Admission Requirements

ACADEMIC POTENTIAL

Undergraduate Degree

A bachelor’s degree is required at the time of matriculation into the DPT program. There is no set requirement for the academic major associated with the undergraduate degree.

Recommended academic profiles for applicants consist of:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.20 – 4.00
• Science GPA: 3.00 – 4.00

Pre-Requisite Courses (minimum)

All applicants are required to take the following courses within 7 years of the application deadline. No single class can satisfy more than one pre-requisite. Individual course pre-requisite grades of C or better are strongly recommended.

Applicants with more than 3 prerequisites to complete within one year of matriculation OR more than 1 prerequisite to complete during the spring semester prior to matriculation in the DPT Program will not be considered for admission.

The High Point University  DPT program does NOT accept transfer credits from other physical therapy programs.

Credential Evaluation (if applicable): For all work completed in a college or university outside the United States, a detailed credential evaluation (showing English translation of courses, grades, GPA, degree equivalency, and more) must be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office of High Point University from an appropriate agency.

GRE

GRE scores are not required for admission; however, they are recommended for applicants with a science GPA of <3.3. If you choose to submit scores, they must be from within five years of the date of your application to the DPT program. The High Point University Department of Physical Therapy’s GRE code is 7368.

PROFESSIONAL & CLINICAL POTENTIAL

Experience in the Physical Therapy Profession

There is no minimum requirement for volunteer/work hours.  100 hours of volunteer time or paid work in varied PT practice is recommended.

Letters of Reference

All applicants are required to submit three letters of reference. It is highly recommended that at least one reference come from a professor and one from a licensed physical therapist. Letters of reference from a friend or family member will not be reviewed.

Interviews

Interviews are required for admission to the program. Through one-one-one interviews with faculty, students show their ability to interact and communicate with others, develop relationships, and carry themselves in a professional manner. We want a glimpse in to you as a future clinician!

Technical Standards for Admission

Enrollment in the DPT Program assumes certain essential cognitive, emotional, and technical skills. In addition to the academic admissions requirement, the Essential Technical Standards delineate the abilities and skills that degree candidates must possess to engage safely and competently in required learning activities. Overall, the purpose of technical standards are to delineate the skills deemed essential for continuation in and completion of the educational program. Technical standards are necessary to identify and communicate specific expectations for student performance in the academic and clinical environments. Reflected in the standards are those behaviors, knowledge, and skills that degree candidates must possess to engage safely and competently in required learning activities and in clinical practice to ensure the well-being of the patient/client, self, and others.

Skills fundamental to physical therapist practice and to the curriculum of the HPU DPT Program include but are not limited to the following:

• Professionalism
• Observation
• Communication
• Cognitive, integrative abilities
• Psychomotor skills
• Behavioral and Social Skills

For information on each of the aforementioned technical standards, please click here.

Before entering the HPU DPT Program:

The candidate must have completed all pre-requisites, have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent, passed a background and sex offender check, passed a drug screen, confirmed that they meet the technical standards, and completed all application materials.  Failure to pass these background checks or to meet the technical standards will not allow you to successfully complete the program and therefore, entry into the program would not be prudent.

HPU DPT Admissions Rates:

On average, 26 percent  of applicants are admitted to the HPU DPT program.  40 percent of applicants admitted to the program matriculate in the class.