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UF Health University of Florida
Department of Physical Therapy College of Public Health and Health Professions
Become a Gator PT!
Admissions Overview

Admission Criteria

Become a Gator PT

Admission Criteria

The Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Applicants must meet all university, college and program requirements to be considered for admission. The admission deadline is November 1st of the year prior to your entry term. Applications are accepted once a year and admitted students begin the program in the fall semester.

The following are minimum requirements for entry into the DPT program:

  • Baccalaureate degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university. Degree needs to be completed prior to entering the program but is not required to be complete at the time of application
  • Beginning in the 2024 application cycle, the GRE is no longer required for admission to the DPT program.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) for the average of all prerequisite courses. No additional minimum GPAs requirements.
  • A minimum of three recommendations. Up to five recommendations can be submitted and will be reviewed. Required recommendations should be obtained from someone who can speak to:
    • Your ability to succeed academically
    • Your potential as a physical therapist
    • Your embodiment of UF DPT values
    • (Recommendations from family members will not be accepted.)
  • A minimum of 40 hours of observation of at least 3 different types of physical therapy, including at least 10 hours of orthopedic PT, 10 hours of neurological PT, and 10 hours of a specialty area, such as pediatrics, sports, geriatrics, acute care, etc. Applicants may fulfill a maximum of two required observation types at one facility. The specific number of hours completed in each facility must be distinctly documented in PTCAS so the number of hours observed of each PT type is evident.
  • Applicants who self-submit uploaded observation forms must include the following information. Forms without this information will not be accepted by the program. All required hours must be completed and verified through PTCAS by the application deadline.
    • Total number of hours completed
    • Signature and license information of the PT shadowed
    • Type and setting of PT observed
  • Completion of a UF specific admission essay with the following prompt;
    • The mission of the DPT program at the University of Florida is “To educate physical therapists who embrace evidence-based practice, deliver compassionate care, embody professionalism, and lead by example in the profession and communities”. What unique qualities or experiences do you possess that align with our mission? Different from your PTCAS essay, reflect and share how you can be distinguished from other applicants with similar academic qualifications and observation hours based on your embodiment of the DPT program mission.

The DPT program does not accept courses transferred from other PT programs.

Additional Requirements for International Students

  1. Minimum of 550 on the paper-based or 80 on the Internet-based version of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for all international students or a minimum score of 6 on the IELTS (the International Language Testing System).
  2. International students with transcripts from foreign institutions of higher education must also submit a foreign credentials evaluation available through Josef Silny & Associates or World Education Services. The transcript must be translated into English and a course-by-course evaluation must be completed.