Applications will not be considered that do not meet or exceed the posted minimums.

Prerequisite course requirements can be found in more detail on our admissions requirements page, in the NAU course catalog, under course prerequisites on our PTCAS page, and on our prerequisite advising form.  The NAU DPT Program does not have an adviser. Please work with your current undergraduate adviser to plan for entering the NAU DPT program. If you have specific questions regarding a course meeting our prerequisite requirements please complete the Prerequisite Inquiry Form for our evaluation. (Please note PTCAS requires official transcripts from every college and university you have attended in order to process your application. Please review their transcript policy prior to applying.)

3 letters of recommendation are required to be submitted in PTCAS. These must be submitted by the application deadline. Please visit the PTCAS references page for more information.

• One letter from a licensed Physical Therapist
• One letter from a Professor you have taken a class from
• The third letter can be from a Physical Therapist, Professor, Supervisor/Employer, Pre-PT Adviser, or Health Care Professional
• Evaluations from Teaching Assistants, Politicians, PTAs, Friends, Family Members, Co-workers, or Clergy members will not be considered

Admission to the NAU Graduate College is required to be considered for the DPT program. This application must be submitted by the same date as the PTCAS application deadline.

Please note: Both PTCAS and the Graduate College will require transcripts. Please follow their rules and guidelines to ensure your application is process in a timely manner. If you have questions about this application please contact them at Graduate@nau.edu or 928-523-4348.

100 observational hours are recommended but not required. They can be paid, volunteer, inpatient or outpatient but must be under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. We recommend a breadth of experiences and settings rather than a depth of one experience. Please visit the PTCAS website for information on submitting your observational hours.

For information on utilizing your benefits at NAU, fee waivers, and other military-connected questions please visit nau.edu/vets or email VETS@nau.edu

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 Graduate College’s 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.

The final stage of the application process is an interview. Individuals with complete PTCAS and NAU Graduate College Applications are invited for interviews based on their overall grade point average and Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing GRE scores. You must meet the minimum requirements to be considered for an interview. Additionally, in accordance with the DPT program mission and goals, the program will give preference to applicants who indicate a high potential for remaining in the state of Arizona to work following graduation.

Because of the significant competition for admission, meeting these minimums does not guarantee you will be invited for an interview or admitted to the program.

• If invited for an interview, you will receive notice and detailed instructions in mid-November.
• The interviews will be completed through a software platform made available to you; they will be completed asynchronously and submitted to the program for review.
• If you are offered admission or are placed on an alternate list, you will receive an e-mail notification between mid-December and mid-January.
• Alternates are contacted as class placements become available and may continue through summer.

The final selection for admission to the program will be based on a holistic review including consideration of the overall grade point average, Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing GRE scores, the strength of the letters of recommendation, personal statement, and the ratings received from the interviews.

At the time applicants are notified regarding their acceptance into the NAU Physical Therapy Program, the campus assignment will be communicated. Again, applicant preference concerning the campus they wish to attend as indicated at the time of application will be carefully considered but cannot be guaranteed.