Admissions and Entrance Requirements

Applicants to the GW Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) must complete two applications. First, applicants must apply through the standard online application system PTCAS (Physical Therapy Central Application Service). In addition, all applicants must complete the supplemental GW Online Application.  

Please find below IMPORTANT instructions for completing the two required applications:

1. As a first step, create your standard online application PTCAS (Physical Therapy Central Application Service). IMPORTANT: You must create your PTCAS application first, as the Supplemental GW Online Application requires that you enter your unique PTCAS ID number. You can begin your Supplemental GW Online Application before you have completed the submission of your PTCAS application (you will just need to have first created a PTCAS application to be able to retrieve and use your PTCAS ID in the completion of your Supplemental GW Online Application).
2. As a second step, complete the Supplemental GW online application, found at: https://gw.force.com/gwapp (application fee: $35.00)

Application Deadline

Fall Entry only: December 2

Application Fee

The fee for PTCAS is based upon the number of programs the applicant designates. The supplemental, non-refundable GW application fee is $35. The GW fee is waived only for the following applicants:

• U.S. military personnel and veterans
• GW alumni (those holding a GW degree or graduate certificate)
• Current degree or graduate certificate candidates at GW
• Graduates of Minority Serving Institutions (MSI)
• Current McNair Program Scholars (a completed Certification of McNair Program Participation and Application Fee Waiver form (PDF) must be scanned and submitted to the program)
• Applicants granted a GRE or PTCAS waiver within 2 years of submitting their application.

1. Completion of a Bachelor's Degree

The program invites applications from candidates who have, or will have received by the time of enrollment, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Official transcripts must demonstrate completion of a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation into the program.

2. Prerequisite Coursework

For a list of program course prerequisite requirements, please see the following page: 

Course Prerequisite Requirements

3. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

The GRE is optional for applicants applying to the GWU DPT program. 

If you choose to submit your GRE scores they should adhere to the following:

• Completed within the last five years 
• Official GRE score reports must be submitted electronically via ETS by the application deadline for the scores to be added to your application  
• Submitted using the ETS institution code for GW is 5246. This code submits your scores directly to GW.

PTCAS does not track receipt of official scores on behalf of GW, so you will need to track your score receipt under your GW supplemental application. Once you submit your supplemental GW Online Application please wait 4-5 business days for the system to reconcile your application record with the electronic GRE score report you submitted via ETS to GW institutional code 5246. 

4. Statement of Purpose

In addition to your PTCAS essay, please address the GW supplemental short essay question (within the PTCAS online application) describing your reasons for undertaking your studies specifically at The George Washington University Physical Therapy program.

5. Official Transcripts

Please submit an official transcript from every college and university you attended, whether or not a degree was earned, directly to PTCAS. No transcripts should be submitted to GW at the time of application.

All non-U.S. transcripts (including those in English) must be evaluated by World Education Services and submitted directly to PTCAS. 

6. Recommendations

• You are required to submit (through the PTCAS reference portal) at least two (2) letters of recommendation. Please do not submit additional recommendations directly to GW.
• At least one (1) letter of recommendation should be from a licensed physical therapist.
• Recommendations are not acceptable from family members and friends.
• Additional recommendations (submitted through the PTCAS reference portal) are acceptable from: 
  • Individuals who served in a supervisory capacity for you and who can strongly attest to your work ethic, and/or
  • Academic instructors who can strongly attest to your academic ability

7. English Language Test

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are required to submit official test scores for either Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearsons Test of English (PTE) Academic, or the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS). International applicants are required to complete the question under the PTCAS online application directly related to the English Language Test. The following are the minimum scores for admission consideration:

• TOEFL: 250 computer-based or 100 Internet-based
• PTE: overall score of 68
• IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 6.0

TOEFL code: 5246

International applicants who meet the following conditions may be considered for admission without submitting TOEFL, PTE or IELTS or scores:

• They are a citizen of countries where English is the official language OR
• They hold at least a bachelor degree from a country where English is the official language as well as language of instruction OR
• They hold at least a bachelor degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency

All international applicants should apply at least six months in advance of the application deadline. Additionally, all international applicants must review the information regarding Visa Requests and Financial Certification.

Applicants interested in transfer of credit from other institutions must first meet the admissions requirements. The transfer applicant must provide evidence that he/she is in good academic standing and demonstrates an appropriate level of professional comportment. The PT program reserves the right to limit any transfer or advanced placement of credit to the basic sciences courses (Functional Anatomy, Applied Physiology). Transfer students must formally petition the Program Director for transfer credit into the GW Program in Physical Therapy.  Only courses instructed with comparable content and rigor in which the student has earned a “B-” grade or better will be approved for transfer credit. Please contact our main admissions office at hsphora@gwu.edu for additional information. 

Students admitted to the DPT program must also complete the following:

1. Review the program's Technical Standards
2. Review the Health Sciences' Background and Drug Screen Policies 
3. Review the program's Health Records and Preclinical Requirements
4. Document Submission: Candidates who are accepted into the DPT degree program will be required to submit the following at matriculation:

• Immunization records, including PPD and evidence of Hepatitis B, MMR, Varicella, Diphtheria, Polio, Tetanus, and Annual Flu vaccination.
• COVID-19 and Annual Flu vaccination
• Copy of physical examination
• Copy of health insurance
• Copy of criminal background check
• Copy of drug screening test