Technical Standards and Essential Functions of Physical Therapy Practice:
Participation in and successful completion of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at DeSales University requires that all candidates and any enrolled students possess the ability to acquire academic knowledge,  perform essential physical functions, and demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors involved in physical therapy practice.   The clinical doctorate degree awarded at the completion of the student’s educational process certifies to the public that each individual has acquired this broad foundation of knowledge and skills requisite for safe, effective and efficient care to the community being served.  These technical standards and essential functions represent minimum skill sets ensuring the successful completion of the degree requirements and future success in the provision of physical therapy services.

Prerequisite Coursework Form:
The completed Prerequisite Coursework Form indicates to the program the prerequisite courses completed at the time of application, as well as an applicant’s plan for completion of any outstanding courses. It will be used to track an accepted candidate’s progress toward completion of those courses indicated as conditions of acceptance.

Documents must be uploaded in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

A combined verbal and quantitative score of 300 are the recommended minimums to be considered for the program. Significant consideration is also given to a verbal GRE score of 150 or greater.

Submission of a minimum of three references is required. One reference must be completed by the licensed physical therapist with whom the 40 hours of required physical therapy observation was performed. The remaining two references must be completed by non-relative, professional individuals, including, but not limited to, professors, employers, coaches, and licensed physical therapists with whom additional clinical observation was performed.  

A minimum of 40 observation/volunteer/internship/employment hours at a single physical therapy facility is required. Additional observation hours beyond the 40 hour minimum requirement completed in a variety of physical therapy practice settings (i.e. acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, geriatrics, pediatrics, home health care, sports medicine)  is evidence of a stronger application and is highly recommended.  All observation hours must be completed no more than two years prior to application submission.  The signature of a licensed physical therapist and the therapist's state license number is required to verify the number of clinical observation hours completed.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.2 in program specific math/science prerequisite courses is recommended. No grade below “C” and no more than one retake on any prerequisite course will be considered. Prerequisite coursework GPA will be calculated to include all occurrences, including retakes and failures, of all required prerequisite courses.

Material presented in prerequisite courses is the foundation for DPT program coursework and student knowledge is expected to be current.  All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the application deadline.  Individuals who completed coursework outside of this time frame, but are currently working in a physical therapy setting (i.e. physical therapist assistant, exercise physiologist, athletic trainer), will be considered on a case-by-case basis.