Application Requirements

1.  Application Deadline is now September 1st
2.  The Kira Assessment is no longer required
3.  Once your application has been reviewed, select applicants will be invited to a group, synchronous interview with faculty (2) and a student

• Application:  Completion of both the PTCAS application and UC Graduate College supplemental application
• Undergraduate Degree:  If admitted, the completion of undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to the start of the program in May 2025
• Cumulative GPA:  A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the undergraduate level based on a 4.0 scale
• Science GPA: A science prerequisite GPA of at least a 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale  (includes A&P, BIO, CHEM and PHYSICS)
• Letters of Recommendation:  A total of three (at least one from a PT)
• Observation Hours:  A minimum of 40 total observation hours in the areas listed below.  The hours need to be signed off/verified by a licensed physical therapist AND they must be completed by the September 1st deadline.  Please note:  Planned hours on the PTCAS application will not be accepted as completed hours.   Self-reported hours are not accepted.
  • 16 inpatient hours
  • 24 hours outpatient/elsewhere  
  • Please note:  Inpatient hours can consist of assisted/skill living and acute care.
• Prerequisite Coursework: (listed below)****

UC does not require a GRE score.  

PLEASE NOTE: The PTCAS program directory page  provides more information on each of these requirements.  We HIGHLY recommend you carefully review the material located on this website.  

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; totaling a minimum of 7 credit hours).  General Biology I must include a lab (4 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.  

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Technical Standards outline the essential physical, cognitive, communication, and professional abilities required to successfully complete the DPT program. These standards apply to admission, progression, and graduation and ensure students are prepared to meet the demands of clinical education and professional practice, with or without reasonable accommodations.

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 4.5 with the new scoring scale.

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