (Anatomy and Physiology I & II).

All prerequisite courses are to be completed by the end of the Fall semester in which the applicant applies.

Prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited school in the United States or Canada. This includes community colleges. Click here for a list of course descriptions that we've found to be acceptable. 

We can not accept substitutions for entry-level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology courses as they are generally prerequisites for the higher level prerequisites. Understand that each prerequisite course has been established to ensure that every student has the basic foundation necessary to enter this program. Some courses are too narrow and others too broad in their focus and content, making them unacceptable substitutions. If you have questions about a course you've taken, email the course description to the registrar.

Tuition, Fees, Scholarships, and Student Aid

The UNC Office of Scholarships and Student Aid is the best source of information about applying for all forms of student aid.  Please visit their web site for information about how to apply for student aid.

http://studentaid.unc.edu/

Through the generous donations of alumni and friends, the Division of Physical Therapy provides scholarships to students enrolled in the Physical Therapy program.  Prospective students who are offered admission are automatically considered for all available scholarships and awards.  Additional information about scholarships and financial aid will be made available at the time the offer for admission is made to the prospective student. For further information on departmental scholarships and awards, please click here.

To review tuition information, click here and proceed to page 5 of the pdf form.