Physical Therapy
Paving the way to recovery
Learn what it takes to become a PTA
Prerequisite Courses
- Making Connections in Rehab Services (3 credits) - waived for transfer students
- Composition I (3 credits)
- Composition II (3 credits)
- College Algebra or higher math (3 credits)
- Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits – must include lab)
- US History (3 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
- Physical Science and lab (4 credits)
How to Apply
All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester in which application occurs. If prerequisite courses are not completed by the end of the spring semester, the applicant must wait until the following spring to apply.
Download the application and follow the directions on the application. The application should be submitted by March 1st of each year at our main physical therapy office on the first floor of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, room 102, or emailed to:
Becky Keith, PTA Program Director
beckeith@astate.edu
Scoring Applicants
After applications are received, cumulative GPA and prerequisite GPAs are calculated and each volunteer and observation form is scored. This information is used to rank applicants.
The top applicants will then be assessed relative to their ability to read and comprehend by completing a standardized test. Those students demonstrating the ability to read and comprehend at a college sophomore level will proceed to the interview process. Following the interview, scores from the interview are added to previous scores and applicants are again ranked. The top applicants (up to 30) are offered positions in the next cohort of PTA students.
Scored Criteria
- Cumulative GPA (10%)
- Prerequisite GPA (25%)
- Volunteer & Observation Forms (20%)
- Reading Comprehension (25%)
- Interview (20%)
Transfers
Many of our students come from other colleges and universities. Applicants must gain admission to A-STATE by contacting A-STATE Admissions at 870-972-3024 or admissions@astate.edu. Applicants can download the prerequisite checklist form (above, under Degree Plan), obtain a copy of their transcripts, and contact an advisor by emailing beckeith@astate.edu or ssloas@astate.edu.
Typically, most of the PTA prerequisite courses are offered at any community college or university with the exception of PTA 1013 Making Connections in Rehab Services, which is only offered at Arkansas State University.
Applicants can check to see if their courses are transferable to A-STATE by contacting the Registrar Office at 870-972-2031 or registrar@astate.edu or by visiting their website.
Background Checks
Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students will be required to complete a background check AFTER they receive conditional admission into the program.
Arkansas State University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions works with Verified Credentials, Inc. to establish an acceptable screening procedure. The cost of the background check is between $50 and $100
ACCREDITED BY CAPTE
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Arkansas State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; 703-706-3245; email. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Becky Keith, PTA Program Director; telephone: 870-972-2896 or email Becky Keith.
See what our DPT program has to offer.
Admission Requirements for the DPT Program
Admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is competitive and processed through the PT Central Application Service (PTCAS). To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
General Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree: Must be earned prior to admission. No specific major is required.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Must be completed.
- Acceptance to A-State Graduate School: Required before entering the program.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or Higher: Includes all coursework—high school (if applicable), undergraduate, and graduate.
Note: Students may need to complete more than the minimum credit hours for graduation depending on their chosen major.
Prerequisite Courses
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher from an accredited college or university:
- Medical Terminology: 1–3 credits
- Statistics: 3 credits
- General Physics I: 4 credits (must include lab)
- General Physics II: 4 credits (must include lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology I: 4 credits (must include lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology II: 4 credits (must include lab)
Additional Requirements
- Technical Skills & Abilities: Must be verified prior to admission.
- Background Checks: Must be successfully completed.
Meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Admission is based on a competitive, space-available basis.
Arkansas State University DPT Program Application Instructions
A-State’s DPT program uses the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Applicants must apply online through:
- PTCAS: https://portal.ptcas.org/
- A-State Graduate School: Info available as “supplemental material” on the PTCAS site.
Transcripts must be sent to both PTCAS and the A-State Graduate School.
For help with PTCAS, contact Customer Service at 617-612-2040 or ptcasinfo@ptcas.org.
Application Timeline & Deadlines
- PTCAS verifies transcripts after submission. This can take time depending on PTCAS and school response speed.
- A-State accepts verified applications until February 1st.
- If verification isn’t complete by February 1st, the application won’t be considered, even if submitted on time.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to ensure verification is completed by the deadline.
GRE Requirement
GRE scores are required. Send scores to:
- PTCAS: Code #4108
- A-State Graduate School: Code #6011
Spanish Proficiency (Optional)
Spanish proficiency is not required, but applicants can earn up to 5 points based on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). Submit OPI results to both PTCAS and the A-State Graduate School.
Review & Admissions
- Application review begins after February 1st.
- Rolling admissions run from August to January 31st.
- Admission is awarded to applicants scoring >80 based on criteria listed here:
https://www.astate.edu/college/conhp/degrees/degree-details.dot?mid=e3ca7087-e029-48ec-8e76-bf031e71f16b
ACCREDITED BY CAPTE
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Arkansas State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085 | 703-706-3245 | email: accreditation@apta.org | The program’s current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see https://www.capteonline.org/about-capte/recent-actions-and-updates/recent-actions. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Jim Farris, PT, PhD at 870-972-2667 or email jfarris@astate.edu.
Connect With Us.
| Outcome Data | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 3 Year Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 90% | 87% | 87% | |
| Licensure Exam Pass Rate (1st Attempt) | 81% (22/27) | 89% (23/26) | 85% (22/26) | |
| Licensure Exam Pass Rate (Overall) | 96% (26/27) | 96% (26/27) | 92% (24/26) | |
| Employment Rate / Delta Region Employment Rate | ||||
| Acceptance Rates | ||||
| Matriculation Rates (Accepted/Offered) | ||||
| Mean GPA |
Faculty & Staff
