Prerequisites for admission to the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program include a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from an accredited college or university. If your university has given you college credits for your AP courses and/or exam, and it is listed on your transcript, we will accept those credits. A grade of D in any required prerequisite course is not acceptable. A minimum GPA of 2.7 (in a 4.0 system) is required to be considered for admission. The GRE is required; the scores should be reported directly to Virginia Commonwealth University. For non-native English-speaking applicants, regardless of immigration status, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 600 (score of 250 on computerized exam) is required; scores should be reported directly to Virginia Commonwealth University. The program of study necessary to be considered for admission to the professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program must include a minimum of the following subject areas:

Biological sciences – 12 semester hours including laboratory experiences

Must include four credits of college-level biology
Must include four credits of anatomy and four credits of human physiology, or eight credits of anatomy/physiology
An exercise physiology course is not an acceptable substitute for a human physiology course
Cell biology and histology are highly recommended but not required

Chemistry – eight semester hours including laboratory experiences

Mathematics – three semester hours

Must be in precalculus or a more advanced mathematics course

Physics – eight semester hours of general physics with laboratory

Courses that emphasize mechanics, electricity, heat and light are highly recommended

Psychology – six semester hours

One introductory course and one course in human growth and development, or abnormal psychology is required

Statistics – three semester hours

In order to complete the total requirements, students are encouraged to elect courses from the following categories: computer science, embryology, histology, cell biology, comparative anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology, foreign languages and courses in physical education dealing with an analytical approach to human movement or motor learning.

Students must also present a minimum total of 100 volunteer hours in at least two physical therapy practice settings.

Students are required to have current CPR certification. One of the three required letters of recommendation should be from a physical therapist.

Application deadlines

The American Physical Therapy Association will launch a physical therapy centralized application service (PTCAS) in the summer of 2008 in an effort to better accommodate prospective physical therapy applicants. The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Physical Therapy will be participating in this common application service. Therefore, all students interested in applying to VCU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program will submit their application materials directly to PTCAS. This service will not be available until Aug. 1, 2008.

Applicants who apply through PTCAS will submit a completed Web-based application comprising biographical data, colleges and universities attended, academic course history, physical therapy observation hours, list of reference providers, work experience, extracurricular activities, honors, professional licenses and a personal essay. It is the applicants responsibility to read and follow all PTCAS and program-specific instructions.

Apply online now.

Please also note that our application deadline has changed. All materials must be submitted to PTCAS by Nov. 14, 2008.