Doctor of Physical Therapy Application Requirements

Arcadia’s hybrid DPT program is a full-time program consisting of 112 credits completed across 26 months. Applicants of the hybrid program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who plan to continue U.S. residency throughout the entire length of the program.

Next Class Cohort: August 2026

The chart below outlines the program-specific start dates and corresponding application deadlines for our upcoming cohorts.

Candidates are reviewed holistically and must receive an acceptable departmental review of the full application. Meeting all of the below requirements does not guarantee admission into Arcadia’s hybrid DPT program.

To qualify for admission to Arcadia’s hybrid DPT program, you must meet the following criteria and submit the materials listed below.

This application, which must be completed online, includes your academic and professional history, and personal statements.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You must have completed your degree prior to entering the program, but is not required to apply.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum Arcadia prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program has decided to make the GRE optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle. The admissions committee is piloting the use of alternative criteria in an effort to decrease barriers to admission. However, if you have already taken the GRE or have scheduled to take the test, we encourage you to submit your official scores. GRE scores are valid for 5 years from the date on the official score report. Expected scores are: (1) Individual Verbal ≥ 151, (2) Quantitative ≥ 150,  and (3) Analytical Writing ≥ 4. NOTE: the GRE code for the residential pathway is 7637; the GRE code for the hybrid pathway is 4722.

Official transcripts are required for prerequisite courses and degree-bearing work. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned. If grades are not included, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Applicants do not need to include transcripts for external certificates or extra classes not related or not required to submit. Do not send transcripts directly to Arcadia. Transcripts can be sent using e-transcripts to ptappsvcs@onlinehealth.arcadia.edu or via sealed mail to the following address:

Arcadia University
Application Processing Center
1551 Emancipation Hwy, Unit 1301
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents, even if they are in a sealed envelope provided to you by the issuing university.

Applicants should have experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Observation hours can include both volunteer and paid work but must demonstrate knowledge of the profession. It is a requirement that prospective students directly observe a licensed physical therapist when completing observation hours.

Barring a documented exemption, proof of vaccination against the following is required in order to matriculate in the program: Covid19 (initial vaccination series + 1 booster), MMR, HepB, Varicella, Polio, TdaP, Annual Flu. These requirements are in place not only for your health and safety, but for that of the school community and any clinical sites where you are assigned. Failure to fulfill this requirement by the start of the program will make your admission null and void.

Four personal statements are required for admission.  You also have the option to add an addendum if there is additional information you would like the admissions committee to consider as they review your application. Please note that the content of your essays must be original and composed solely by you with no assistance from other individuals beyond providing feedback on your drafts. Use of any artificial intelligence (AI) text generators (e.g. ChatGPT) or other online sources for the content of your personal statement is prohibited.  

The four required essays are listed below:

Essay 1: Every person has a background, an identity, interests, or talents which they feel their application would be incomplete without having mentioned. Describe the traits or experiences that make you unique and explain how they will help you be a successful Physical Therapist.

Essay 2: Share a time when things at school or work didn’t go according to plan, and how you adjusted course, managed the situation, and the outcome.

Essay 3: Tell us about a time you set a challenging goal for yourself and what steps you took to achieve it. 

Include any personal experiences, learning styles, or individual preferences that will support your success in the hybrid program.

Essay 4: Please explain why you think you will be successful in a hybrid PT program where you will be expected to complete much of the program on-line.  Include any personal experiences, learning styles, or individual preferences that will support your success in the hybrid program.

Please download the prerequisites form PDF (PDF, 156kb) in order to view the detailed prerequisite requirements on Pages 2 & 3. In conjunction with this form, you must refer to the Prerequisite Requirements on our website, which provides additional specifications for each prerequisite course. Arcadia will accept AP and CLEP coursework that has been received as transfer credit on a degree bearing transcript.

Biological Science — four courses (a minimum of 12 semester credits) from a biology department, which must include the following:

Physical Science — four lab/lecture courses directed toward science majors to include the following:

Behavioral Science — two courses: one course in Psychology, and one course from either Anthropology, Sociology, or Psychology to include:

Statistics — one course to include:

If you need assistance to determine if you meet our prerequisite requirements (or that you will meet them before matriculation), you must complete the following steps:

Two letters of recommendation are required:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to add a third letter of recommendation of their choosing:

Once admitted into the program, all admitted applicants will be required to place a deposit of $1,500 to hold a place in class.¹

¹ In addition, any student who currently lives or has lived in New York state within the past 7 years (as determined by an initial background check) will incur a one-time additional “pass through fee” of $95 upon entry into the program for a criminal background report. This fee is subject to change at the discretion of the state. Students subject to this fee will be billed through their student account.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference