How to Apply

Sacramento State's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service, known as PTCAS. To submit your application please visit www.PTCAS.org and follow the instructions provided.

Resources

• DPT Sacramento State Prerequisite Courses
• Approved Prerequisite Course List for Other Colleges
• DPT Supplemental Prerequisite Worksheet
• Physical Therapy Essential Functions and Technical Standards
• PTCAS.org
• Cal State Apply
• Tuition & Fees

Prepare to Apply

• Review the Admission Requirements listed on our website and on PTCAS to verify you have met all the minimum requirements.
• Make sure you are on track to complete your prerequisite coursework by the required timeline.
• Complete your volunteer/work hours by the deadline.
• Identify who will be willing to write your letters of recommendation.
• Take the GRE
• Submit your PTCAS application
• Apply at www.PTCAS.org and select "California State University, Sacramento" as a program of interest, and submit your online PTCAS application by the deadline date. The following supporting documents are required with your PTCAS application:

Official GRE Scores

Arrange for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your official GRE scores through PTCAS using the Sacramento State GRE code 7588.

Observation Hours

Complete a minimum of 50 hours of observation/work experience. Hours that have not been completed and verified through PTCAS by the application deadline will not count towards the 50 required hours.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required, one from licensed physical therapists, one from a college professor, and the third one can be from another physical therapist, college professor, or your employer/supervisor. Arrange for your references to be submitted electronically through PTCAS by the application deadline.

Supplemental Prerequisite Worksheet

This worksheet must be completed, converted to a pdf file, and uploaded to your PTCAS application by the deadline date.

Transcripts

Request a set of official transcripts from every US college and university you have attended be sent to PTCAS. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES).

Monitor your PTCAS Application

Login to your PTCAS application to check the status of your transcripts, references, GRE scores, and PT observation hour forms.
Arrange for all the required materials to arrive by the deadline.
Follow up with any of the items that are missing
Do not apply unless you meet all of the minimum requirements.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Invitation to Interview

Once all applications have been reviewed, the top 100 applicants are invited for an on-campus interview. All applicants will receive notice of their interview status by mid-December.

A typical interview day consists of meeting current DPT students, touring the DPT facilities, and a panel interview with one faculty member, two local clinicians, and the applicant.

Submit your Cal State Apply Application

Only applicants that receive an interview invitation are asked to submit the University application through Cal State Apply. Please do not submit your Cal State Apply application until you are notified to do so by the Physical Therapy Department.

Selection Procedures

All application materials are reviewed by the Admissions Committee to rank applicants. Consideration is given for prerequisite coursework GPA, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, additional background criteria (optional), and advanced upper divison coursework (optional). The top 100 applicants will be invited for an individual interview. The top 32 applicants, along with the alternates, will be notified of their status within two weeks of the final interviews.

Admissions Appeal Policy

An applicant who wishes to appeal the decision of his/her admission to the Physical Therapy Doctoral Program at Sacramento State may contact the Department of Physical Therapy’s Admissions Committee in writing within 2 weeks of receiving their decision letter. The letter of appeal should explain why the applicant feels that the application processing may have contained omissions, errors, or oversights that adversely affected the applicant’s admissions decision. The applicant will be informed by the Admissions Committee of their decision within two weeks of receipt of the appeal letter. Letters of appeal should be sent to:

Melissa Timpson
Department of Physical Therapy
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, MS 6020
Sacramento, CA 95819

Deadlines

International Applicants

Domestic Applicants with Foreign Documents

Domestic applicants applying with transcripts from outside the U.S. must complete 8 units of prerequisite coursework at a U.S. accredited college or university. Prerequisite courses taken outside the U.S. must be completed by the end of the Fall semester prior to matriculation. For additional information visit the Office of Graduate Studies website and select Applicants with Foreign Documents.

International Admissions

International applicants interested in applying to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program may contact the International Programs and Global Engagement office for additional admission information.

International Programs & Global Engagement
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, Library North, Room 1001
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 278-7772

TOEFL

Applicants who possess a bachelor's degree from a post-secondary institution where English is not the principal language must demonstrate competency in English by passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For additional information regarding passing scores visit the Office of Graduate Studies Language Testing Requirement webpage. TOEFL scores must be submitted with your PTCAS application by the deadline date, and if invited for an interview, your CAL STATE APPLY application.