Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is contingent on the completion of a baccalaureate degree and all prerequisite course work from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Individuals should have completed the majority of the science course requirements and have GRE scores prior to the application deadline. Only candidates who have earned, or who will earn their baccalaureate degree before the class begins in July will be considered for admission.
Course Requirements
Effective for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, the following prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in the program:
Biological Sciences
8 semester hours of introductory biology courses plus one advanced biology course, OR AP biology credit plus 8 additional hours of biology including at least one advanced biology course, equivalent to 12 semester hours;
Physiology
A systemic human physiology course, preferably with a lab component, equivalent to 3 semester hours;
Anatomy
Human or comparative vertebrate anatomy, preferably with a lab component, equivalent to 3 s.h.
OR
*A two-course sequence of anatomy and physiology, preferably with a lab component, equivalent to 6 s.h. can fulfill the Physiology and Anatomy prerequisites.
Chemistry
A complete introductory series, equivalent to 8 semester hours;
Physics
A complete introductory series, equivalent to 8 semester hours;
Psychology
Equivalent of 6 semester hours of psychology courses, OR AP psychology credit plus one additional psychology course beyond an introductory course;
Mathematics
A college-level mathematics course, at the level of trigonometry or higher, equivalent to 3 semester hours; AP credit may be used to fulfill the mathematics prerequisite;
Statistics
A statistical methods course, equivalent to 3 semester hours.
All science courses should include the appropriate laboratory instruction, if available. The prerequisite courses must be taken for a letter grade. However due to the pandemic, P/F or P/NP grading will be accepted for the spring and summer 2020 academic sessions. Credit awarded through the AP testing program may only be applied to the prerequisites as indicated above.
Grade-point Requirement
An overall grade-point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) is the minimum for consideration for admission. A grade-point average of 3.0 or above in all prerequisite course work is recommended.
Graduate Record Examination
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required for admission. Arrange to take the test early to ensure receipt of the scores prior to the application deadline.
Observation Hours/Exposure to Physical Therapy
It is strongly recommended that applicants have a minimum of 50 hours of physical therapy observation hours. These observation hours may be paid or volunteer. Applicants are encouraged to explore the practice of physical therapy in a variety of different settings and with a variety of ages and diagnoses to enhance their understnading of the profession. Examples include hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab facilities, schools and sports facilities.
Professional Opportunities
Changes in the health care system have made possible many practice opportunities for physical therapists. In addition to hospital based practice, an increasing number of physical therapists select private practice. In the last several years, areas of specialization have become available in orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, electrophysiology, neurology, geriatrics, pediatrics, and sports physical therapy. Some potential practice settings are as follows:
- General or specialized hospitals and nursing homes
- Private physical therapy clinics or offices
- Home health agencies
- Skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers
- Corporate or industrial health centers
- Fitness centers and sports training facilities
- Athletic facilities
- Schools or pediatric centers
- Community and governmental agencies
- Education or research centers
Criminal Background Checks
Enrollment in the DPT Program will be contingent on a successful criminal background check. Those applicants accepting admission offers will be contacted by the PTCAS background check service vendor, Certiphi Screening, Inc. via email to start the background check process. Their email will include a link to a secure, online form that will request additional information and your consent to initiate the background check process. The background check fee is currently $77.75 per applicant and will be paid to Certiphi by the applicant. The applicant is given an opportunity to review the results before they are released to us. Applicants should also be aware that some clinical education sites require drug screening for students performing clinical rotations. DPT students are also required to provide annual attestation of any new felony or misdemeanor experiences.
Cultural Diversity Statement
The University of Iowa's Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences acknowledges the importance of recognizing and understanding cultural diversity. The department's faculty, staff, and students strive to promote trust, respect, and appreciation for individual differences in matters of practice, research, and education. Efforts are made to provide a supportive environment, one appreciative of human differences, while cooperating with each other in the constructive expression of ideas and actions. Please visit the University's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website for additional information and resources.