DOCTORATE

Doctor of Physical Therapy · DPT

Residential | Full-Time | 8 Semesters

Admissions

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Admissions Requirements

  • Submitted PTCAS application
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution prior to matriculation into the program.
  • Minimum GPA can be met in any one of the following 3 ways:
    • Cumulative > 3.0
    • Pre-requisite GPA > 3.00
    • Last 30 semester hours > 3.00 (regardless of which courses were taken)
    • Above a 3.0 in both Cumulative & Prerequisite GPA is preferred.
  • 100 volunteer hours or work experience with a licensed physical therapist (two different settings are highly recommended)
  • Minimum of 3 references: 2 licensed physical therapists with 1 additional academic or professional reference
  • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Please include all extracurricular, leadership, service, volunteer work, and club/team involvement.


GRE is Optional

  • If taken preferred scores:
    • Minimum Verbal and Quantitative reasoning % score: 35%
    • Minimum Analytical writing scaled score: 3.0

Interview

After the program admissions committee has reviewed the application (including the above requirements), an admissions interview invitation will be extended to the individual. Completion of this interview is required prior to being admitted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

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Course

Credits

Human anatomy course covering all body regions and systems designed for Biology or Physiology majors.
NOTE: a two-semester combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course series is acceptable.

Course covering human physiologic processes designed for Biology or Physiology majors.
NOTE: a two-semester combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course series is acceptable

Two courses in general biology (designed for science majors)are required

100 or 200 level is sufficient

Two courses in general chemistry are required; each course requires a lab (other chemistry classes are acceptable).

Two courses in general physics (designed for science majors) is required; each course requires a lab.

A 100-level or higher behavioral science (psychology, sociology, anthropology, lifespan development, etc) course is sufficient. Life span development is preferred.

Introductory-level courses for non-science majors will not be accepted as prerequisite courses.

The program uses only the highest grade earned in its prerequisite GPA calculations if a course was repeated. The program does not recalculate the cumulative GPA provided by PTCAS.

It’s preferred that at least 7 of the 10 prerequisite courses are complete at the time of application.

Prerequisite Performance

Prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better. In plus-minus grading systems, a grade of C- does not qualify as a C. Applicants offered seats contingent upon successful completion of outstanding prerequisites must complete each remaining course with a grade of B or better (earning a grade of B- does not qualify as a B).

Prerequisite Timeline Requirements

To be considered for the RMU Doctor of Physical Therapy program, each prerequisite course must have been completed within ten years of the cohort start date. Additionally, credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution and be verifiable through official transcripts. If you are a practicing PTA with prerequisites older than 10 years, contact the program for a review of prerequisite requirements.

Required Bachelor Degree

Applicants must demonstrate completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution prior to matriculation into the physical therapy program.

Check Prerequisites

Please use the following link to check if your course meets our prerequisite requirements.
To check previously approved/denied courses on our prerequisite checklist, visit the link below. (If you do not see your specific course, please fill out the prerequisite check form and the program will get back to you as soon as they can).

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Vaccination Requirements

Admitted students of the DPT program will receive vaccination forms regarding required vaccinations. Not all vaccinations or proof of immunity are required at the beginning of the program, but many are. The University allows for vaccination exemptions and more information about the University’s position on vaccination as well as information regarding exemption can be reviewed here. 

The DPT program requires the following vaccinations and testing (these are subject to change depending on public health concerns):

  • Hepatitis B series and/or titer (Booster or additional series may be required if immunity not achieved)

  • Tdap or qualified waiver-current within the last 2 years

  • MMR series of 2

  • A Negative 2-step TB skin test *You will get this right before your 6 week clinical.

  • Varicella Zoster titer or history of disease documented by health care professional or blood antigen verification test (vaccine may be required if immunity not achieved)

  • Current Year Influenza Shot (during the flu season)

  • COVID-19

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Technology Requirements

Background and Purpose

The healthcare industry is heavily reliant on technology and on providers who are proficient in utilizing technology. As a result, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions requires extensive utilization of electronic devices for its programs. The purpose of this document is to define minimum technology requirements for students to ensure they are equipped with the hardware and software necessary to facilitate their participation and success in all facets of their education.

Laptop Computer*

Students are required to secure a personal computer for use during the course of their studies that adheres to the below minimum requirements (*this does not apply to students in the Optometry OD program.) 

Operating System (OS)

  • For PC: Windows 10
  • For Mac: macOS 13 (Ventura) or higher 

Specifications

  • Processor: Apple – M1 Chip or better. Windows – Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 or better
  • Memory: 8 GB or more
  • Storage: 128 GB Flash Solid-State Drive (256GB or more recommended)
  • Display: 13 inches or larger (retina display 12-inch is acceptable)
  • WiFi Connectivity: 802.11ac or higher
  • Camera: Built-in high resolution (720p or better), internal or external

Buying Recommendations

PC laptops that adhere to the required specifications above include:   Apple offers educational discounts for students. Make sure to shop via their Education Store to receive the discount. Models adhering to the above specifications are:

Required Software

Your computer must have these systems installed:

  • Adobe PDF Reader
  • An anti-virus program* 
If you don’t already have one installed, we recommend Sophos


*Note: You should have only ONE anti-virus program installed; multiple installations can be troublesome.

High Speed Internet

  • The connection should be a Cable/DSL broadband connection or better. We recommend having a minimum of 10 mbps download and 2 mbps upload. You can check your download and upload speeds at Speedtest.
  • Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) must be reliable. Please note that wireless connections can be unstable; wired Ethernet connections should be used whenever possible. If the speed of your connection is inadequate, contact your ISP to upgrade to a higher-level service. 

Internet Browser

  • Due to its integration with G Suite, we recommend Google Chrome.
  • We recommend you also have the Mozilla Firefox browser available, as a backup. 

Programs Not Using These Requirements

Applicable to all new students except the PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) program. Check PA program technology policy for reference.

LAST UPDATED: July 2024.

Admissions Disclosure

1. Admission is limited and selective. All completed applications will be considered for admission.  All applicants must demonstrate a previous record of successful academic achievement, clinical experience, and the motivation to pursue graduate-level education.

2. Full Disclosure Requirement: Incomplete or falsified admission information constitutes grounds for a refusal to admit or immediate dismissal, loss of credit, and forfeiture of all tuition and fees paid.

3. Confidentiality: Admissions materials received by the University are kept in strict confidence. Once the application materials are received, these materials are the property of the University and will not be returned to the applicant. All applicant materials are kept for one year following receipt if the applicant does not enroll.

WICHE

Although, RMU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will accept WICHE students from anywhere, whether the student receives state funds depends on whether there is a state-funded program within their state. (For Example, since there is no state-funded program in Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii, students from those states can receive WICHE funds to attend our DPT program.

RMU can also receive funds for students from Nevada as Nevada has determined that they have a greater PT need than what the schools in the state are able to supply for the state.

So in summary, RMU is able to receive state funds for students from Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Nevada and now Guam and Mariana Islands.

The full list of programs and states can be found through the WICHE website at- 

Program Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: 

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please email dptprogram@rm.edu.