Physical Therapy

*The application cycle for Fall 2025 is open on PTCAS.  The priority application deadline is October 1, 2024; the final application deadline is November 15, 2024. Please note that applications must be submitted, verified, and complete by the final deadline of November 15, 2024 to be considered.*

All applicants seeking admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program must submit all required application materials including the PTCAS and supplemental essay, and meet the following requirements prior to enrollment in the program.

If you are a current high school student interested in eligibility requirements for Mercer University’s Accelerated Special Consideration Program (ASCP), click here for more information.

  • Completion of an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
  • Required overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Required prerequisite GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Preferred Science GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Completion of all prerequisites prior to matriculation with required GPA of 3.00. We recommend you complete at least six (6) of the ten (10) prerequisites prior to submitting an application that includes a plan for completing the remaining prerequisites prior to enrollment. If you have taken a prerequisite more than once, all attempts will be considered in calculating your prerequisite GPA. Please note that the program does not accept transfer credits from physical therapy curricula from other institutions.
  • The prerequisites for Mercer’s DPT Program are:
    • two course introductory chemistry series (for science majors) with labs,
    • two course physics series (for science majors) with labs,
    • two course series of human anatomy and physiology with lab preferred,
    • a statistics or biostatistics course,
    • a biology course,
    • a psychology course with an emphasis on individual behavior (general, abnormal or developmental), and
    • a behavioral science course with an emphasis on group behavior (sociology, cultural anthropology)
  • Applicants are encouraged to complete coursework / experience in professional writing and oral communication prior to enrollment in Mercer’s DPT Program. Examples of courses / experiences related to these areas are: writing intensive courses, grant-writing, professional publication(s), public speaking, Toastmasters.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must be sent to PTCAS from ETS using the institution code 7750 (Mercer U Physical Therapy).  GRE scores are required; there is no minimum score requirement.
  • Required Experiential Hours: Volunteer, observation, or work experience in physical therapy and service learning: A minimum of 60 hours total, divided among three settings with at least 20 hours in each setting.
    • 40 Hours: Experiences should be in at least two different types of physical therapy clinical practice settings. Examples of physical therapy settings include: out-patient orthopedics, pediatrics (outpatient, home health, inpatient, rehab), geriatrics (home health, skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center), and acute care (hospital). Thirty (30) of these hours should be completed prior to application.
    • 20 Hours: The third experience should be as an active participant in a service or community project. Examples of this service/volunteer experience include working in an after-school program, volunteering with a food bank or shelter, or engaging in community improvement projects (locally, nationally, or internationally). Ten (10) of these hours should be completed prior to application.
  • Three (3) letters of reference must be submitted to PTCAS. At least one letter must come from a practicing Physical Therapist and one must come from a college professor/instructor. The third letter can come from any non-relative professional.

Qualified applicants with complete files and who meet or exceed the admissions criteria listed above may be invited to participate in a personal interview.

International students or domestic students with credentials from institutions outside the United States are required to have those credentials evaluated by a professional evaluation service. Transcripts from colleges and universities outside the U.S. must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) and submitted to PTCAS. Please see www.wes.org/ptcas for instructions. Additionally, applicants whose native language is not English must also demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in English Language as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Until these documents have been submitted, an application for admission cannot be considered.

Applicants must also meet the DPT Program’s Abilities and Attributes in order to be considered for admission into the program.

For information regarding professional licensure, please click here.

To request additional information about Mercer’s DPT Program, please click here.