Prior Degree Admission | Doctor of Physical Therapy

Prior degree applicants are reviewed in the competitive review process with Carroll students and submit their application through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
The DPT program encompasses three-years of professional graduate level study. Each new cohort begins the graduate DPT program in September.

Required Application Materials

Applications for the fall 2023 start term will be accepted beginning in July. The priority deadline is November 1st and regular deadline is January 16th. All application materials and a verified PTCAS application must be received by Carroll by this date for consideration.

• Verified PTCAS application
• Supplemental application fee of $50 Make your payment online
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE's must be sent directly to PTCAS. Carroll's PTCAS GRE code is 8829.
• Observation hours – 16 hours minimum in two unique practice settings. Settings include inpatient acute care, inpatient rehab/sub-acute rehab facility, nursing home facility/extended care, outpatient free-standing PT or hospital clinic, school/pre-school, industrial/occupational health, or home health. Observation must be under licensed physical therapists. If you were unable to complete the minimum observation requirement due to Covid-19, an alternate statement will be required on PTCAS.
• Three professional references submitted to PTCAS (examples could include a college instructor, healthcare professional, supervisor, etc.)
• Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
• *Pre-Professional GPA of 3.2 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) prerequisite coursework – A minimum course grade of "C" or better is required. Pre-professional science courses must be completed within seven years of matriculation.
  • Physical therapy prerequisite courses may be taken at any accredited University or college, including two- year campuses, and technical schools. A grade of “C” or higher is required for each prerequisite course. Advanced placement credits may fulfill prerequisites.
  • Biology, chemistry and physics prerequisites must be taken in a complete sequence, i.e. Anatomy and Physiology I with lab and Anatomy and Physiology II with lab.
  • No more than one prerequisite course may be outstanding at the time of application. All prerequisites must be complete by the end of the spring term. Pending courses completed in the fall term must be updated through the PTCAS academic update period. 
  • A maximum of one course within the pre-professional (biology, chemistry physics, and psychology) may be repeated for a higher grade.
  • The DPT program uses the last grade awarded in the pre-professional science GPA calculations if a course was repeated.
• PTCAS academic updates will be considered through mid-February – Courses identified with an asterisk are used to calculate the pre-professional science GPA (see the Carroll University catalog for course descriptions).
  • *Biology
    • Two semesters anatomy and physiology with labs or 2 general biology with labs (equivalent to Carroll's: ANP/BIO130 and ANP/BIO140 or BIO120 and BIO125)
  • *Chemistry
    • Two semesters general chemistry or college chemistry with labs (Equivalent to Carroll's: CHE101 and CHE102 or CHE203 and CHE204)
  • *Physics
    • Two semesters general physics with labs (Equivalent to Carroll's: PHY101 and PHY102 or PHY203 and PHY204)
  • *Psychology
    • One semester (equivalent to Carroll's: PSY101 and above). Up to one additional psychology course, at a 200-level or higher, will be included in the pre-professional GPA calculation if completed.
  • Statistics
    • One semester statistics (equivalent to Carroll's: CMP112 and CMP114 or one course such as MAT112 or PSY205)
• International applicants must complete the TOEFL and submit official exam scores and evaluated transcripts directly to PTCAS. Please see www.ptcas.org for additional information.

Admission Questions

Please contact Dave Buehler at 262.524.7359 or email ptinfo@carrollu.edu.

Candidates are welcome to schedule an individual meeting to discuss any questions about the program or application process at the link below:
https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/CarrollUMovementScienceProgramsGraduateApplicationAdvising@carrollu.edu/bookings/

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program admits qualified students regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability that does not interfere with the performance of professional physical therapy practice as provided by law. Applications and credentials for admission to the physical therapy program must be submitted for processing to the Carroll University Office of Admission. Decisions are made on applications by selection committees in the program, and applicants are notified through the Office of Admission.

Admission and standards are subject to change based on regulatory, licensing and or certification needs.