Physical Therapy - Entry Level Admissions

Thank you for your interest in the UNM DPT Program! We highly recommend that prospective students attend a formal group advisement session to receive the most up-to-date information about our program. These one-hour sessions, held via Zoom from April through September, provide valuable insights into the admissions process.

To view the current advisement session schedule, click here: ADVISEMENT SESSION SCHEDULE (all times are listed in MST).

To register, please complete the Advisement Session Google Form. There is no session limit—everyone is welcome! A Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before your selected session.

For your reference, here is a copy of the Advisement Slides.

If you applied in a previous application cycle and want feedback on your application or you have specific admissions questions and have already attended a group advisement session, please book a virtual appointment with the Director of Admissions. All appointments are made through Bookings and run through Microsoft Teams. You will receive an appointment link in your confirmation email.

Please click on the "Join your appointment" link ~5 minutes before your appointment begins to make sure your connection is ready by the appointment time.

Thank you,
Admissions Committee

Any additional questions can be answered by our Director of Admissions, Dr. Jodi Schilz at jschilz@salud.unm.edu or (505) 925-4218.

The application process has three parts:

1. Application Submission:
   Submit an application that meets all requirements at the highest level. A strong application can earn you an invitation for the next step, an asynchronous interview.
2. Asynchronous Interview:
   If invited, you will record short video responses to interview-style questions.
3. In-Person Interviews:
   These interviews allow you to tour our facilities and meet the faculty, staff, and current students. They also give us a chance to get to know you better. The in-person interviews are scheduled for January 10^th, 2026.

All applications are processed through PTCAS.  Complete the PTCAS application process by October 1^st, 2025.

• Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application. PTCAS may encounter technical difficulties due to the high volume of applications being submitted.

Requirements for a complete application include all of the following:

• Complete a bachelor’s degree in any field by the spring semester May 2026 (semester curriculum) or June 2026 (trimester curriculum).
• Have a cumulative GPA from all coursework, both undergraduate and graduate combined, of greater than or equal to 2.67.
• We no longer require observation hours. In lieu of observation hours you are required to conduct a semi structured interview with the PT that writes your letter of recommendation. The interview will be submitted as your school specific essay. For specifics, please see the school specific essay section in PTCAS. Interview questions are posted here and in PTCAS where the essay is due.
• Arrange for two professional references (1 must be from a PT).
• Order official transcripts sent to PTCAS from all colleges and universities you have attended.
• Take the GRE by October 1^st, 2025. We do allow 2-3 weeks after the Oct 1^st deadline for your official scores to be sent from ETS. Please monitor that your official scores are sent from ETS to PTCAS.
  • There is no minimum GRE score required. However, the recommended score to ensure program readiness is 20% Quantitative & 25% Verbal. Submitting GRE scores that are considerably lower than the recommended scores may influence your overall application score.  Please make sure and plan so you can take the GRE more than once, if necessary, before your application is due to ensure you are submitting your best application.
• Complete 30 hours of prerequisites with a B- or better AND have a prerequisite GPA of greater than or equal to 3.0. Only prerequisite classes completed in the US and Canada are accepted. Prerequisite courses completed outside of the United States or Canada will NOT be accepted. It is best to have all prerequisites completed by December 2025. (For detailed description of all prerequisites, please go to the Prerequisite drop down below.)
• Complete the NM Residency form if applicable, available via the provided link, and submit it in PTCAS.
  • If you are a New Mexico resident, once accepted you will need to provide proof using the Residency Checklist as a guide. We request an NM driver's license be uploaded in PTCAS.
• Complete an academic update in PTCAS in December 2025, to update any classes listed as in progress in the Fall semester, if applicable.
• If invited, record the asynchronous interview answers in November/December 2025 and attend the in-person interviews held on January 10^th, 2026.

Program Details:
The UNM DPT program is a full-time, three-year commitment. Classes and clinical experiences take place in the spring, summer, and fall semesters, with a busy schedule that includes some weekends and many evenings for REACH Lab and other projects. The curriculum is rigorous, so having a clear plan when you enter the program is essential.

• Female/male:  19/10

• GRE verbal (mean percentile): 55^th percentile

• GRE quantitative (mean percentile): 26^nd percentile

• Prerequisite GPA (mean): 3.66

• Cumulative GPA (mean): 3.7

• Instate/Out of State:  25/4

Outstanding requirements prior to matriculation:

If you are accepted and currently enrolled in classes or have not yet graduated with your bachelor's degree, you will need to submit an updated transcript confirming your degree and any outstanding prerequisites to the UNM PT program. You will also be requested to send an official transcript as part of the UNM graduate school application process.

Student Policy and Procedure Handbook:

The Student Policy and Procedure Handbook was developed to acquaint students with information on the DPT Program: academic and clinical policies and procedures, rules and regulations. It represents the efforts of the faculty, interested in the welfare of its students, trying to make the program most conducive to learning and to assist students in successfully completing all requirements for graduation.

It is important that students become familiar with its contents and review as necessary, as they will be held responsible for compliance with these policies during their enrollment in UNM’s DPT program.

Required Summer Curriculum

Applicants admitted to the program will complete a required preparatory course on the foundational concepts of biomechanics, kinesiology, and joint structure and function. The course is run online May-August. Through this course, learners will revisit various joints and regions of the body to gain an understanding of the detail and dept of learning required for success in our program. Learners will be assigned weekly readings, pre-recorded lectures, short assignments, and short weekly quizzes in the four foundational modules.

4 modules

• Kinesiology/biomechanics/joint structure
• Spine
• Upper extremity
• Lower Extremity

Students will be required to purchase, in advance, a book used within the 1^st year of our program to complete all assignments (Joint Structure and Function: A Comprehensive Analysis - F.A. Davis Company (fadavis.com). This 4-week course will culminate in a final exam.

The purpose of the course is three-fold:

1. It provides exposure to some foundational concepts in anatomy and kinesiology which will help with content in your first-year curriculum.
2. This course gives an introduction to the rigor expected in the program.
3. Performance in this course can help us identify students who may benefit from early tutoring, ensuring they are set up for success from the start of the program.

Prerequisites

Complete 30 hours of prerequisites with a B- or better AND have a prerequisite GPA of greater than or equal to 3.0. Only prerequisite classes completed in the US and Canada are accepted. Prerequisite courses completed outside of the United States or Canada will NOT be accepted. It is best to have all prerequisites completed by December 2024.

We rank your prerequisite GPA heavily in the application process. To ensure the highest GPA possible, we recommend you do the following when selecting your prerequisite courses:

• Use the highest course grade possible for your prerequisite selection. You may substitute a higher-level class for the prerequisite if you have taken the lower level required class.
  • As an example: you took Chemistry 1 + lab (4 cr.) your sophomore year and earned a B. Your junior year you took biochemistry + lab (4 cr.), a higher-level chemistry that had a prerequisite requirement of Chemistry 1 and you earned an A. You may use that higher-level chemistry class with the A, to match our prerequisites. Select the highest grade earned on all classes you may have retaken.
• You are permitted to have one final prerequisite to be taken during the 2026 Spring Semester. If you have more than one (1) outstanding prerequisite class yet to take after the December 2025 academic update, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward.
• Pass/Fail or CR/NC options are NOT acceptable for any of the pre-requisite courses except for those courses taken during Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic semesters. We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for classes that were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak taken during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters.
• If you are trying to use Advanced Placement credits for a prerequisite class, please contact us so we can verify that it meets the specific class requirements and is listed appropriately on your transcript.
• Anatomy/Physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years. There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit, and lab criteria listed on the prerequisites. It is recommended that you have a B or better in Anatomy/Physiology I and II to ensure success in the program.
• If you are enrolled in classes in Fall of 2025 or Spring of 2026, they should also be listed in PTCAS as "in progress". Remember only one of those classes can be a prerequisite.
• If you attend an institution that follows a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites.
  • For example: We require two 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combining 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits.
• Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements

Prerequisite Audit

If you are unsure of how many prerequisite courses you have completed: Complete this prerequisites worksheet and send an email with unofficial copies of your transcripts to HSC-UNMPTProgram@salud.unm.edu. We will be happy to review the classes you have selected as your prerequisites and confirm/deny if they qualify.

• Psychology (3 credits): You must have one upper-level psychology class. Upper-level classes usually require an introductory course as a prerequisite. UNM & CNM class code examples: PSYC2120, PSYC2220, PSYC2250. For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites.
• Statistics (3 credits): Must be a standalone statistics class (not just part of a research class). UNM & CNM class codes: MATH1350 or PSYC2510.
• Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits): Lecture and lab is required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Anatomy/Phys I – BIOL2210 & 2210L. Class must include structure and function of the HUMAN body and organization/integration of systems. Must be taken within the last 5 years. It is recommended that you have a B or better in Anatomy/Physiology I to ensure success in the program.
• Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits): Lecture and lab is required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Anatomy/Phys II -BIOL2225 & 2225L. Class must include structure and function of the HUMAN body and organization/integration of systems. Must be taken within the last 5 years. It is recommended that you have a B or better in Anatomy/Physiology II to ensure success in the program.
• Chemistry I (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Chemistry I – CHEM1215 & 1215L. Chemistry class codes 1105, 1106, 1110 or 1120 do not meet our requirements.
• Chemistry II (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Chemistry II – CHEM1225 & 1225L. Chemistry class codes 1105, 1106, 1110 or 1120 do not meet our requirements.
• Physics I (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Physics I – PHYS1230 & 130L. Physics class codes 1115 & 1115L, 1110 or 1120 do not meet our requirements. We also accept calculus-based Physics.
• Physics II (4 credits): Lecture and lab required to total 4 credits. UNM & CNM class codes: Physics II – PHYS1240 & 1240L. Physics class codes 1115 & 1115L, 1110 or 1120 do not meet our requirements. We also accept calculus-based Physics.

Please remember most, if not all, of your questions can be answered at one of our Advisement Sessions. You can reference the schedule under the Advisement tab.

• What is the application deadline?
  • Your application is due by midnight (EST) October 1^st, 2025. Do not wait until the last minute. PTCAS may encounter technical difficulties due to the high volume of applications being submitted.
• How many hours should I spend observing in a PT clinic?
  • Observation hours are no longer required to apply. However, for your essay in PTCAS you will be conducting a semi-structured interview with the PT who writes your letter of recommendation. Wanting to help people is a noble cause, however there are many types of jobs where you can help people. Being a PT is wonderful, but it is not for everyone. By interviewing a PT, we hope you better understand the immense knowledge needed to treat patients and some of the complicated issues that go into being a PT. Knowing you have considered the career in its entirety and can talk about your ideas and goals as a future PT helps our program have confidence you have the grit to make it through the program. If you decide to do observation hours, they are for personal growth but are not a requirement of admissions and the amount will not be calculated within the admissions score.
• I’m submitting my application through PTCAS, and it says I need to also submit the residency form – I’m not from New Mexico, do I need to submit this form?
  • This form is only required for New Mexico residents. New Mexico applicants must complete and submit the following residency information form and supporting documentation on PTCAS by October 1^st, 2025.

• Does it matter what my degree is in?
  • No, but a 4-year bachelor’s degree is required. Your degree must be completed by May 2026 (semester curriculum) or June 2026 (trimester curriculum).
• Does it matter what school I attended for my degree? 
  • No, it does not. Your prerequisites must be completed in the US or Canada.
• Do I need to major in a specific area to apply to the DPT Program? 
  • No, any major is accepted if you have met the requirements for the program.

• Do I send my GRE score to UNM?
  • Submit your official GRE scores to code #7670 for the UNM Physical Therapy Program within PTCAS. GRE scores for code #7670 will automatically be sent to PTCAS. Do NOT send your GRE scores to the UNM DPT Program or graduate admissions. The GRE testing must be completed by October 1^st, 2025.
  • We will accept the At-Home GRE testing being offered by ETS, but the deadline for taking the GRE is still October 1^st, 2025.
• Is there a minimum score for the GRE?
  • There is no longer a minimum GRE score required. However, the recommended minimum score to ensure program readiness is 20% Quantitative & 25% Verbal. Submitting GRE scores that are considerably lower than the recommended scores may influence your overall application score. Please make sure and plan so you can take the GRE more than once, if necessary, before your application is due to ensure you are submitting your best application.

• What if I am taking a prerequisite class now? How do you get my grades?

  When you submit your original application, you will list any classes that you are registered for in the fall and planning to take in the Spring as in progress. In December after your application is submitted, you will complete an academic update through PTCAS.

  • When those grades have been verified, PTCAS will automatically update the grades and update your prerequisite and cumulative GPA’s.

  • SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPTS TO PTCAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN DECEMBER TO ASSURE WE HAVE YOUR UPDATED GPA. 

• Do I have to have all the prerequisites complete before I can apply to the program? 

  No, you can be taking prerequisite classes in the Fall semester while submitting the application. Those classes must be listed as in progress in PTCAS and updated during the December academic update in PTCAS.

  • Our policy is that you are permitted to have one (1) final prerequisite to be taken during the Spring Semester after your application has been submitted. If you have more than one (1) outstanding prerequisite class yet to take after the December academic update, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward.

• Can I use Advanced Placement courses for prerequisite classes? 

  If you are trying to use Advanced Placement credits for a prerequisite class, please contact us so we can verify that it meets the specific class requirements and is listed appropriately on your transcript.

• Do I need to send my transcript to you or can it be sent from my school? 

  Send your transcripts to PTCAS. We are able to access your official grades and transcripts on PTCAS. 

  • If you are accepted to the program but had outstanding prerequisite coursework and/or you did not have your bachelor’s degree when you applied then you will need to send the UNM PT Program an official transcript to verify your degree status and completion of the final prerequisite class.

• Are there any time restrictions on prerequisite courses? 

  Anatomy/physiology prerequisites must be taken within the last 5 years. There is no expiration date on the other prerequisite classes that meet the acceptable course, credit and lab criteria.  

• Can I use Web-Based courses for prerequisites?

  For the University of New Mexico (and PTCAS) to accept credits earned from a web-based course, that course must appear on a transcript from an accredited college or university. Therefore, if the online course you have taken or plan to take is offered by UNM or CNM (or any other accredited college or university), and it satisfies our requirement, the course will be accepted. All course work is verified through PTCAS. If you have questions regarding validity of an institution please contact PTCAS directly.

• Are Pass/Fail or CR/NC options accepted for prerequisite courses?
  
  Pass/Fail or CR/NC options are NOT acceptable for prerequisitie courses except for those courses taken during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic semesters. We will accept pass, credit and satisfactory grades for classes that were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak during the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 semesters.

• Are classes taken at quarter colleges accepted?

  If you attend an institution that follows a quarter curriculum (4 terms per year fall, winter, spring and summer each lasting 11-12 weeks) then you need to verify in PTCAS that you have met the credit requirements for our prerequisites. For example: We require 2 4-credit semester long Anatomy/Physiology classes with labs. 4 semester credits = 6 quarter credits so to meet our Anatomy/Physiology prerequisite requirements you must have taken 12 quarter credits of A/P. You can do this by taking 3 sequential quarter A/P classes or combine 3 related anatomy/physiology quarter classes to equal 12 quarter credits.

• Please review your selected prerequisites. We will only accept/override the 0.33 credit deficiency (3 quarter credits = 2.67 semester credits) for 3-credit quarter psychology and statistics prerequisite classes. All other prerequisite requirements must meet the semester credit requirements

Do I need to perform an academic update in PTCAS?  

If you have outstanding coursework, have incomplete prerequisites or are still taking any additional classes that will go into your overall GPA, you MUST complete an academic update in December. Click here for information on how to perform an academic update in PTCAS.

There are many qualities that make up a competitive candidate and although it is difficult to paint a picture of someone guaranteed to get in, here are some guidelines:

• Excellent prerequisite GPA—higher than the minimum requirement of a 3.0.

  • What is a competitive GPA? Compare your prerequisite GPA to the Class of 2027. If you are near those values, you would be considered competitive. The farther away you get the less competitive you are.

• Good cumulative GPA—higher than the minimum requirement of a 2.67.

  • What is a competitive cumulative GPA? Compare your cumulative GPA to the Class of 2027. If you are near those values, you would be considered competitive. The farther away you get the less competitive you are.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete rigorous course loads.

  • Have you taken 12+ hours of rigorous science classes together and scored A’s and B’s in those classes? This shows us you can excel in similar situations in our program.

• Quality preparation for the GRE General Test so that you score well above the recommended requirements. of 20^th percentile for the quantitative section and 25^th for the verbal.

  • The recommended score on the GRE is ≥20^th percentile for Quantitative and ≥25^th percentile for Verbal. These are recommended scores to ensure your success in the program.

    • There is no minimum GRE score required. However, the recommended score to ensure program readiness is 20% Quantitative & 25% Verbal. Submitting GRE scores that are considerably lower than the recommended scores may influence your overall application score. Please make sure and plan so you can take the GRE more than once, if necessary, before your application is due to ensure you are submitting your best application.

    • If you take the GRE 3-4 times and are not improving please consider a test prep class for test taking strategies. Click here for more information on the GRE and for GRE Prep courses. 

• Strong letters of recommendation—be sure to carefully consider the people you ask to write your letters; you want to know that they will go the extra mile and include detailed information about you because we are not allowed to call and contact them.

  • You are required to have 1 letter from a Physical Therapist.

• There are 2 essays in PTCAS. The topic of one essay is set by the APTA. The topic of the second essay is decided by the school you are applying to. In lieu of observation hours you are required to conduct a semi-structured interview with the PT that writes your letter of recommendation. The interview will be submitted as your school specific essay. For specifics, please see the school specific essay section in PTCAS. Interview questions are posted here and in PTCAS where the essay is due.

• The PT program at UNM requires a recorded asynchronous interview in November/December. If invited, the asynchronous interview gives you the opportunity to let the panelists know who you are by recording short video answers to interview style questions on topics including why you want to be a PT, how you would contribute to the field, and how you will overcome obstacles to succeed once admitted.

Yes, all applicants, regardless of status in the United States, are considered for the PT Program. Applicants must reside in New Mexico for a minimum of 12 consecutive months at the time of application or have graduated from a New Mexico High School and attended for at least one year. In addition, applicants must have of a minimum of two years of full-time undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited college or university in the United States and all minimum requirements must be met. Only prerequisite classes completed in the US and Canada are accepted. Prerequisite courses completed outside of the United States or Canada will NOT be accepted.

TOEFL scores are required.  The UNM PT program requires high-intermediate scores for the 4 core skills including Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. Click here for more information on the UNM Center for English Language and American Culture (CELAC).

International students who are attending and will graduate from an accredited university in the US may be eligible. Please contact jschilz@salud.unm.edu for more information.

International students are ineligible for federal financial aid, including education loans, and must provide financial documentation showing how the cost of education and living expenses will be paid for a period of one year.

Due to visa restrictions and regulations regarding employment, post-graduate residency placement may be difficult or unlikely for students without the appropriate work visa status.

For information on visa requirements and restrictions, please contact the UNM International Admissions Global Education Office at (505) 277-4032 or goglobal@unm.edu.

Yes, DACA applicants are considered for the PT Program. Applicants must reside in New Mexico for a minimum of 12 consecutive months from the time of application or have graduated from a New Mexico High School and attended for at least one year. All other minimum requirements including minimum GPA, GRE, and prerequisites must be completed as well.

Please note that DACA students are not eligible for federal financial aid, including federal education loans.

Out of State Applicants

Although most of our students are residents of New Mexico, residents of other states are invited to apply. If you graduated from a New Mexico high school after attending for at least 1 year or received a high school equivalency credential (such as a GED) in New Mexico are eligible to pay in-state tuition rate ((NM Administrative Code 5.7.18 NMAC, SB 582).

All out of state members of an American Indian nation, tribe and pueblo, located wholly or partially in New Mexico, regardless of the residence of the member prior to acceptance at a post-secondary educational institution shall be eligible to pay the in-state tuition rate. These include members of the following tribes or pueblos: Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache, Mescalero Apache, Taos pueblo, Picuris pueblo, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara pueblo, Nambe pueblo, San Ildefonso pueblo, Pojoaque pueblo, Tesuque pueblo, Cochiti pueblo, Jemez pueblo, Santo Domingo pueblo, San Felipe pueblo, Zia pueblo, Santa Ana pueblo, Sandia pueblo, Isleta pueblo, Laguna pueblo, Acoma pueblo, Zuni pueblo, and the Ute Mountain tribe. All applicants from a US Federal Tribal Sovereign Nation will be required to provide their Tribal Affiliation and/or Enrollment Number (NM Administrative Code 5.7.18 NMAC).

Non-residents after their first year can petition for NM residency for tuition purposes. For information on how to petition for residency please visit the UNM Residency Information website.

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

WICHE is an organization that manages student exchange programs between WICHE states. These programs allow students to attend colleges and universities outside of their home state at a reduced cost.

Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and eligible U.S. Pacific Territories are eligible to apply to our program under the Professional Student Exchange Program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). 

Please verify that your state is participating in WICHE the year in which you are applying. Students who complete the WICHE application process in their home state prior to the WICHE submission deadline and get certified as eligible for WICHE will be considered as in-state residents for admissions purposes. If you are admitted to the program as WICHE, you must complete the program and fulfill your WICHE contract. For more information on WICHE, please visit their website at www.wiche.edu.

We have drafted a PDF which estimates the costs of the program. Please note that these are estimated costs and actual expenses will vary:

•  Estimated Student Expense Sheet