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Applying

Follow these steps to prepare your application to a physical therapy program.

Submitting Your Application

Almost 80% of all DPT programs use the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). See if your program uses this service in the PTCAS directory.

Direct Application

Some non-PTCAS participating institutions require you to apply directly to their programs

Supplemental Application

Some PT programs that use PTCAS may also require applicants to complete supplemental applications for their specific programs.

Coursework Entry Instructions

  • PTCAS Coursework instructions:  Northwestern students must convert their Northwestern credit units to quarter hours for each Northwestern course they enter in the PTCAS coursework section. One Northwestern credit = 4 quarter hours.
  • If a direct or supplemental application requires you to list your Northwestern coursework in terms of semester hours, use the following conversion: One Northwestern credit = 2.7 semester hours (if they require 2 decimals places, then one Northwestern credit = 2.66 semester hours). The Northwestern course unit conversion can always be found on the back page of your official Northwestern transcript.

Deadlines

Check PTCAS for a list of program deadlines; for non-PTCAS programs, check the individual program’s website.

Northwestern Undergraduate Pre-Physical Therapy Scholars Program

The Northwestern Undergraduate Pre-Physical Therapy Scholars Program (NUPPT-SP) is an early application program to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine for high-achieving Northwestern University undergraduate students with a demonstrated commitment to a career as a physical therapist. Northwestern University students are reviewed for admission during their 3rd undergraduate year for matriculation into the department after completing their undergraduate degree.