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School of Physical Therapy

School of Physical Therapy Admissions

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Your Guide to Apply
  1. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university completed prior to the starting date of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
  2. Prerequisite Courses:
    • Must complete all prerequisite courses prior to the summer term for which you are applying for; for example, if you are applying for the class that starts in May 2025, all of your prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of Spring 2025.
      • Science*:
        • Biology (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Chemistry (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Physics (& lab)- 8 credits
        • Human Anatomy**- 3 credits
        • Human Physiology**- 3 credits
        • Statistics- 3 credits
      • Behavioral/Social Science:
        • Psychology- 6 credits (preferably life developmental, life span or abnormal)
    • *All science prerequisite courses must be for science majors (A science prerequisite course taken more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.). Courses with a grade of C- (C minus) or lower will not be accepted for prerequisites. Anatomy and physiology courses should preferably be completed with a grade of B or better. Note that students will be allowed to have one or two courses in progress at the time of interview (early January); however, outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade, prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which students are applying.
    • **Students must document 6 hours of anatomy and physiology regardless of how the courses are offered.  Many universities offer a two semester integrated human anatomy and physiology course instead of three credits human anatomy and three credits human physiology. A qualified course shall cover all major human body systems. Functional anatomy with a main emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and Exercise physiology are not accepted.
  3. Clinical Observation Hours: Complete at least 30 clinical observation hours, preferably from two different settings under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist by the time of application. Please follow the instructions listed on the PTCAS website to submit your hours for verification. PT observation hours need to be completed no later than April 30.
  4. Grade Point Averages
    • A minimum 3.0 for Overall Undergraduate GPA
    • A minimum 3.0 for Prerequisites GPA
  5. GPA calculation for repeated courses:
    • If a student retakes the same science course at the same institution and earns a higher grade on the second attempt, we will use the higher grade to calculate GPAs.
    • In other situation (i.e. taking the same science course more than two times at the same institution; retaking the same or equivalent course at a different institution), if a science course is repeated, we will use all grades earned for that course to calculate GPAs.
  6. Starting the application cycle 2024-2025, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required for our DPT program admission.
  7. Provide two references: one from a physical therapist and the other from either another physical therapist, or a faculty member or an employer. Please follow the instructions on the PTCAS website to complete the acquisition of references.
  8. All applicants who are admitted into the DPT Program are expected to demonstrate the attributes and meet the expectations listed in the Technical Standards. These Technical Standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout a student’s participation in the program. Click on Technical Standards for more information.
  9. Provisional Admission: A student who possesses a baccalaureate degree from an accepted, regionally accredited college/university and has submitted all other application materials, but still has 1-2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of interview (early January) may be provisionally admitted. However, outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which the student is applying.
  10. Conditional Admission: A student who does not already possess a baccalaureate degree from an accepted, regionally accredited institute, and/or has 1-2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of interview (early January), but has submitted all other require application materials, may be conditionally admitted. However, the bachelor’s degree must be earned, and outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which the student is applying.
  11. International applicants will be required to submit an official TOEFL score report to PTCAS in addition to the other requirements described for consideration. TOEFL iBT score must be consistent with the standards established by the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) as acceptable for physical therapists desiring to enter practice in the U.S. from a foreign country. The minimum scores to be considered for admission must be a Total Score of 89 with the minimum section requirement of “Speaking” of 26. TOEFL requirement is waived for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
  12. International applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university outside of the United States will have to complete their credential evaluation [WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP)] from the World Education Services (WES) to prove that their education is equivalent to the US undergraduate education and have the report sent to PTCAS. 
  13. Admission decisions are based on a variety of factors. The primary factor in all admission decisions is prior academic achievement (overall, science, and/or prerequisite grade point average – GPA and GRE scores) and the potential for an applicant to be successful in a rigorous PT curriculum. An applicant’s volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and interview performance are reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee. The Admission’s Committee will also consider additional factors in the final admissions review process (e.g., undergraduate attendance at Marshall University or West Virginia state residency, veteran of the US military, and certain economic, environmental, or geographic indicators contained in the PTCAS application). Decisions on readmission (i.e. applicants who attended Marshall University DPT program before) will be based on your Marshall University DPT academic standing along with academic work earned at any other institution(s), and the evaluation/recommendations from the Marshall University School of Physical Therapy Academic and Professional Standards Committee.
    (Update: 4/3/2024 for 2024-2025 Application Cycle)

PTCAS website

  • To be considered for admission to Marshall University’s Physical Therapy Program, you must apply through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
  • PTCAS will be open for application in mid-June 2024! (2024-2025 application cycle)
  • PTCAS Application Deadline: November 1, 2024 (Priority Admission Deadline: October 15, 2024)
  • The interview dates for Class of DPT 2028: during the first two weeks of November 2024 (TBD) and January 2025 (TBD) for the priority and general admissions.
  • DO NOT send your application documents (i.e. official transcripts, clinical observation verification hours forms and reference letters) to Marshall University School of Physical Therapy.  All of the documents shall be directly sent to PTCAS.
  • Starting the application cycle 2024-2025, GRE is no longer required for our DPT program admission.
  • There is no supplemental application and fee required when you apply on PTCAS. When we offer you a seat (Mid-Jan – Mid-May), you will be asked to complete an online application to Marshall University Graduate Admission, pay the $40 supplemental application fee (for international applicants: $150; non-refundable) along with the $500 seat deposit (non-refundable).
  • Question? Contact us at physicaltherapy@marshall.edu.

The School of Physical Therapy at Marshall University participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS, beginning in July 2012. Applicants applying to our entry-level physical therapist education program is required to apply online using the PTCAS application. To learn more about the PTCAS application process for our DPT program, please visit PTCAS website.

As a member of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT), the Marshall University School of Physical Therapy strives to conform to the Admissions Traffic Rules for Physical Therapist Education Programs. (ACAPT Admissions Traffic Rules- for Program) (ACAPT Admissions Traffic Rules-Program- for Applicants)

Tuition

For latest information on tuition for the DPT Program, you can view our tuition website.

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Financial Fact Sheets

2022 Financial Fact Sheet

2023 Financial Fact Sheet

2024 Financial Fact Sheet

Our program offers First-Year DPT Scholarships for eight accepted PTCAS applicants based on admission ranking: four in-state students at $1,100 per semester and four out-of-state students at $2,225 per semester for three semesters.  Scholarship recipients MUST maintain a “B” or better in all first-year courses to retain the scholarship after the first summer term.

Graduate Assistantship

Our program does offer limited GA positions to our 2nd & 3rd year DPT students (part-time basis; assisting faculty in teaching or administration). The selection is based on academic performance.

Total Cost of Attendance Marshall University vs. West Virginia University

The following compares the total cost of attendance as reported by each institution via the CAPTE Financial Fact Sheet report. The CAPTE Fact Sheet report for each institution is linked below and contains tuition, fees, and other program costs:

Marshall University

  • In-State: $69,721
  • Out-of-State: $110,726

West Virginia University

  • In-State: $77,542
  • Out-of-State: $152,752

PTCAS Total Cost of Education Comparison

Contact Us

Please contact Student Financial Assistance for related information.
Student Financial Assistance
Old Main 116
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755
Phone: 304-464-9266
Fax: 304-696-3242
Email: sfa@marshall.edu
or Visit APTA website for possible scholarship/aid and grant resources available to physical therapy students. (APTA Minority Scholarship website)

Students who graduate from the Marshall University SOPT and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination are eligible for Physical Therapy Licensure in all 50 states.

The Marshall University School of Physical Therapy recognizes the need to provide qualified prospective students with unique opportunities to qualify for entry into the field of physical therapy. To facilitate this, Marshall has developed articulation agreement with select regional institutions to provide a direct pathway to the DPT program.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU):

An information session is held in the following months of 2024: May, August, September (virtual) and October. Come join us to learn more about our program, curriculum, faculty and more. In addition, the admissions committee will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Location: School of Physical Therapy (2847 5th Ave, Huntington, WV 25702) and Teams (for March and September)
Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
Upcoming information sessions: 5/24, 8/30, 9/13 (virtual) and 10/11

If you intend to attend a specific information session, prior to the session please send an email to physicaltherapy@marshall.edu.

Program Goals

  1. To graduate exceptional autonomous practitioners, who are leaders in the profession and community, and capable of treating diverse populations.
  2. To support and empower our educators to exemplify excellence in clinical practice, advocacy, mentorship, leadership, and professionalism.
  3. To engage all stakeholders to employ evidence-informed decision making by seeking to discover, synthesize, preserve, apply, and disseminate knowledge that reflects best practice.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates

  1. Outcome #1: Will demonstrate entry-level competence necessary to practice physical therapy as an independent member of the healthcare team in diverse settings, per the following metrics:
    • obtaining an average final mark at or above “entry-level” performance on the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) for PT 793.
    • accomplishing a first-time pass rate of 85% or greater on the National Physical Therapy Exam.
    • achieving an average score of 3.5/5 on the 6-month Employer Survey.
  2. Outcome #2: Will demonstrate commitment to the profession by participating in professional organizations, scholarship, education, and advocacy, per the following metrics:
    • achieve an average score of 3.5/5 on the 6-month Employer Survey, items #3 and #19.
    • 85% of the respondents on the One-Year Graduate Survey report taking at least one continuing education course.
    • 85% of respondents on the Five-Year Graduate Survey report participation in professional advocacy activities.
  3. Outcome #3: Become effective communicators and teachers of patients, families, peers, students and community, per the following metrics:
    • achieve an average score of 3.5/5 or higher on the 6-month Employer Survey, items #1 and #5.
    • achieve an average mark of “entry-level” performance on the PT 793 CPI, item #4 “Communication.”
  4. Outcome #4: Will adhere to core values, legal and ethical standards, per the following metrics:
    • achieve an average score of 3.5/5 or higher on the 6-month Employer Survey, items #2 and #3.
    • achieve an average mark of “entry-level” performance on the PT 793 CPI, items #2 “Professional Practice- Professional Behavior” and #3 “Professional Practice – Accountability.”

Faculty

  1. Outcome #1: Will demonstrate excellence in preparation and delivery of quality PT education per the following metrics:
    • score a minimum 3.5/5 on average on instructor peer evaluations
    • score a minimum of 3.5/5 on average on student evaluations of teaching
  2. Outcome #2: Will demonstrate contemporary expertise in clinical practice as measured by:
    • 30% of the faculty will be ABPTS Certified Clinical Specialists
    • 50% of the core faculty will practice part-time clinically
    • All core faculty will obtain 24 hours of continuing education credits every two years.
  3. Outcome #3: Will encourage “best practice” through engagement in the preservation, discovery, synthesis, dissemination and/or application of knowledge to said practice by:
    • All core faculty will generate 5 or more peer-reviewed scholarly products in a 10-year period.
  4. Outcome #4: Will participate on at least two School, College, University or professional committees (e.g. community, state, or national level).

Program:

  1. Outcome #1: Will graduate 85% of the students entering the program each year.
  2. Outcome #2: Will report that 85% of graduates taking the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) pass on the first attempt.
  3. Outcome #3: Will report that 95% of students are employed as a physical therapist 6 months after passing the NPTE licensure exam.
  4. Outcome #4: Will report on the Clinical Education Annual Survey that 80% of clinical instructors (CIs) rate our students’ clinical performance at or above students from other PT programs.
  5. Outcome #5: Will report an average score of 85% or higher on Item #1 of the graduate exit survey indicating that students feel prepared to start Physical Therapy Clinical Practice.
  6. Outcome #6: Will report 75% or higher average score on Item #10 of the One-Year Graduate Survey indicating overall quality of the education provided by the Marshall School of Physical Therapy Program.

Two-Year Program Outcomes

 

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About Huntington, West Virginia

Nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, Huntington boasts a welcoming community atmosphere and affordable living costs. As a student, you’ll find a supportive academic environment and job shadowing experiences, providing ample opportunities for educational and professional growth. Huntington’s central location within the Tri-State area offers easy access to major cities like Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, making it an ideal hub for both study and exploration.

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Equivalent Prerequisites in Selected Colleges/Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Outstanding Student Outcomes
  • Affordability (15-17% less than the national average)
  • Faculty with Clinical Specialization (Acute Care, Geriatric, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sport)
  • State-of-Art Facilities
  • The Marshall University Experience

They are available here.

The School of Physical Therapy at Marshall University participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Applicants applying to the entry-level physical therapist education program will apply online using the PTCAS application. To learn more about the PTCAS application process for our DPT program, please visit the PTCAS website.

The School of Physical Therapy at Marshall University participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS.  Applicants applying to the entry-level physical therapist education program will apply online using the PTCAS application. To learn more about the PTCAS application process for our DPT program, please visit the PTCAS website.

Our PTCAS application deadline is mid-October every year. Please visit the PTCAS website for the related information.

No. For the PTCAS general application, applicants will be allowed to have one or two courses in progress at the time of interview (early January); however, outstanding course(s) must be completed with the appropriate minimal grade, prior to commencing the DPT program in May of the year for which students are applying. For equivalent prerequisites in selected colleges/universities, please contact the Marshall University SOPT DPT Admissions Committee at physicaltherapy@marshall.edu.

Though most students try to obtain their prerequisites while completing their bachelor’s degree, you can complete them outside your bachelor’s degree at whatever higher learning institution you which to attend, including a community college. Remember that the science courses must be for science majors, and the institution must be accredited by a regional accredit or of institutions of higher learning. Although taking prerequisite courses from regionally accredited community colleges is acceptable, our program recommends our applicants to take the majority of science prerequisites at regionally accredited 4-year universities/colleges, which can/will prepare our applicants better for future DPT study.

No, though most applicants have undergraduate degrees in biology, health sciences, or some other related biological science, you can have an undergraduate degree in anything you would like. However, you must complete all prerequisites, including coursework, as stipulated in the admission requirements here.

We expect to admit approximately 40 students each year. According to our accrediting body, CAPTE, the average class size among DPT programs in 2011 was 43 students. Physical therapy programs report an average of 357 applicants with 235 of those applicants meeting the program qualifications for admission, therefore, only about 18% of the qualified applicants are accepted and enrolled into the average program, consequently, we expect that admissions will be rather competitive. The latest acceptance data, including average GPAs and GRE, can be found here.

The program is a 3-year, (9-semester) program with students entering the program in May each year and graduating in May, 3 years later. It is lock-step, modified case-based model, designed in a “builds on, leads to” manner, starting with educating students in the basic foundational sciences that inform the content of the field. It will be delivered in a full time, in-house format utilizing lecture, labs, small group discussion, case seminars, and clinical visits and internships. Evidence-based practice is emphasized throughout the curriculum.
The curriculum is based upon mission of the university, college, and physical therapy program as well APTA documents such as the Normative Model of Professional Physical Therapy Education and Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, and is designed to prepare physical therapist professionals who are competent generalist practitioners.

No. The program is a full-time program and there is no provision for part-time students.

Clinical education exposure/experiences are integrated into the first two years of the curriculum though case-based courses and seminars, and through clinic visits to local physical therapy facilities spread within the didactic course work, with the first full time clinical rotation/internship (8 weeks) occurring early in the second year of the program. These rotations continue in the third year with two full-time clinical internships, for 27 weeks in the last two semesters of the program, totaling 35 weeks of long-term clinical rotations/internship in the entire DPT program. This series of clinical experiences assures that the graduate has the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of practice settings, working within a team approach to patient management, under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor who is a licensed physical therapist.

Since this program is a full time program with a heavy course load which requires a significant number of out-of-class study hours, we do not recommend that students work while in the DPT program.

Please visit our tuition website for the cost of study. (Note: There is no metro tuition rate offered for DPT students who reside within the Tri-State area.) There will be additional costs for conducting a background checks (approximately $120), APTA student membership due (approximately $80) and of course, the costs of books (approximately $3,500-3,800 when buying all new). Students will be eligible to apply for financial aid.

A full range of services are outlined on the Marshall University website for current students, as well as future students. The Graduate College lists services available to current and future students such as: career services, childcare, counseling, disability resources, financial aid, health, office of public housing, and test information.
In addition, there are unique services available such as:

  • The H.E.L.P. Center which provides educational support, remediation, and mentoring to individuals with a specific Learning Disability and/or Attention Deficient Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • The LGBTQ+ Office works to create, sustain and strengthen an open, safe, and inclusive campus community for students, faculty, and staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities
  • Office of Intercultural Affairs serves as a leader and advocate for awareness, acceptance and inclusion of all people
  • Office of Student Conduct is a neutral complaint handler who attempts to assure that all students are treated fairly and equitably within all areas of the university
  • The Women’s Center serves to foster the personal growth and development of women as independent, confident, and healthy individuals
  • The Writing Center is a free tutoring service to help students improve their writing at all levels of the writing process and in any discipline

A passing score on the physical therapy board examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and attainment of licensure in the state in which you wish to practice are required to practice after graduation. Graduates of accredited physical therapy programs are eligible to take this licensure examination, and after passing the exam, can apply for licensure in the state of their choice (graduates must contact a specific state’s Board of Licensure for Physical therapy to obtain information on state’s eligibility requirements).

Students who are offered admission to Marshall University School of Physical Therapy are required to have a criminal background check. Complete instructions on obtaining and forwarding these documents will be provided to students who are offered admission, prior to matriculation. Clinical rotation sites that require a criminal background check may deny a student’s participation in the clinical rotation because of a felony or misdemeanor conviction or a record of child abuse. Clinical sites may also deny participation in clinical experience for other reasons, such as failure of a required drug test, or inability to produce an appropriate health clearance. As participation in clinical experiences, rotations or fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial of participation by a clinical site may result in delay of graduation or the inability to graduate from the program. Regardless of whether or not a student graduates from Marshall, individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional. Information regarding individual eligibility may be obtained from the appropriate credentialing bodies or state licensure board.