Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the nation’s highest ranked physical therapy programs. This program is designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree in a field other than physical therapy. There is no specific undergraduate major required to apply to our program, and no major is more advantageous or disadvantageous for your application.

Admission Criteria

Admission decisions are substantially influenced by the applicant’s ability to demonstrate personal characteristics considered consistent with the expectations of professional behavior and the equitable delivery of patient/client-centered services. Applicants must demonstrate success in academic and professional aspects of the program. Personal interviews are required for applicants who reach the final stage of the admission process. If two applications are essentially equal, preference will be given to the North Carolina resident.

Application Deadline Information

• PTCAS will open June 16, 2025, for the cycle with matriculation for Fall 2026.
• All application materials must have arrived at PTCAS by the application deadline date of September 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.
• The UNC-CH supplemental application and fee must be completed by September 22, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.

Admission Requirements

The admissions requirements for consideration to our DPT program are detailed below. Please read them carefully. There are no exceptions to the requirements outlined below.

• Four-year degree or a senior on track to graduate from an accredited university or college with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours.
• All prerequisites must be complete with a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.2.
• All application materials must be received by PTCAS by September 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation must be submitted.
• Observation hours are required, with a recommendation of 50 hours in at least three different settings.

Prerequisite Courses & Requirements

Prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited school in the United States or Canada. This includes community colleges. Course descriptions are to be used as guides and suggestions.

• Introductory Statistics
• Principles of Biology I With Lab
• Second Biology Course (Not Botany)
• General Chemistry I with Lab
• General Chemistry II With Lab
• Human Anatomy with Lab
• Physiology
• General Psychology
• Exercise Physiology (Lab Optional)
• General Physics I with Lab
• General Physics II with Lab

Supplemental Materials

The following supplemental materials are required:

1. Complete the UNC-specific questions via PTCAS.
2. Complete the UNC-CH supplemental application.
3. The supplemental application and fee payment of $95 must be submitted to UNC-Chapel Hill by September 22, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.

Tuition, Fees, Scholarships, & Aid

The UNC Office of Scholarships and Applicant Aid is the best source of information about applying for all forms of financial aid. Through the generous donations of alumni and friends, the Division of Physical Therapy provides scholarships to some students.

Fee Waivers

A waiver for the DAHS supplemental fee is available to qualified individuals. If you applied for and were granted a fee waiver for the PTCAS application, you will be granted a waiver for the UNC-CH Department of Health Sciences (UNC DPT) fee.

UNC DPT Admission Statistics

We admit 30-32 applicants each fall for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Admission is highly competitive. No component of your application is more important than another. A holistic approach is used to consider all applications.

Admission Statistics

Deferral of Admissions Policy

The program expects that students accepted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program will enroll in the year in which they are accepted.

Military Student Admissions and Deferments

In accordance with state law, the University of North Carolina provides admissions deferments to members of the military and their spouses. Additionally, the University offers in-state tuition to student veterans who meet specific criteria.