Carroll Direct Admission Students | Doctor of Physical Therapy 

Application for Progression into the DPT Professional Phase Year I

Applications for direct admission progression for the fall term will be accepted July 1-November 1. No application materials will be accepted after November 1st.

Note: If you are a current high school student interested in Carroll's Doctor of Physical Therapy program, learn more about our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) 3+3 Direct Admission. 

Application Process

STEP 1: Complete the Graduate Studies application

STEP 2: Complete and submit the following supplemental application materials within the application status portal at apply.carrollu.edu/status:

1. Clinical Experience Document OR Alternate Essay
   • Observation in at least two unique settings for a combined minimum of 16 hours is required. Practice 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. An observation form is required for each experience.
   • Submit clinical experience documents to: ptinfo@carrollu.edu or mail to Carroll University Office of Admission, 100 North East Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186
   • If you were unable to complete the observation hours due to the Covid-19 impact, watch this video and provide a statement (typed, 750-1000 words) using the following prompt:
     • Explore the nine specialty areas of physical therapy practice and explain how your approach may differ in each.
2. One letter of reference from a university/college professor who taught you. Please find a link to share with your references when submitting your application.
3. Safety and Technical Standards form
4. Resume

STEP 3: Submit Official GRE Record to Carroll University (School Code 1101, Dept. Code 0619)

Additional materials can be sent to:

Carroll University Office of Admission
100 North East Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186
gradinfo@carrollu.edu

Academic Requirements

• 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 

• The DPT program uses the last grade awarded in the pre-professional science GPA calculations if a course was repeated.
• A maximum of one course within the pre-professional (biology, chemistry physics, and psychology) may be repeated for a higher grade.
• 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 will be included in GPA calculations.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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)

Matriculation Requirements

Current CPR and First Aid Certification

CPR certification will be required by the third semester of the Program. The Program will offer CPR training options in the second or third semester of the DPT program.

Some students may choose to become or have been certified before they enter the Program. The following are CPR certification guidelines if students choose to complete CPR before entrance into the Program.  

The CPR certification must be through either the American Heart Association* or the American Red Cross. Certifications must include CPR and AED for adults and pediatrics, including 2-person rescuer and bag valve mask. Courses must include completing in-person skills checks. Certification for American Red Cross CPR/AED may be available upon request on campus to Carroll University students. Approved courses include: 

1. American Heart Association
   1. BLS for the HealthCare Provider (often with First Aid)
2. American Red Cross
   1. CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers (often with First Aid)
   2. BLS for the HealthCare Provider (often with First Aid)
   3.  Lifeguard and Water Safety Training

 
A more rigorous certification course, such as EMT or OEM, may be approved at the Program's discretion.
 
Students are responsible for maintaining currency in certifications throughout the Program.
 
*Note some clinicals require American Heart for CPR. 

Health Screening and Background Check

Physical Therapy professional phase students are required to have completed a health screening, updated immunizations and tuberculosis screening according to current Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for health professionals, criminal background investigation and drug screening as required by internship placement sites. Exceptions to the immunization requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis where, for example, a student has an allergy to a vaccine or one of its components. If an exception to the immunization requirements is approved, the University cannot guarantee that its affiliated hospitals and clinics will allow the student to participate in patient care, which is a fundamental requirement of the clinical education component of the Program.

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 the program or application process by using this scheduling link.  

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.