Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program-International Student Admission

Applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a two-step process.

International students must complete both an International Student Application and a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Application. 

STEP 1:  INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION

The International application and admission criteria are available on the Web at:   https://www.evansville.edu/prospects/international/iadmission/interapp.asp

IApplicants interested in applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program must obtain an evaluation of their educational background from the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) to show that their education meets the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education's (CAPTE) education requirements.  Link to the FCCPT:  http://fccpt.org

Required TOEFL score:  570-577 (Paper), 228-232 (Computer), 88-90 (TOEFL IBT)

For questions regarding International Admission, please contact Rebecca Poelhuis at:  rp50@evansville.edu. 

STEP 2:  DPT PROGRAM APPLICATION

Applicants must submit the Doctor of Physical Therapy application materials. 

Applicants are admitted to the DPT program on a rolling basis.

Applications will be available on the Web at http://pt.evansville.edu

Review of applications will begin August 1st. 

Interviews for qualified applicants will begin in October.

Once 40 seats are filled, further qualified applicants will be placed on a wait list. The wait list will be ranked based upon student qualification.

Students admitted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program will be required to have a criminal background during the summer they begin the program and annually thereafter.

Application Features

Application Features-Doctor of Physical Therapy application materials and updated program information become available each summer on July 1.

  • Name, address, high school, SAT/ACT scores, etc.
  • Listing of all undergraduate schools attended (including UE) - location, dates, degrees.  (A bachelor's degree must be completed prior to beginning the DPT Program.)
  • Transcripts from all universities attended must be submitted for evaluation.
  • Any honors, awards received (while attending college)
  • Extracurricular activities - community, volunteer, etc., include dates
  • Past employment during college - type of work, hours/week, etc.
  • Academic record
  • Exposure to Physical Therapy
    1. Requirement: to show evidence that the student has had some experience in the field of physical therapy
    2. A total of 80 hours in at least two different physical therapy settings is recommended. 
  • Essay question
  • Signature
  • Essential Functions

DPT Program Prerequisite Courses

Required prerequisite courses must be completed prior to admittance into the professional program. All science courses should be designed for science majors. Other designs will not be accepted.  All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.  A 2.75 prerequisite science and math GPA is required to be considered for admission.

  • Biology 107+* - 4 semester hours - (1 semester general biology with lab)
  • Exercise Science 112* and 113* - 8 semester hours - (1 year anatomy and physiology with lab)
  • Chemistry 118+* and 240* - 8 semester hours - (1 semester general chemistry with lab and 1 semester organic chemistry with lab)
  • Physics 121+* and 122* - 8 semester hours - (1 year general physics with lab)
  • Math 105** - 3 semester hours - (1 semester college algebra) or demonstrated proficiency
  • Psychology 121++ - 3 semester hours
  • Physical Therapy 100 - 1 semester hour (medical terminology)

* Science prerequisite
** Math 105 fulfills the physical therapy prerequisite and the University general education requirement
+ Meets natural sciences general education requirement
++ Meets human behavior and society general education requirement

Recommendations for Admission

  • Applicant must submit two Recommendation for Admission forms.  These forms may be obtained on the Web at http://pt.evansville.edu
  • One of the recommendations must be completed by a physical therapist who has worked with the applicant, either on a paid or volunteer basis. The Selection Committee prefers that the second recommendation be from a faculty member from whom you have taken at least one course. However, if this is not possible, you may request a recommendation from another health care worker.
  • Each recommendation should be placed in a sealed envelope which has been signed across the seal by the person completing the form.

Dean of Students Recommendation

  • Applicant must submit a Dean of Students Recommendation Form from the college or university most recently attended.

Transcripts

  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted with the application.
  • Applicants must obtain an evaluation of their educational background from the FCCPT to show that their education meets the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education's (CAPTE) education requirements.
  • Required TOEFL score:  570-577 (Paper), 228-232 (Computer), 88-90 (TOEFL IBT)
  • Course descriptions for all prerequisite courses must be submitted.
  • All prerequisite work need not be completed at the time application. However, one must indicate on the written application, the intended course of study to complete the DPT program prerequisites prior to matriculation into the professional program.
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the Physical Therapy program.
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are not required.
  • A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended for the application to be processed.
  • A prerequisite science and math grade point average of 2.75 is required to be considered for admission.  Link to: Science GPA Calculator
  • Only two prerequisite courses may be repeated with the higher grade(s) calculated in the grade point average.

DPT Progam Application Documents

Applications will not be processed until all materials have been submitted.

  1. DPT program application with two completed Recommendation Forms
  2. International application
  3. Dean of Student Recommendation Form from the college of university most recently attended
  4. Application fees
  5. Official college transcripts from all universities from which college credit was received
  6. Prerequisite course descriptions
  7. Official high school transcript and SAT or ACT test score
  8. TOEFL scores
  9. Evaluation of Education Background from the FCCPT

Please do not return the application as an e-mail attachment.

The application must be signed by the applicant.

Please Note: Admission criteria are subject to change

Selection Process

  • Once the completed application materials and transcripts are received, an assessment of the student’s materials will begin.
  • The applicant's application, essay, exposure to physical therapy, professional recommendations and transcripts will be assessed by the Physical Therapy Selection Committee.

Interview Process

  • Qualified applicants will be invited for an on campus interview.
  • No student is accepted into the program without completing the interview process.
  • Applicants will complete a writing assignment prior to the interview.
  • Interviews will be conducted beginning October 1.

Final Selection

  • Students are accepted to the program on a rolling basis and are notified by mail of their status within two or three weeks after their interview.
  • Once 40 seats are filled, further qualified applicants will be placed on an alternate list. The alternate list will be ranked upon student qualifications.
  • The program begins in mid-June with Physical Therapy 431, Gross Anatomy, and Physical Therapy 441, Clinical and Professional Issues I (summer coursework ends in August)

Essential Functions

To function as a physical therapist, individuals must be able to meet the specific physical, cognitive, and social/emotional standards which are known as essential functions and are listed below. Students are to familiarize themselves with the standards and must determine if they can or can not meet each standard at the start of their physical therapy education. In the event a student determines they can not meet one or more of the essential functions, they must submit a written request to the Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy for a reasonable accommodation. A reasonable accommodation is a strategy, agreed upon by the student and the University, to allow the student to meet the essential function. Reasonable accommodation does not mean that the student will be exempt from certain tasks; it does imply that the faculty will work with the student within the context of the agreed upon strategy, to provide him/her the opportunity to successfully complete all program requirements.

Students requesting a reasonable accommodation are not required to disclose specific information regarding the nature of their disability.

If a student is unable to meet an essential function with reasonable accommodation, or the accommodation needed is not reasonable and would cause undue hardship to the University, or if the student's inability to meet the essential function would create a significant risk of harm to the student or others, the offer of admission or status in the program will be withdrawn.

It is the responsibility of the student to inform the Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy if, at any point after admission to the program, the student feels as though his/her health and/or functional status has changed and he/she does not meet one or more of the essential functions.

The essential functions are:

Observation                                                                                                                                                      Observation requires the use of vision, hearing, and other sensory modalities. Students must be able to observe lectures, laboratories, and other demonstrations. Students are required to observe patients accurately and interpret patient movement, skin conditions, changes in appearance, and identify safety hazards.
Communication
Students are expected to be able to communicate effectively and sensitively in English and possess the ability to perceive nonverbal communication. Additionally, students must be able to communicate in oral and written forms.
Motor
Students must possess gross and fine motor abilities to provide safe and effective physical therapy care. Students must have sufficient motor function to examine patients through the use of palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other examination activities. Students must be able to execute motor movements to provide physical therapy interventions such as positioning a patient, the strength to stand and ambulate with a patient and to perform manual mobilization techniques. Students must also possess the mobility and strength necessary to provide emergency care including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Intellectual-Conceptual Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
To effectively solve problems, students must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize information. Problem solving and identifying the physical therapy diagnosis through review of specific tests and measures is necessary. Good judgment, the ability to prioritize and make decisions, and the ability to measure and record patient outcomes is essential.
Behavioral/Social Skills and Professionalism
Students must possess honesty, integrity, flexibility, motivation, and empathy. Emotional health is required so that the student has full use of his/her intellectual abilities and is able to complete all aspects of patient management including examination, evaluation, and the development and implementation of the patient's plan of care. Students must be able to tolerate physically challenging workloads and function effectively under stress. The ability to accept constructive feedback and modify behaviors as necessary is also required.
Health Status
Students must demonstrate overall health and maintain their personal appearance and hygiene to participate in classroom and clinical education experiences. Students must follow all standards and policies in this document, the University and Physical Therapy Student Handbooks and the Clinical Education Manual. These documents are available for review.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed toward the Department Chair and/or the Dean of Students.

More Information

If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Poelhuis in the Office of International Admission at rp50@evansville.edu. 

Please note: Admission criteria are subject to change