Application Requirements

• Completion of both the PTCAS application and UC Graduate College supplemental application
• If admitted, the completion of undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to the start of the program in May 2025
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the undergraduate level based on a 4.0 scale
• A science prerequisite GPA of at least a 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale  (includes A&P, BIO, CHEM and PHYSICS)
• 3 Recommendation Letters (at least one from a PT)
• Minimum of 50 total observation hours in the following areas: 
  • 25 inpatient hours
  • 25 hours outpatient/elsewhere  
  • Please note:  Inpatient hours can consist of assisted/skill living, home health, telehealth and acute care.
• Completion of prerequisite coursework (listed below)
• Kira Talent Assessment will be emailed to you after your supplemental fee is paid.
• Effective for the 2022-23 admission cycle, the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is no longer required.  

PLEASE NOTE: The PTCAS program directory page  provides more information on each of these requirements.  

Entrance into UC’s physical therapy program is competitive and completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into the physical therapy program.

Students still requiring an undergraduate degree may select any major and/or program but are reminded that entrance requirements to colleges will vary. The University of Cincinnati Health Sciences - Pre-Physical Therapy undergraduate degree includes all prerequisite coursework for application to the DPT program.

Prerequisite Course Requirements are as follows: 

• Anatomy & Physiology (1 full year (two semesters) with lab)  
  • UC equivalent BIOL 2001C & BIOL 2002C

• General Biology (1 full year-two semesters) with a minimum of one lab, totaling a minimum of 7 credit hours).  The second Biology course needs to be a higher level course than the lab-based course OR a course designed for science majors)
  • UC equivalent BIOL 1081, BIOL 1081L & BIOL 1082, BIOL 1082L

• General Chemistry (1 full year (two semesters) with lab) 
  • UC equivalent CHEM 1040, CHEM 1040L & CHEM 1041, CHEM 1041L

• General Physics (1 full year (two semesters) with lab)
  • UC equivalent PHYS 1051 & PHYS 1051L, PHYS 1052 & PHYS 1052L

• Exercise Physiology (1 semester)
  • UC equivalent HLSC 3031 or HLSC 3032C

• Introductory Psychology (1 semester) 
  • UC equivalent  PSYC 1001

• Medical Terminology (1 semester)
  •  UC equivalent HLSC 2012

• Statistics (1 semester) 
  • UC equivalent STAT 1031 or STAT 1034

Individuals who have met the physical therapy admission requirements can apply during the application period to the physical therapy program if the course prerequisites have been completed within the past 10 calendar years.

Please note that certain exceptions may apply.

****Applicants may not have more than two core science courses and two non-science courses incomplete when they apply. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program start date. 

Please visit our prerequisite course equivalencies page to check for equivalent courses for prerequisite courses from specific colleges/universities. If your course does not show in the database, please send the following information to the email address shown below:  university, course code and description.  If you have a syllabus, this would be helpful too.  

International students must complete all pre-requisites, including a bachelor's degree that has been evaluated by an organization that provides credential evaluation. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is other than English. The suggested minimum score is 520 (paper) or 190 (computer).

Accepted international students must fulfill U.S. Immigration Service requirements and register with the International Student Services Offices at UC.