Applying for Physical Therapy Admission

Jefferson School of Health Professions of Thomas Jefferson University has partnered with the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), to collect and manage applications to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. 

To apply, please follow the instructions outlined below.

1. PTCAS Application

Complete an online application for admission through PTCAS at www.ptcas.org . Deadline – June 1, 2009.

As part of the PTCAS application, you must send the following to PTCAS:

• Official Transcripts
  Submit an official transcript for each undergraduate and graduate institution you have attended directly to PTCAS carefully following their instructions.
   
  Transcripts originating from academic institutions outside of the U.S. must be translated and a course-by-course evaluation performed by the World Education Services (WES) or comparable credential evaluation service.  The evaluated transcripts must be sent directly to PharmCAS.Please contact WES at:
• World Education services
  P.O. Box 745
  Old Chelsea Station
  New York, NY 10113-0745
  www.wes.org
  
  
• Two Letters of Recommendation. You must submit two letters of recommendation. 
  Follow the Letters of Reference instructions on the PTCAS website to submit your recommendation letters. Please contact PTCAS if you have any questions.
• Essay. Complete the essay found the PTCAS application.
• Volunteer/Observation Hours

• Applicants to the Physical Therapy program must submit documentation of volunteer or work experience in physical therapy settings for a minimum of 50 hours at two different sites. Please include this information in the “Community and Volunteer Service” section of the PTCAS application.

You must apply through PTCAS before you can proceed to step 2 and submit the Jefferson Supplemental Application.


2. Jefferson Supplemental Online Application and Fee

After you have completed the PTCAS application, Jefferson will email you a link to the supplemental application along with a login ID to access the application. You will receive a separate email with your PIN.

The $25 supplemental application fee must be paid with a credit card.   

Demonstration of English Language Proficiency

All international students and U.S. permanent residents must demonstrate English language proficiency as one of the conditions for admission to JSHP’s Physical Therapy program. JSHP will accept any one of the following items to satisfy the proficiency requirement:

• Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with an overall score of at least 87 and individual section scores as follows: Writing – 21, Speaking – 23, Reading – 21 and Listening – 22.  Request official scores to be sent directly to PTCAS using code 5312.
• Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university.
• U.S. national or state licensure or certification in a nursing or allied health field.*
• Score of 508 or higher on the Critical Reading (formerly Verbal) section for the SAT for applicants entering JSHP directly from high school.
• Native English speaker from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa or United Kingdom.

*Certain certification may not be sufficient to demonstrate proficiency. 

Admissions Decision Dates

Admission to the College is on a rolling basis.

• To be reviewed for admission, all application materials must be received by PTCAS prior to the June 1, 2009 deadline.

• Preference is given to complete applications that meet the postmark dates; however, we will accept applications as long as space is available.

JCPH will begin notifying applicants of admission decisions after December 15, 2008.

Criminal Background Check/Child Abuse Clearance

Students who are offered admission to Jefferson are required to have a criminal background check and child abuse clearance. Complete instructions on obtaining and forwarding these documents will be provided to students who are offered admission.

Clinical rotation and fieldwork sites that require a criminal background check and/or child abuse clearance may deny a student’s participation in the clinical experience, rotation or fieldwork because of a felony or misdemeanor conviction or a record of child abuse. Clinical sites may also   deny participation in clinical experience for other reasons, such as failure of a required drug test, or inability to produce an appropriate health clearance. As participation in clinical experiences, rotations or fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial of participation by a clinical site may result in delay of graduation or the inability to graduate from the program.

Regardless of whether or not a student graduates from Jefferson, individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional. Information regarding individual eligibility may be obtained from the appropriate credentialing bodies.

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