General Information

Central Washington University (CWU) does not offer a degree program in Physical Therapy or Pre-Physical Therapy. "Pre-Physical Therapy" is a non-degree advising program through which a student can prepare for admission to a professional Physical Therapy program at another institution. CWU does offer all prerequisite courses necessary for successful admission to such a program.

There are four universities in Washington and Oregon that offer degrees and professional training in the field of Physical Therapy: Eastern Washington University, University of Washington, University of Puget Sound, and Pacific University. All of these programs grant graduate degrees and therefore require students to have a bachelor's degree before admission.

Requirements for admission vary among the professional schools. The information contained in this handout serves as an overview of those requirements. For general information about the Physical Therapy profession, employment outlook, and professional training programs throughout the U.S., visit the American Physical Therapy Association website (http://www.apta.org). More detailed information about each of the regional programs can be found by visiting their individual websites, which are noted later in this handout.

Take some time to study these pages, and then make an appointment with the Pre-Physical Therapy advisor to discuss Physical Therapy in general, prerequisite coursework, scheduling, and choice of a major.

The Pre-Physical Therapy advisor here at CWU is:

Dr. David Darda.
Department of Biological Sciences
338A Science
(509) 963-1333
dardad@cwu.edu.

What you need to do while at CWU:

• Decide on a degree program and work toward your Bachelor's Degree.
  Since Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre-PT) is not a degree program, you will need to decide on what degree to declare. In most cases this will be the Bachelor of Arts in Biology. There are a couple of reasons that this makes sense. First, since Physical Therapy (PT) is a health field, a good background in biology and chemistry is desirable. Second the requirements for the B.A. in Biology are very similar to the prerequisite requirements of most graduate level PT programs. However, you can decide to pursue any number of degrees (e.g. Exercise Science) if you so choose.
• Take the proper prerequisite courses (and do well!)
  Unfortunately, not all professional PT schools have the exact same prerequisite course requirements. The list below consists of the science coursework needed to prepare for admission to all four Washington and Oregon programs. For details about prerequisites for each program, visit the program websites noted later in this handout. Please note:
  1. Some courses require prerequisites*; check the catalog!
  2. Course substitutions are sometimes possible but must be approved by the professional program(s) of interest.

• Get some exposure to the field of PT.
  All Pre-Physical Therapy students will need to gain intern experience working under the direction of a licensed Physical Therapist. It is never too early to begin your internships. Two generalities - the more time you accumulate the better, and the more varied settings the better. Such internships may be paid or voluntary. Be sure to obtain documentation of your experience from your internship supervisor. In Ellensburg, contact:
  
  Kittitas Valley Community Hospital
  (509) 962-7386 or 963-7322
  
  Ellensburg Physical Therapy Center
  (509) 962-2492
  
  Also, contact local nursing homes. They often employ Physical Therapists.
  
• Take the Graduate Record Exam.
  Most graduate PT programs require that you take the Graduate Record Exam. Your scores will be a part of your application. You should arrange to take this far enough in advance of application deadlines so as to allow your scores to be a part of your application - this usually means late in your junior year of early in your senior year at CWU. Detailed information on the GRE can be obtained from the CWU Testing Center (Boullion 125; 963-1847) or online at www.ets.org.
• Apply to the school(s) of your choice.
  The application process can be quite time consuming and must be completed well in advance of your beginning the graduate program. All programs start with the fall term and applications are due as early as December of the previous year. In most cases, separate applications must be made to the PT program and the university's graduate school. Admission is quite competitive, thus application to more than one school is encouraged.
  
  For specific information (philosophy, prerequisites, GPA requirements, length of program, admissions, application material, costs, scholarships, etc.) about the Washington and Oregon programs be sure to visit the following web sites:
  
  Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA
  http://www.ewu.edu/pt
  
  University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  http://www.depts.washington.edu/rehab/pt/
  
  University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
  http://www.ups.edu/pt/
  
  Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
  http://www.pacificu.edu/pt
  

Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Programs

Physical Therapy Assistants work under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. PTAs must complete a two-year education program, usually offered at a community college. In Washington and Oregon, there are four such programs. For more information, be sure to visit the following web sites:

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