DPT General Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received by Department of Physical Therapy prior to consideration of an invited interview:

1. Physical Therapy application submitted through PTCAS in accordance with PTCAS instructions which includes:
   1. One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative GPA.
   2. Official scores on the General Record Exam (GRE). The institutional code for official scores to be sent directly to PTCAS is 7732.
   3. Three completed DPT admissions reference forms documenting each of the ten generic abilities representing behavioral characteristics, which, in addition to professional knowledge and clinical skills, are required for success as a physical therapist.
   4. Supplemental forms as required (information on obtaining and completing these forms are provided on the PTCAS and North Georgia College & State University web sites).

At the invitation of the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee, personal interviews are conducted at North Georgia.

If admitted to the program, applicants are required to submit to the Office of Graduate Admissions, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001, the following documents prior to the first day of the term:

1. One set of official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative GPA.
2. Official scores on the General Record Exam (GRE). The institutional code for official scores to be sent directly to North Georgia College & State University is 5497.
3. DPT Immunization Certification form.
4. Signed affidavit attesting to their ability to fulfill the Physical Therapy Department Essential Functions.
5. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the U.S. in accordance with Board of Regents' policy.
6. DPT students are required to be covered by health insurance. Mandatory student health insurance is provided via a contract with an insurance provider (currently Pearce and Pearce) through the University System Board of Regents. Students may apply for a waiver on the Pearce and Pearce website during the open enrollment period at the beginning of each semester. Waivers will be applied to student accounts once the waiver is approved by Pearce and Pearce. Mandatory coverage is divided into two payments:

Fall Semester	Spring Semester
August 1 - December 31	January 1 - July 31

Visit the Pearce and Pearce website: www.pearceandpearce.com/PearceSite/Schools/GA/NGCSU/ and the Board of Regents' website: www.usg.edu/student_affairs/faq/health/requirements for additional information regarding the Board of Regents' student health insurance requirements.

Students who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received. Students are responsible for all course material and for all announcements and assignments. The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed class resides with the instructor.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, individuals must:

1. Hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally-accredited, four-year institution with at least a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 (or a minimum grade point average of 3.4 in the last 40 semester hours attempted).
2. Earn a combined score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the General Record Exam (GRE) taken before August 1, 2011, with a minimum score of at least 400 on each section, and a minimum score of at least 3.5 on the analytical writing section. Although most students meet these minimum requirements, students with a minimum combined score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections may be considered as long as a minimum score of at least 400 has been earned on each section. OR

   Earn a combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the General Record Exam (GRE) taken on or after August 1, 2011, with a minimum score of at least 153 on the verbal section and a minimum score of at least 144 on the quantitative section, and a minimum score of at least 3.5 on the analytical writing section. Although most students meet these minimum requirements, students with a minimum combined score of 286 on the verbal and quantitative sections may be considered as long as a minimum score of at least 146 has been earned on the verbal section and at least 140 on the quantitative section.

   Only those scores less than six years old will be considered.

3. Complete prerequisite science and statistics courses from a regionally-accredited institution with at least a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8.
   1. One academic year of the following:
      • General Chemistry with labs.
      • General Physics with labs.
   2. Life Sciences Sequence to include ONE of the following combinations:
      • Full academic year of general biology with labs (for biology majors) AND an advanced course in biology (not botany or ecology).
      • Full academic year of human anatomy & physiology (with labs) AND either one general biology course (not botany, ecology or environmental biology) OR one applied health science that has A&P as a prerequisite (e.g., exercise physiology, kinesiology, etc.).
      • One course in statistics.
      • Two courses in social sciences.
4. Demonstrate evidence of appropriate interest in and knowledge of the profession (while no specific number of hours of exposure in a physical therapy treatment environment is required for admission, applicants are expected to be familiar with various settings in which physical therapy is practiced and to provide clear evidence of their commitment to physical therapy as a career choice). Satisfaction of this expectation will be determined through the professional judgment of admissions personnel.
5. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Additional Information Regarding the Application Process

Admission to the Physical Therapy program requires an orderly progression through checkpoints and due dates by which certain requirements must be completed if the student is to be considered for admission. These requirements center about the admission standards of:

• Nearness of completion of baccalaureate.
• Adequacy of grade point averages.
• General Record Exam (GRE) scores.
• Completeness of prerequisite courses and recommended courses.

Beginning early fall semester each year, candidates selected by the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee from among submitted applications will be invited for a personal interview. Personal interviews are typically conducted in early September and mid January. All interviewed applicants will be further evaluated on the basis of probable academic success in the rigorous curriculum, demonstrated interpersonal abilities, adequacy of inquiry into the profession of Physical Therapy, extracurricular activities, communication skills, and demonstrated or potential leadership ability.

Final decisions regarding admission to North Georgia's graduate program in Physical Therapy will be made by the Department of Physical Therapy Admissions Committee.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate who was invited for an interview, but whose application is denied, has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the DPT Admissions Committee, Department of Physical Therapy, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. Students whose appeal is accepted will be reconsidered for admission.

Up one level: Doctor of Physical Therapy

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