PTCAS Verification Deadline (Applications not verified by PTCAS by this date will NOT be reviewed. The verification process may take up to 4-6 weeks, and thus it is in an applicant's best interest to submit to PTCAS ahead of the Oct 1st deadline)
January 14-16, 2025
The Program follows University policies to facilitate equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for faculty, staff and prospective/enrolled students, by following policies of the Office of Equity and the Regent's laws and Policies, Article 10, nondiscrimination.
University Strategic Priority
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Physical Therapy Program is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students, including those with disabilities (e.g., mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical) who meet the technical standards of the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
If you are an applicant with a disability who would like to engage in a confidential consultation about disability access at CU Anschutz, or who requires accommodations to complete the application or interview process, please contact The Office of Disability, Access, & Inclusion.
The CU Anschutz COVID-19 Vaccination Policy no longer requires COVID-19 vaccination for faculty, staff, students, badged affiliates, persons of interest (POIs), visitors, or volunteers in non-clinical settings, as of July 1, 2023, with some important exceptions. Students involved in clinical rotations must comply with the vaccine requirements and protocols of those sites. Please visit this link for further information.
Staying up to date on vaccines and boosters is strongly encouraged.
We require 2 letters from people who know the applicant well, with the exception of family, friends, and clergy. The most common references we receive are from professors, supervisors, and licensed physical therapists. Applications may not be verified by PTCAS until all materials are received, including letters of recommendation, thus it is in your best interest to have your references submit as early to the Oct 2nd deadline as possible.
The application process requires both a standard PTCAS essay as well as University of Colorado specific program essays. We expect that all essays are written in accordance with the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and honesty, as well as our Program’s Honors code and copyright regulations. By submitting an application through PTCAS, applicants are affirming that their essays were written in their own words without the assistance of paid external resources, websites utilizing artificial intelligence (ex. ChatGPT ), or copyrighted from another source.
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the start of orientation (end of May), although an application may be submitted prior to completing all prerequisite coursework. All in progress and planned courses should be included within the Transcript Entry section of PTCAS. Note that only one (1) prerequisite science course may be in progress in the spring semester/winter quarter prior to matriculation.
Courses completed with a C- or below are not acceptable. It is recommended that all science and math courses be completed within five (5) years of entering our program . Anatomy, Physiology and at least one upper-division science (or Exercise Physiology/Biomechanics) must be completed within ten (10) years of entering the program , and preferably within the last five (5) years.
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit is accepted only if a transcript reflects the credit earned (applicants are encouraged to contact PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu if they are planning to use AP/IB credit to fulfill a prerequisite but the specific credit does not appear on their college transcript) .
All prerequisite courses must be completed through regionally accredited institutions.
Note: Pass/fail grades received in courses taken in spring, summer, or fall 2020 are accepted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Option 1 of 2 Anatomy and Physiology
*If your institution does not offer a Human Physiology lab, please contact PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu to discuss your options for fulfilling this requirement.
Note: Most applicants complete their Anatomy and Physiology requirements throug h the biology, exercise science, or kinesiology departments of their institution.
Options to fulfill Upper-Division Science, Exercise Physiology or Biomechanics:
While any upper division science in the biology, chemistry, physics or engineering departments will meet the upper division requirement, please note that field related content will provide better preparation. Examples include but are not limited to: cell biology, neuroanatomy/neurophysiology, genetics, microbiology, etc. Courses such as ecology, plant physiology, etc. are not field related.
Additional Course Prerequisites:
While the deadline to electronically submit an application is October 1st, 2024, PTCAS must verify an application for it to be sent to a DPT program for admissions review. For the University of Colorado to review an application, PTCAS verification must be complete by November 8th, 2024. Applications not verified by PTCAS by this deadline will NOT be reviewed.
The supplemental fee is a one-time, non-refundable, $25 fee payable to the University of Colorado that must be paid by the PTCAS application deadline of October 1st, 2024 . Payment can be made directly at the following link: https://isis-cs.prod.cu.edu/psc/csprod/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/CU_SELFSRV_PUB.CU_APPFEE_PAYMENT.GBL?INSTITUTION=CUDEN. Within the Academic Program drop down menu, select Physical Therapy (for Fee Type, select DPT-Supplemental App Fee). If you have difficulty with the website, please try using a different internet browser. This fee is due at the time the application is submitted to PTCAS (deadline is 10/1/2024), and is in addition to the PTCAS fees. The Supplemental fee MUST be paid in order for your application to be reviewed and considered by our PT Program's Admissions Committee. The supplemental application fee supports a thorough review of each application, by a team dedicated to learning as much as possible about each applicant. If the applicant received a fee waiver from PTCAS, they are also eligible for a fee waiver from the University of Colorado. Documentation of the approved fee waiver must be sent to PT.Admissions@cuanschutz.edu.
PTCAS Initial Program Designation fee: $170
Each Additional Program PTCAS fee: $70
Class of 2027 Interviews will be held January 14-16, 2025 by invitation only. Applicants will complete two, one-on-on 20-25-minute interviews with a faculty member and/or clinical partner.
For those invited to interview, we will host optional campus visits the mornings of January 17-18, 2025. Attendance will not impact admissions decisions.
Invitations to interview will likely be sent in mid-December 2024.
Students admitted into the program must submit a $1,000 confirmation deposit to hold their place in the class upon receiving an offer of admission. This deposit is applied to tuition and fees for the first semester of attendance and is non-refundable . Please use this form to pay online via credit card or checking account (ACH) your non-refundable tuition deposit for an academic program. These fees are non-refundable.
All students must meet the technical standards of the DPT Program. Every applicant offered admission must sign a document indicating they are able to meet the technical standards in order to be admitted.
Only 1 science prerequisite may be in progress in the Spring/Winter semester prior to matriculation. All prerequisite coursework must be satisfactorily completed prior to matriculation.
Official transcripts from every higher education institution ever attended must be sent to the PT Program. This includes all spring/winter course grades. Final transcript(s) showing a conferred degree must be on file prior to matriculation. For incoming students finishing their undergraduate degrees, transcript with a posted degree must be received by June 15th of the summer in which a student is starting the PT Program.
If you intend to apply for financial aid, review the Steps for Applying. Also ensure you use school code 004508 on your FAFSA.
We require the BLS for Healthcare Providers. Go to the American Heart Association to find a course near you. WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT COURSES TAKEN THROUGH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
All students in the School of Medicine must comply with required immunizations and tests. All students must be in compliance with updated vaccines and tests prior to matriculation. All PT students are tracked throughout the Program to make certain they stay in compliance, both regarding School of Medicine and the various clinical setting requirements.
The CU Anschutz and UCCS COVID-19 Vaccination Policies no longer requires COVID-19 vaccination for faculty, staff, students, badged affiliates, persons of interest (POIs), visitors, or volunteers in non-clinical settings, with some important exceptions. Students involved in clinical rotations must comply with the vaccine requirements and protocols of those sites . Please visit the Anschutz Medical Campus Covid and UCCS Covid sites for further information. Staying up to date on vaccines and boosters is strongly encouraged.
All incoming students must give permission for a background check and students are responsible for any associated costs. The contact is made through PTCAS by an external vendor called Certiphi when PTCAS is notified of your accepted offer by the Program. The student will receive an email from Certiphi with the address, StudentEdition@ceriphi.com, that includes a verification code.
If you are planning on applying to the CU PT program and have previously been convicted of a misdemeanor related to any type of assault or have been convicted of any type of felony, please contact Dr. Lara Canham, Chair of PT Admissions, at Lara.Canham@cuanschutz.edu to discuss your situation confidentially.
Completion of the Tuition Classification (Residency) form is required.
All students, even non-residents, must fill out all or part of this form. For information about how to establish Colorado residency, please visit this link . Please contact Tuitionclassification@cuanschutz.edu with any questions regarding residency.
Male students born after December 31, 1959 must certify that they have registered with Selective Service (or are exempt from Selective Service registration) in order to register at any state-supported institution of higher education. Please go to www.sss.gov and make sure you have complied with this law prior to your arrival on campus.
All health care providers are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients which requires the exercise of good judgment and ethical behavior. Thus, an assessment of a student’s possible impairment that could diminish the student’s capacity to function in such a setting is imperative to promote the highest level of integrity in patient care. The University of Colorado School of Medicine requires that all students submit to and provide evidence of a negative drug screen prior to starting clinical experiences, inclusive of recreational and medical marijuana use. The CU Physical Therapy Program covers the cost of the initial 10-panel drug screening which all incoming students must take and pass successfully. The screening will occur during the first month of the first summer semester, after matriculation. The student will be responsible for the cost of any additional screenings required by the program or clinical sites during their time in the program. Please refer to the full CU School of Medicine Drug Screening Policy for additional information.