Admission Requirements for Physical Therapy, Transitional DPT
- Therapists educated in the United States can take 2 courses before formal application and acceptance into the TDPT program, while internationally-educated therapists may take up to 3 courses to satisfy credentialing deficits. Acceptance into a course does not guarantee admission into the program.
Application Process
US-educated therapists must complete a graduate application and include the following items:
- Proof of graduation (official transcript) from a physical therapist degree program accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education (currently CAPTE) with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
- Current license to practice physical therapy in the United States
- Three written recommendations (professional or academic, such as an employer, manager, coworker, colleague, professor, etc. Please note: friends and family are not acceptable references.) This is accomplished by indicating the names and email addresses of three individuals in the appropriate place in the application. We will reach out to them.
- Brief essay articulating goals for D.P.T. study.
Internationally-educated therapists must complete a graduate application and include the following items:
- Current license, registration, or equivalent to practice physical therapy
- If licensed to practice in the US, submit a copy of your license and an official PT credentialing report from an agency approved by the Federated State Boards of Physical Therapy. Approved agencies include the following: FCCPT, CGFNS, ICD, ICA, UTA, IERF. The full list can be found on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.
- If licensed to practice outside the US, submit a notarized copy of your license (or equivalent) and an official GPA report (e.g., World Education Service or Education Credential Evaluator) verifying a minimum GPA.
- Internationally-Educated Physical Therapists residing outside the U.S. must provide 2 documents in student’s name as proof of international residence.
- Official transcript indicating that the applicant has earned at least a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from an accredited or government recognized physical therapist degree program with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Official transcripts from any U.S. college or university attended
- Three written recommendations (professional or academic, such as an employer, manager, coworker, colleague, professor, etc. Please note: friends and family are not acceptable references.) This is accomplished by indicating the names and email addresses of three individuals in the appropriate place in the application. We will reach out to them.
- Brief essay articulating goals for DPT study
- Official TOEFL (minimum 80 overall; minimum 21 for writing, 18 for all other sections), IELTS (minimum 6.5 Band score, no individual score below 5.5) or DuoLingo (minimum 110). Official results from the TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo are required for all students for whom English is a second language or who have not earned degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries. *If a student can provide documentation showing that their Physical Therapy education (bachelor’s and/or master’s degree) was completed in English, we will waive the TOEFL requirement.
- For questions related to TOEFL and WES waivers, please reach out to TDPT@arcadia.edu
In addition, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Possess basic computer skills including Internet and email
- Have access to a computer system that meets the requirements described on our Computer Recommendations page.
- Complete an online plagiarism training module and submit a certificate of completion prior to beginning their first class. Complete instructions will be communicated at the time of acceptance into the program or registration for a course.
Please note, as an International Student in the TDPT program:
- We will not issue an I-20.
- While the courses in our TDPT program may help in fulfilling educational deficits, the program does not directly qualify you for U.S. PT licensure. All foreign-educated PTs must follow the steps listed by The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Formally Apply for Admission to the Transitional DPT Program
Academic Policies and Procedures
A student accepted into the Transitional Physical Therapy program is expected to abide by the regulations set forth by Arcadia University, as explained in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Withdrawing from Classes: Requests to withdraw from a class must be submitted to the Registrar and the program administrator by the withdraw deadline (end of the fourth week of classes for a seven-week class, end of the eighth week of classes for 15-week class). Requests submitted after this deadline will only be considered in extenuating circumstances. Students may withdraw from a maximum of two courses during the program.
