Pre-Physical Therapy
DPT • Prepare for physical therapy doctoral programs. Observation hours in diverse PT settings are critical.
~3.55 avg
PTCAS
Avg Applicant GPA
40-150+ obs hrs
Typical Experience
14 courses
Required Courses
4 areas
Key Experiences
Required Courses
Click any course to see who teaches itThese courses are required by most DPT programs.
Recommended Courses
Not required but strengthen your application significantly.
Key Experiences Needed
How applicants actually build each one. Not just what to do, but how.
PT observation hours
- 1PTCAS requires documented observation hours signed by a licensed PT, this part is unpaid
- 2Observe in 3+ settings: outpatient ortho, hospital inpatient, and pediatric or neuro
- 3Use UT Health Austin Rehab Services and Texas Orthopedics; log 150-250 hours
Paid PT tech / aide work
- 1Get hired as a PT aide or rehab tech, most clinics train on the job, no license needed
- 2It pays, deepens your exposure, and often leads to strong recommendation letters
Community service
- 1Add service with health or disability populations if you have room
GRE (check each program)
- 1Some DPT programs still require it, verify your target schools
- 2Study the summer before applying
Build your Pre-Physical Therapy plan
Map your courses by semester & plan your experiences →
Quick Links
💡 UT Austin Advantage
UT's Kinesiology department gives you a movement-science foundation DPT programs respect, and UT Health Austin's rehab services are a direct route to the licensed-PT observation hours PTCAS requires. Austin clinics also readily hire PT aides, so you can add paid, hands-on experience on top of observation.
📍 Austin Resources
- • UT Health Austin Rehabilitation Services (utmedicine.org)
- • Dell Seton Medical Center (PT observation)
- • RISE School of Austin (pediatric OT/PT)
- • Texas Orthopedics (specialty shadowing)