Apply to the Physical Therapy Program

2024-2025 PT Admissions Information

Application Instructions for Admission

To apply to the Pacific University School of Physical Therapy you must submit a PTCAS application with supporting documentation. Complete and verified applications that meet the minimum GPA requirements will be reviewed throughout the fall, and selected applicants will be invited to interview.

Applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 may still be considered for admission only when there is evidence of a significant positive trend in grades over time (evidenced by a last 45-credit GPA greater than or equal to 3.5), and meets other minimum admissions criteria.

PTCAS Application Information

Your application will be submitted to PTCAS (Physical Therapy Central Application Service). All transcripts and letters of recommendation are submitted directly, and only, to PTCAS when you apply. Pacific University does not wish to receive any additional copies of these documents. Below is a brief description of the required sections in the PTCAS application.

GPAs

The overall cumulative GPA and prerequisite GPA must each be a 3.0, or higher at the time of application to move forward in the review process. The overall cumulative GPA is calculated by PTCAS and includes all graded courses from every college or university attended in North America. The prerequisite GPA is based on the graded prerequisite courses at the time of application. Applicants can use the highest grade if a prerequisite course has been retaken. Fall courses will not be used in the GPA calculations because grades will not be available before the application deadline.

Applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 may still be considered for admission only when there is evidence of a significant positive trend in grades over time (evidenced by a last 45-credit GPA greater than or equal to 3.5), and meets other minimum admissions criteria.

Observation Experience

Applicants must have 50 verified observation hours for their application to be complete and assigned for review. We encourage applicants to obtain at least 100 hours of paid or volunteer observation hours with a practicing, licensed physical therapist in various settings. Applicants can strengthen their application for our program by completing observation hours in two or more settings.

Letters of Recommendation

Pacific University requires two letters of recommendation to be submitted to PTCAS. One recommendation must be from a licensed physical therapist. It is recommended that the second letter of recommendation should be from another licensed PT, a college faculty member, a supervisor, or an employer. Both letters of recommendation must be received before your PTCAS application can be verified. We recommend requesting your letters of recommendation early to avoid delays.

The Personal Statement

This is your voice in the application process.  This statement should not be repeated or rephrased within the Pacific University program-specific essay questions in PTCAS.

Official College and University Transcripts

Official transcripts from every institution you have attended should be submitted directly to PTCAS. Please review the PTCAS application instructions for more information. We recommend requesting your transcripts early to avoid delays.

Re-applicants

Please note the additional required essay question for re-applicants within our program-specific questions in PTCAS. 

Optional

The optional essay is an opportunity to provide any additional information about yourself for consideration, including explanations for any prerequisite or coursework issues.

GRE Scores

GRE scores are not required for Pacific University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. GRE scores reported on the PTCAS application are not used in the evaluation of the application.

Interviews

After an initial application review by the Admissions Committee, the selected applicants are invited to participate in an interview. The interview is required and is a contributing factor in the admission decision. In the interview, consideration is given to knowledge of the profession, motivation toward a career in physical therapy, the ability to think clearly and logically, self-awareness, and verbal expression of ideas.

The interview will include:

• Personal Interview
• Question-and-answer session with current students
• Program and Clinical Education Overviews

Criminal Background Check

Upon acceptance and prior to matriculation, students will undergo a criminal background check (CBC). A criminal background check is a condition of matriculation into the program. Legal offenses that are reflected in a criminal background check may preclude a student’s ability to enroll in the program or to participate in a rotation which would be a prerequisite to completion of the program. Because each jurisdiction has control over the licensure of physical therapists, Pacific University is unable to provide its students with legal advice concerning license restrictions for any given jurisdiction related to the results of a criminal background check. Thus, mere admission into Pacific University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is not to be interpreted as assurance of acceptance into a required clinical rotation or likelihood of subsequent licensure. For this reason, students who have been convicted of legal offenses are advised to obtain independent legal advice concerning related licensing issues.