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    Physical Therapy (DPT)

    The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is the first doctorate degree offered at the University of North Georgia. The DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Since the inception of the Physical Therapy program at the University of North Georgia in 1992, the program has been committed to the recruitment of students who are dedicated to addressing the educational, professional and community needs of all citizens, particularly through rural practice. In 2006, the program expanded its mission to include recruitment of students who are committed not only to rural practice but to all other medically underserved communities as well.

    Accredited by CAPTE verify status links to verification website

    Request Information Apply Attend a Virtual Information Session

    The DPT Experience

    Quick Facts

    • Dahlonega Campus
    • New students admitted summer semesters
    • Program length is 143 credit hours taught in nine consecutive semesters
    • 30 students accepted each year
    • Entry-level DPT is awarded at completion

    DPT Financial Fact Sheet 2021-2022 (PDF)

    Major in a Minute Doctor of Physical Therapy Video Transcript

    Program Application Deadlines

    All application materials are to be received prior to the deadline. If program capacity is met prior to established admission deadlines, we will stop accepting applications for admission and cancel remaining incomplete applicants. Completing your application earlier is better.

    Rolling Admissions

    Applications reviewed once complete

    First Rolling Admission Deadline

    August 16

    Final Deadline

    October 3

    How to Apply to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    • DPT applicants apply through Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) which allows applicants to use a single, web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs.
    • PTCAS application portal opens June 15, 2022, for summer 2023 admission.
    • PTCAS is a service of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
    • Application fee is paid to PTCAS.
    • Degree Seeking Regular

      Requirements

      • Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
      • GRE General Test score as follows:
        • GRE General Test, a minimum score of 146 on the verbal section and a minimum score of 140 on the quantitative section, and a minimum score of at least 3.5 on the analytical writing section. We 'superscore'; we take the best score for each section over all GRE attempts. 
        • 7732 is the code to select for submission of GRE scores to PTCAS-UNG.
        • Only those scores less than five years old will be considered.
      • Complete prerequisite science and statistics courses from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. 
        • One academic year of the following:
          • General Chemistry with labs.
          • General Physics with labs.
        • 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 (for biology majors with labs) and either one general biology course (not botany, ecology or environmental biology) and an applied health science course that has A&P as a prerequisite (e.g., exercise physiology, kinesiology, etc.).
        • One course in statistics: Math; Elementary Statistics or Psychology; Behavioral Science Statistics
        • Two courses in social sciences (psychology/sociology).
      • Demonstrate evidence of appropriate interest in and knowledge of the profession, 100 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.
      • Completion of a personal interview.
      • Meet all other program admission requirements.

      Applying to UNG

      • Step 1Application and Application Fee
      • Step 2Official Transcripts
      • Step 3Official Entrance Test Score
      • Step 4Interview
      • Step 5Verification of Lawful Presence
      • Step 6Health Insurance

      • DPT applicants apply through Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) which allows applicants to use a single, web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs.
      • PTCAS application portal opens June 15 2022, for summer 2023 admission.
      • PTCAS is a service of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
      • Application fee is paid to PTCAS.
      • University of North Georgia does not require a separate application fee.
      • Applicant's responsibility is to follow PTCAS and program-specific instructions.
      • 7732 is the code to select for submission of GRE scores.

      Submit one set of transcripts from each institution confirming bachelor's or master’s degree.

      • Transcripts that have been opened, scanned or forwarded by email are not official and will not be accepted.
      • Official paper transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution and mailed to University of North Georgia Admissions Imaging Center, P.O. Box 1358, Gainesville, GA 30503-1358. Student paper transcripts are accepted only when issued to the student in a sealed envelope and submitted to Graduate Admissions unopened.
      • Transfer credit posted on records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from original institutions. Please request a transcript from each institution attended.
      • Official electronic transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution to grads@ung.edu. Depending on the transcript service you are using, grads@ung.edu may not be an available option.  You may then select any admissions or undergraduate admissions @ung.edu address. Electronic transcripts forwarded via email from the student are not accepted.
      • International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations must be sent directly from the agency to the Admissions office. Refer to the evaluator website for a full list of NACES or AICE members. Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant's course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Evaluations should be submitted from the evaluation service to Graduate Admissions. Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75. Applicants who have received degrees outside of the United States may be required to submit proof of English proficiency. Applicants will be notified if a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score is required. If required, scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. Personal copies and photocopies are NOT accepted. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two calendar years from the test date. Required minimum scores are, TOEFL internet based - 79, TOEFL computer based test - 213, TOEFL paper based test - 550, IELTS - 6.5.
      • Graduate Admissions will retrieve transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at UNG. You do not need to order official transcripts from UNG.

      University of North Georgia’s PTCAS code is #7732 for submitting official GRE General Test scores. If you send your official GRE scores to PTCAS-UNG, #7732, you do not need to also send them to UNG. Only test scores less than five years old will be considered.

      On-campus interviews are a final step in the application process. 

      • Interviews are conducted by invitation from the Physical Therapy Admissions Committee in August, September, and October at the Dahlonega Campus.

      If offered a seat in the next entering class steps will continue.

      Board of Regents’ policy requires all applicants accepted for admission or readmission to UNG seeking in-state for tuition classification provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the state of Georgia and the United States.

      Learn More

      Students accepted in the DPT program are required to have health insurance.

      • Visit USG Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) for additional information.

    • All International

      An international student is someone who has not been granted or does not have U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency. In order for these students to study in the United States, they must obtain an F-1 visa.

      International students are not admissible for the summer term. This program only admits new students in the summer term and therefore, does not permit F-1 visa student admission.

    • 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, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. Students whose appeal is accepted will be reconsidered for admission.

    Request Information Apply Attend a Virtual Information Session

    Learn More About the DPT Program at UNG

    • Department of Physical Therapy
    • Catalog
    • Costs
    • DPT Curriculum
    • DPT Student Handbook (PDF)

    Questions?

    Contact:
    UNG Program Director: Kimberly B.Castle, PT, Ph.D., PCS
    Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy
    Professor;Department Head
    kbcastle@ung.edu
    706-867-2945

    Doctor of Physical Therapy FAQ

    • Application Materials

      We do not accept any materials sent directly to UNG or the UNG DPT department – all application materials must be submitted through PTCAS.

    • GRE
      • GRE scores must be taken within the prior 5 years to count.
      • We do take the best score for each section of GREs across all attempts – “superscore”
      • You do need to meet the minimum for each component of the GRE to be considered for admissions (140 Quantitative; 146 Verbal; 3.5 analytical) regardless of your combined GRE score.
      • You should have completed the GRE and submitted the scores to PTCAS through the ETS GRE process prior to submitting your application.
    • GPA - Overall and Prerequisite
      • You must meet the minimum GPA of 3.0 for both overall GPA and prerequisite GPA to be considered for interviews and potential admission to the UNG DPT program.
      • Courses that are retaken (multiple attempts) will be averaged and considered within the GPA. We cannot recommend if you should or should not retake the course – that is up to you as you consider the benefit that re-taking the course will have on your GPA
      • At this time, there is no limit on the age of the coursework you have taken. We accept coursework from all years.
    • Prerequisite Coursework
      • There are a total of 10 prerequisite courses required. Applicants must complete a minimum of eight of these prerequisite courses prior to applying to the UNG DPT program.
      • Although we do accept course credits accomplished through advanced placement (AP) credits, it is recommended that no more than one major course of the 10 prerequisite courses be completed via AP credit. This is particularly problematic if the coursework on the transcript is simply scored pass or fail as we cannot use it to calculate a prerequisite GPA score.
      • Courses may be taken at a two year or four year level as long as the course is equivalent to the required courses.
      • Applicants must complete all prerequisite coursework prior to beginning classes in the UNG DPT program. Classes typically begin mid-May of the year following application.
      • To determine if coursework fulfills the prerequisite requirements, you can check the UNG registrar’s page and use the transfer equivalency tool . If your school and/or course is not listed, you may need to check with our admissions team via email. 
    • Undergraduate Degree
      • You may choose any undergraduate degree you like prior to applying to the UNG DPT program.  However, programs based in the sciences often contain coursework that is prerequisite to the DPT admission process. Thus, choosing a major like biology, physics or exercise physiology/science, kinesiology, biomechanics will parallel those courses most closely and potentially streamline the process.
      • That being said, healthcare involves quite a bit of business in the current system so a business degree may be helpful. A minor in a language may be helpful to you if you plan to serve in areas in which that language is primarily spoken. These are all each candidate’s decision.
      • You must have finished your undergraduate degree prior to beginning classes in the UNG DPT program. Classes typically begin mid-May of the year following application.
    • Shadowing Experience
      • We currently require 100 hours of shadowing or other PT-related work experience. These may be accomplished through paid or unpaid volunteer experiences. Applicants should consider requesting shadowing hours in a home town or smaller community that does not house a PT program for less likelihood of the healthcare system being inundated with students, volunteers, etc.  You may consider unique opportunities such as shadowing a PT presenting at a support group, a PT serving a camp for children or adults with special needs, and outpatient facilities. Students often use tech or aide positions to gain experience in an outpatient PT facility. Extended care facilities (nursing homes) and elementary, middle and high schools often involve background checks and offer limited availability particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
      • Applicants should have experience in a variety of settings. This means that you should not simply shadow or work at only one type of facility (ortho or neuro or peds). Instead, sample settings serving a variety of types of patients – different age populations, different impairments (ortho, neuro, cardiac, wound care, ertc.). We want to know that you understand the multiple facets of the PT profession. We will educate you in all of these areas – your degree will indicate that you are a general DPT as opposed to being degreed or licensed in a single type of PT. 
    • Interviews
      • Once your application is received, it will be considered with all applications submitted to date. Top applicants will be offered the opportunity to interview with faculty and the remaining applicant files will continue to be considered with the next wave of applicants.
      • Interviews are conducted with a single student interviewing with multiple faculty. For 2022, interviews will be conducted virtually. Opportunities to visit the campus will be offered during open houses, but attendance at an in-person open house is not required. The UNG DPT Admissions Committee will also offer multiple virtual open houses throughout the year.
      • During your interview, it is recommended that you think about those aspects of your background experience that make you stand out. Not every student needs to be a leader but that might be your strength. We do not look for one particular type of student.
      • We also want to make sure that UNG DPT is the right fit for you. Please be prepared to ask questions that are important to you. Consider what UNG has to offer and how that fits your learning style, lifestyle, and other needs. 
    • Rolling Admissions & Timeline
      • Applicants are encouraged to apply early, particularly if UNG is your first choice. Although we are no longer able to offer the early admission option through PTCAS, we will begin considering applications after the initial August 15, 2022 deadline. We will fill the class with candidates as we progress throughout the application timeline. October 1st is the hard deadline after which we cannot consider any further submissions. If your application is complete and verified at that time, you will be considered. However, applicants may not continue to submit any further files after October 3, 2022.

      Overall, we know that this is an important decision for you and for the UNG DPT program. Please seriously consider your decision as each student selected takes an important spot that is sought after by multiple applicants. It is important to keep the program updated in a timely fashion if any decisions change for any reason.

    Graduation Rates

    Class Year Graduation Rate
    2020 100%
    2021 100%
    2022 100%
    Average 100%

    NPTE Board Pass Rates

    Class Year First-Time
    Pass Rate
    Ultimate
    Pass Rate
    2020 100% 100%
    2021 90.3% 100%
    2022 82.8% 100%
    Average 91% 100%

    Employment Rate

    Class Year UNG DPT Employment
    2020 100%
    2021 100%
    2022 100%
    Average 100%
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