School of Physical Therapy

Admission Requirements

  1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university completed prior to the starting date of the DPT program.
  2. Prerequisite Courses:
    • Must complete all prerequisite courses prior to the summer term for which you are applying for; for example, if you are applying for the class that starts in May 2025, all of your prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of Spring 2025. (Did or Do I take the right prerequisites before applying to Marshall University DPT program?  Visit our website to find out!
      • Science*:
        • Biology (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Chemistry (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Physics (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Human Anatomy**- 3 credits
        • Human Physiology**- 3 credits
        • Statistics- 3 credits
      • Behavioral/Social Science:
        • Psychology- 6 credits (preferably life developmental, life span or abnormal)
    • *All science prerequisite courses must be for science majors (A science prerequisite course taken more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.). Courses with a grade of C- (C minus) or lower will not be accepted for prerequisites. Anatomy and physiology courses should preferably be completed with a grade of B or better.  Note that students will be allowed to have one or two courses in progress at the time of interview (early January); however, outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade, prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which students are applying.
    • **Students must document 6 hours of anatomy and physiology regardless of how the courses are offered.  Many universities offer a two semester integrated human anatomy and physiology course instead of three credits human anatomy and three credits human physiology.  A qualified course shall cover all major human body systems.  Functional anatomy with a main emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and Exercise physiology are not accepted.
  3. Clinical Observation Hours: Complete at least 30 clinical observation hours, preferably from two different settings under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist by the time of application.  Please follow the instructions listed on the PTCAS website to submit your hours for verification.  PT observation hours need to be completed no later than April 30.
  4. Grade Point Averages
    • A minimum 3.0 for Overall Undergraduate GPA
    • A minimum 3.0 for Prerequisites GPA
  5. GPA calculation for repeated courses:• If a student retakes the same science course at the same institution and earns a higher grade on the second attempt, we will use the higher grade to calculate GPAs.
    • In other situation (i.e. taking the same science course more than two times at the same institution; retaking the same or equivalent course at a different institution), if a science course is repeated, we will use all grades earned for that course to calculate GPAs.
  6. Starting the application cycle 2024-2025, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required for our DPT program admission.
  7. Provide two references: one from a physical therapist and the other from either another physical therapist, or a faculty member or an employer.  Please follow the instructions on the PTCAS website to complete the acquisition of references.
  8. All applicants who are admitted into the DPT Program are expected to demonstrate the attributes and meet the expectations listed in the Technical Standards.  These Technical Standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout a student’s participation in the program. Click on Technical Standards for more information.
  9. Provisional Admission: A student who possesses a baccalaureate degree from an accepted, regionally accredited college/university and has submitted all other application materials, but still has 1-2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of interview (early January) may be provisionally admitted.  However, outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which the student is applying.
  10. Conditional Admission: A student who does not already possess a baccalaureate degree from an accepted, regionally accredited institute, and/or has 1-2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of interview (early January), but has submitted all other require application materials, may be conditionally admitted.  However, the bachelor’s degree must be earned, and outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which the student is applying.
  11. International applicants will be required to submit an official TOEFL score report to PTCAS in addition to the other requirements described for consideration.  TOEFL iBT score must be consistent with the standards established by the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) as acceptable for physical therapists desiring to enter practice in the U.S. from a foreign country.  The minimum scores to be considered for admission must be a Total Score of 89 with the minimum section requirement of “Speaking” of 26.  TOEFL requirement is waived for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
  12. International applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university outside of the United States will have to complete their credential evaluation [WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP)] from the World Education Services (WES) to prove that their education is equivalent to the US undergraduate education and have the report sent to PTCAS. 
  13. Admission decisions are based on a variety of factors.  The primary factor in all admission decisions is prior academic achievement (overall, science, and/or prerequisite grade point average – GPA and GRE scores) and the potential for an applicant to be successful in a rigorous PT curriculum.  An applicant’s volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and interview performance are reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee.  The Admission’s Committee will also consider additional factors in the final admissions review process (e.g., undergraduate attendance at Marshall University or West Virginia state residency, veteran of the US military, and certain economic, environmental, or geographic indicators contained in the PTCAS application).  Decisions on readmission (i.e. applicants who attended Marshall University DPT program before) will be based on your Marshall University DPT academic standing along with academic work earned at any other institution(s), and the evaluation/recommendations from the Marshall University School of Physical Therapy Academic and Professional Standards Committee.
    (Update: 4/3/2024 for 2024-2025 Application Cycle)

Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Marshall University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

CAPTE Accreditation Verification

Marshall University’s School of Physical Therapy is a proud member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT).
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy

Program Reciprocity Status

Students who graduate from the Marshall University SOPT and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination are eligible for Physical Therapy Licensure in all 50 states.

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