DPT Application Process
Thank you for your interest in applying to the University of Wisconsin–Madison Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The DPT application process begins with reviewing key dates, essential functions and admissions requirements.
We participate in the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
Please note: All application materials (GRE scores, official transcripts, observation hours and letters of recommendation) must be submitted directly to PTCAS by November 1 for your application to be considered.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for the DPT program, you must submit your application with a $50 supplemental fee.
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- Prerequisites
- GRE scores (from up to five years ago) — minimum required scores are 144 Verbal, 144 Quantitative, 3.5 Writing
- Scores must be sent to our program-specific PTCAS code (0315), not to the general UW–Madison code
- We do not superscore; the best set of GRE scores (from a single test date) at the time of application submission will be considered
- We recommend allowing at least 2 weeks for GRE scores to be reported to PTCAS by ETS
- Overall GPA of at least 3.0, including all undergraduate, graduate and professional courses
- Science GPA of at least 3.0, calculated by PTCAS. Refer to the PTCAS course subject breakdowns:
- Course subjects that are included in PTCAS science GPA calculation include all anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry and physics courses (not solely our required prerequisites)
- Course subjects that are not included in PTCAS science GPA calculation include English composition, mathematics, movement science, psychology or social/behavior
Observation Hours
Before applying to the DPT program, applicants must complete a minimum of 40 hours of physical therapy observation (paid or unpaid), shadowing a licensed PT or PTA.
More about DPT observation hours requirements
Letters of Recommendation
- Three reference letters are required, and if a fourth or fifth letter is submitted, it will also be considered
- One reference must be from a physical therapist — there is no other requirement as to who writes reference letters, except that they must not be written by friends or family members
- Letters that include information about your unique background and diverse life experiences will strengthen your application
Our Custom PTCAS Application Questions
To help you prepare for completing the PTCAS application, we have provided a list of the questions specific to our program that you’ll be required to answer. You can view and answer them in PTCAS only after you have chosen to have your PTCAS application submitted to our program.
Questions for the 2026–27 Application Year
- Have you previously applied to this physical therapy education program?
- If you are reapplying to this program, how have you strengthened your application since the last admissions cycle? If you are not reapplying, write “not applicable.” (4500 character limit)
- Please provide specific examples of why you are applying to the UW–Madison Doctor of Physical Therapy program and how we are the best fit for you. (2000 character limit)
- What would you like us to know about you that is not reflected in your application? (1000 character limit)
- There are many differences in health outcomes influenced by broader social and environmental factors. Choose a larger issue or policy that affects health outcomes and where you believe change is needed to improve overall well-being and reduce gaps in experiences. Describe the role you hope to play as a physical therapist in helping address this issue. (1200 character limit)
- Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest, to one of the crimes or offenses listed in Table I and II of the Offenses Affecting Eligibility? Responding ‘Yes’ to this question will not necessarily disqualify you for admission but may affect your ability to be placed for clinical rotations and complete the program. A background check will be completed prior to beginning clinical rotations, and failure to disclose information or the submission of inaccurate or incomplete information on this application may disqualify you for admission.
- How do you envision your background contributing to the achievement of the UW–Madison DPT program mission that aims in part to “produce generalist clinicians committed to the delivery of evidence-based quality care in an empathetic, collaborative, professional, effective manner?” (4500 character limit)
- Provide an example(s) in which you have demonstrated mental strength, and/or mindset that would contribute to your success as a DPT student and clinician. (2000 character limit)
- Are you applying to the DPT-MPH dual degree program? Please note that applicants who indicate yes, are committing to the dual degree program only, and will not be considered for the DPT program alone. Dual degree applicants are required to submit the following essay: Please describe why you are interested in pursuing a DPT-MPH dual degree. (4000 character limit)
What We Look For
In addition to admissions requirements, we consider many things when reviewing your PTCAS application:
- Extracurricular/cocurricular activities, service, research, employment/work experience, leadership, advocacy (note: there is no preference for types of community or extracurricular activities and service does not have to be related to health care)
- Background
- Health care experience/exposure and professional goals
- Quality of application statements/custom questions
- Alignment with program and SMPH missions and values
- Personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and generic abilities
- Re-applicants who demonstrate how they have strengthened their application
UW–Madison students and Wisconsin residents are not preferred for admission. The rigor of the academic background of each applicant, along with all the information in each application, is considered. This includes the undergraduate school attended; however, no preferential consideration is given based on attendance at UW–Madison or Wisconsin residency.
Note: The UW–Madison Doctor of Physical Therapy program does not have an interview process.
Learn more about the academic performance, observation hours and acceptance rate of our current students.
Key Dates
Mid-June
PTCAS application opens
November 1
Application deadline. All application materials (GRE scores, official transcripts, observation hours and letters of recommendation), including a $50 supplemental fee for the UW–Madison DPT program, must be received by this deadline.
By November 26
All applicants will have received their admission decision. We do not have rolling admissions; all applications completed by November 1 will be considered.
December 19
Admitted Student Preview Day: Hybrid event that gives students who have been offered admission the opportunity to meet our program director and faculty, learn what it’s like to be a student in our program, receive answers to their questions, and tour program facilities.
January 15
Earliest date an enrollment deposit can be required, for all DPT programs participating in PTCAS (per ACAPT admission traffic rules).
DPT-MPH Dual Degree
The DPT-MPH dual degree program requires that students are reviewed for admission by each program separately. Students interested in pursuing the dual degree should indicate this on their PTCAS application with a corresponding essay indicating why they are interested.
More about the DPT-MPH dual degree
International Applicant Requirements
In addition to our admissions requirements, international applicants must have:
- A degree comparable to an approved U.S. bachelor’s degree (World Education Services evaluation of foreign transcripts)
- Evidence of adequate financial resources for the duration of the program
- Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) scores that are current within the past two years, if your native language is not English and you have not completed all your undergraduate work in English
- Preferred score is 5 on TOEFL iBT
- A minimum of 20 (of the required 40 total) observation hours verified by a U.S.-licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
Further information for international students is available from the International Student Services website.
Transfer Students
Due to the highly integrated and longitudinal nature of the health professions programs within the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, transfer students are not accepted.
“All aspects of the application are considered. No one thing is inherently valued over the other.
I usually recommend to applicants that they think about all of the wonderful qualities and attributes that they have, and then think strategically about how they want to place that information in the application.”
– Amy Schubert, PT, DPT, Director of Admissions