DPT Admissions

NAU’s DPT Program is nationally recognized as a leader in physical therapist education. Degrees are offered through a residential or hybrid format, and they are designed to meet the needs of all students applying to physical therapy programs. NAU’s Residential DPT programs are located at the Flagstaff Mountain and Phoenix Biosciences Core (PBC) campuses. NAU’s Hybrid DPT program offers instruction delivered synchronously and asynchronously via online modalities with periodic travel to one of NAU’s campuses for rich, immersive, in-person learning experiences. NAU’s programs follow a competency and entrustment-based education model, and they are designed for completion in 25 months.

Important information regarding Residential and Hybrid DPT programs –

· Application Submission Priority Deadline: October 15, 2024

· Application Submission Final Deadline: May 1, 2025

· Program Start Date: August 18, 2025

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by the priority deadline. Once program spots are filled, qualified candidates will be placed on a waitlist with no guarantee of acceptance.

Application Requirements

We understand that applicants may experience extenuating or special circumstances, but all of the following items below must be adhered to in order to process and review your application.

• Applicants must complete and submit a Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application to NAU. Click here to complete the PTCAS application.
• Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or they must have a plan with in-progress coursework in PTCAS to complete the degree prior to starting the DPT Program. 
  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE®)
  • • No minimum score requirement to apply
    • No restriction on timeframe for when the GRE was taken
    • Official GRE scores must be submitted by the applicant to PTCAS through the Educational Testing Services (ETS) using NAU’s PTCAS GRE code of 7668. Follow the instructions in this link to send your GRE scores from ETS to PTCAS: Sending Your GRE General Test Scores (ets.org)
• Casper Assessment ($66 fee) 
  • Online situational judgment test that evaluates aspects of applicants’ social intelligence and professionalism such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving and collaboration
  • Applicants complete the CASPER test outside of the PTCAS application. The CASPER test is required to be complete prior to application review by the NAU DPT program.
  • When registering to take the CASPER test, all applicants must select the correct cycle, program, and school to ensure NAU receives the official test results. 
  • Click here to complete the Casper Assessment.
• Two Letters of Recommendation
  • At least one must be from a physical therapist
  • The other must be from a physical therapist, professor, advisor, supervisor/employer, or health care professional
• Prerequisite course requirements from an accredited institution
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • A grade of a C or better (a C- is not acceptable) in each prerequisite course
  • Applicants are allowed to have a maximum of 3 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application
  • All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the DPT Program

*The chemistry and physics courses must be a two-semester, eight credit-hour or equivalent course sequence. A course sequence is a correlated pair of courses offering in-depth coverage of a specific field and must be at a level such that the courses would be acceptable as prerequisites to advance toward a baccalaureate degree in that discipline. The sequence may be 3 courses at a quarter-based institution.

• Citizenship types eligible to apply for Residential DPT Program: U.S. citizens, permanent resident of the U.S., Canadian citizen, Foreign (non-U.S.) citizen with a visa.
  • Send WES foreign evaluation for Canadian courses to PTCAS
  • Send WES foreign transcript evaluation to PTCAS (recommended)
  • English translation required for original foreign transcripts. Non-US citizens must attend the Flagstaff campus. Transcripts must also be submitted with supplemental application to Northern Arizona University Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Do not send transcripts to the physical therapy program unless directed to do so.

• International Students
  • The Northern Arizona University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program accepts international students. We do not accept transfer credits from other programs. Please visit the NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies international graduate admissions page for more information and requirements. The TOEFL is required for international students but is waived if you have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. university or college. 

Application Process

• The NAU DPT Admissions Committee receives the PTCAS application and verifies NAU application requirements and reviews for a decision.
• To secure acceptance or accept with conditions, applicants offered a program seat and accepting a program seat must submit a non-refundable deposit.
  • Non-refundable deposits must be received by NAU’s DPT Admissions Committee no later than 21-days from the offer sent date. Non-refundable deposits are applied to submitting student’s first semester tuition.  
  • Complete a NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Application no later than 21-days from the offer sent date ($75 fee). 

• Applicants accepted with conditions must complete the following prior to the start of the DPT program, or they will be administratively withdrawn.
  • All applicants are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. 
  • All prerequisite courses.
  • Posting of finished outstanding coursework in PTCAS during the  Academic Update  period.
  • Submission of official transcripts to NAU’s Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions confirming award of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Enrolled students will be responsible for the cost and completion of health and safety requirements.  Further detail is provided to students during the admissions process and within the program.
  • • There are potential additional requirements students may be responsible for by clinical sites.
    • Applicants must have and maintain the statutory requirements that will be needed for licensure. While requirements vary from state to state, the NAU DPT programs require that students meet background clearance requirements of the State of Arizona to permit their participation in clinical experiences in AZ as part of the program. Applicants must be able to obtain a LEVEL 1 Fingerprint Clearance card from the state of AZ. For more information, please review the Arizona Statute. A criminal background check may also be requested depending on clinical site requirements or probable cause.
• There are potential additional requirements students may be responsible for by clinical sites. The clinical education experiences require travel to the clinical site and the student is responsible for their lodging and associated living costs.

• Transfer of Credit Policy: Transfer credits are not accepted by the NAU DPT Program. The entire DPT Program of Study must be completed at NAU.