Pre-Physical Therapy
Preparation for Physical Therapy School
What should I major in if I want to go to physical therapy school? With your advisor’s
assistance you can design a program that meets the requirements to enter physical
therapy school. Students who have developed excellent writing and speaking skills,
possess analytic and synthetic thinking ability, life-long learners who are enthusiastic,
and understand the interpersonal aspects of medicine are they type of students most
physical therapy schools seek. Your major does not determine your success in being
accepted to physical therapy school.
Important Information
- Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor
- APTA Web Site for Accredited Programs
- Physical Therapy Central Application Service (PTCAS)
- American Physical Therapy Association
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Significant Points
Undergraduate Preparation
The “pre-physical therapy” checklist is a beginning point for students. There are certain criteria that must be fulfilled for admittance to physical therapy school. You and your academic advisor will need to examine your interests, your academic record and the requirements to determine the best academic path for you.
Early in your academic career you will need to research some of the schools that offer physical therapy training that are you are interested in attending in order to insure you will meet all their criteria for admission.
Basic factors common to all professional schools:
- Good undergraduate grades (overall GPA of 3.5 minimum)
- Test scores (GRE)
- True interest in profession as demonstrated by shadowing or volunteering in the field
- Service-related experiences in people-oriented environments – long term service preferred to short bursts of unrelated service activities
- Exceptional communication skills
- Strong reference letters from professionals who know your character, as well as, your work ethic
Tennessee Schools
- Belmont University (Nashville) - Pre-requisite courses
- East Tennessee State University (Johnson City)
- Tennessee State University (Nashville) - Pre-requisite courses
- South College - Pre-requisite courses
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis)