Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Certificate

Prepare a competitive Physical or Occupational Therapy School application

The Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Certificate is designed to prepare any student in any discipline, either seeking or having completed a bachelor's degree, for competitively applying to physical or occupational therapy programs. This certificate requires significant preparation in the natural sciences and a strong GPA to complete. Students are required to seek out patient experiences to complete the certificate. The 300 hours (minimum) of required experience places students in a strong position to stand out among their peers.

Format

In-Person

Credit Hours

15 to 16 Credit Hours
*Depending on the student's course selections

Additional Requirements

Science GPA: 3.00
Courses: BIOL 362 x6, PSYCH 101, PSYCH 199

About the Program

The Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Certificate guides students toward meeting important academic and non-academic prerequisites for achieving acceptance into physical/occupational therapy programs. The requirements are specifically selected because they are either required or suggested to obtain admission into these programs. Completion of the certificate requirements will increase the chances of students completing a competitive application.

The BIOL 362 requirement for Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Certificate is a unique aspect of the Pre-Health Certificate program at SXU. BIOL 362 requires students to obtain documented experience with patients (e.g., shadowing, scribing, assistant, etc.) for 50 hours per semester for a total of 300 experience hours over two years, which are necessary for a competitive application.

Students will obtain knowledge in relevant disciplines necessary to for consideration into physical/occupational therapy programs.
Students will obtain knowledge and experiences for consideration into physical/occupational therapy programs.
Students will have competitive GPAs for consideration into physical/occupational therapy programs.

The Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Certificate at Saint Xavier provides a unique opportunity for students to have a guided experience that ensures they submit competitive applications to their desired programs.

Saint Xavier University has small courses taught by accessible and knowledgeable faculty with experience with various health programs.

Saint Xavier University’s small class sizes provide personalized experiences and relationships with faculty who can provide thoughtful and well-informed letters of recommendation to physical/occupational therapy programs.

Students completing the Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Certificate should be well-positioned to complete or nearly complete a biology and/or chemistry minor if they are not already pursuing a biology or chemistry major. Students completing the Pre-PT/OT Certificate would similarly have made significant progress toward a Biology major.

Required Courses:

PHYS 202: Physics II (4)

BIOL 202: Human Anatomy (4) and BIOL 203: Human Physiology (4)

OR EXSC 200: Anatomy & Physiology I and EXSC 201: Anatomy & Physiology II

Statistics: BIOL 303: Biostatistics (3) OR MATH 135 Introduction to Statistics (4)

Natural Sciences Division

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Contact the Office of Admission

773-298-3050
Toll Free: 844-GOTO-SXU (844-468-6798)
Fax: 773-298-3076
Email: admissionFREESXU
M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Application process

An overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is the minimum for consideration for admission to the UIC DPT Program in all prerequisite coursework (including elective science courses).The mean overall GPA of the UIC entering class is typically in the 3.6 to 3.7 range.

A broad exposure to physical therapy in more than one clinical setting is strongly recommended. A suggested minimum for candidates applying to the UIC DPT program is at least 50-60 total hours in two or three different settings, both inpatient and outpatient.

36 students admitted each year
Mean cumulative GPA: 3.76
Mean science GPA: 3.72
Mean GRE score (verbal & quantitative combined): 1179

Students can apply to many physical therapy schools by using the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Not all Physical Therapy Programs participate in PTCAS; applicants should check the "Directory" link on the PTCAS website or check the individual school's website to determine whether the program is participating.

Applications to UIC are considered for the July start date only. Check with the schools for deadlines.

PTCAS has introduced a new Early Decision option for 2011-12. Applicants who choose this option must submit their applications and all required materials by August 15, 2011. Check the PTCAS Directory page to identify participating programs.

The UIC DPT Program has its own early admission plan, which is separate from the PTCAS Early Decision option. Applicants with outstanding GPAs (generally a 3.75 or higher) and a GRE score of 1100 or higher (verbal and quantitative combined) may be considered for this plan. The PTCAS application deadline is September 15, and notification is by December 1. Applicants not selected for early admission are automatically placed in the regular applicant pool.

The University of Iowa's Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science acknowledges the importance of recognizing and understanding cultural diversity. The program's faculty, staff and students strive to promote trust, respect and appreciation for individual differences in matters of practice, research and education.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required for admission to the UIC DPT Program. Arrange to take the test early to ensure receipt of the scores prior to the application deadline.

For more information about the test and to register, visit the GRE website: www.gre.org.

Three letters of recommendation are required to apply to the UIC DPT Program. One letter must come from a physical therapist and another from a professor in the applicant's major area of study. The third letter may come from someone who knows the student well, such as a supervisor or advisor. Letters, whether paper or electronic, are sent directly to PTCAS.

The UIC Physical Therapy Admissions Committee requires personal, on-campus interviews. Candidates selected will be contacted to arrange an interview, scheduled in January. Notification of acceptance is normally made by early March. Each interview is conducted by two interviewers from either the DPT faculty or from clinical PT staff at the UIC and VA Hospitals and includes certain questions asked of all applicants.

On the PTCAS application, applicants are required to disclose and explain any felony or misdemeanor convictions. Applicants offered admission to the UIC DPT Program are required to provide signed consent for conducting an External Criminal Background Investigation in addition to providing a signed Release of Information Waiver. Applicants should also be aware that some clinical education sites will require drug screening for students performing clinical rotations.

Non-U.S. citizens are eligible for admission to the UI Graduate Program in Physical Therapy. However, the UIC Program only accepts coursework from U.S. institutions, and only a small percentage of U.S. physical therapy programs admit non-citizens. Since the odds can be challenging, non-citizen students should thoroughly research and carefully consider such a decision and discuss it with their pre-physical therapy advisors early in their undergraduate years.

Websites

American Physical Therapy Association

Meet the Faculty