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UNM DIVISION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

GROUP ADVISEMENT PRESENTATION 2025

http://orthopaedics.unm.edu/pt/

HSC-UNMPTProgram@salud.unm.edu

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How do I Become a Physical Therapist

Graduate from an accredited program

UNM Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Pass the NPTE

(national physical therapy examination)

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UNM Program Length

Begins in August
Spans 34 months
Several 2 to 4-week breaks

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Three Year Curriculum

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#1 Is PT the right career for me?

No required observation hours.

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. Interviewing a PT will help you 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.

Primary goal:

“Is P.T. the profession for me?”

All shadowing experience is for personal growth but not a requirement of admissions and the amount will not be calculated within the admissions score

Semi-structured interview with PT who writes your letter of recommendation.

Questions to ask the PT:

Name:____________ Where they work:_________

State of licensure:___________

What inspired you to become a physical therapist, and how has your perspective on the profession changed over time?
What advice would you give to someone entering PT school to help them succeed in their studies and future career?
How do you stay current with new research and advancements in physical therapy techniques?
What are the biggest misconceptions people have about physical therapy as a career?
What are some common mistakes new physical therapists make, and how can they be avoided?

DISCUSS HOW THESE ANSWERS IMPACT YOUR DECISION TO BECOME A PT.

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#2 Learn about the mission/vision of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Source of information about the physical therapy profession.
1-800-999-APTA
www.apta.org

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#3 Take 30 hours of science prerequisites

Prerequisites:

May be taken at any accredited college or university

Chemistry (8 hrs.)
Physics (8 hrs.)
2 Anatomy & Physiology (8 hrs.)
Statistics (3 hrs.)
Upper-level Psychology (3 hrs.)

You should have all prerequisites completed by December 2025.

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.

You should have a B- or better in prerequisite classes.

It is recommended that you have a B or better in Anatomy/Physiology I and II to ensure success in the program.

Must have a prerequisite GPA as defined by PTCAS of at least a 3.0
All prerequisites must be taken in the US or Canada.

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Restrictions on prerequisites

Pass, S, or CR options are only acceptable for the Spring and Summer 2020 semesters.

NOT acceptable for pre-requisite courses taken other 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
Psychology must be upper level.

For a complete list of classes that are accepted please visit the UNM PTCAS directory page under course prerequisites.

Please use the highest course grade possible for your prerequisite selection. You may substitute a higher-level class for the prerequisite as long as 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.

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Policy on Web-Based Prerequisite Courses

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.

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#3 Get a Bachelor’s Degree

Any Degree is Acceptable

Applicants must have a cumulative/overall GPA as defined by PTCAS of at least a 2.67

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#4 Take the GRE

General test must be taken within 5 years of application.

No Minimum Score Requirements.

Recommended scores for program readiness:

Quantitative 20^th percentile

Verbal 25^th percentile

Submitting GRE scores that are considerably lower than the recommended scores may influence your overall application score.

We will still accept the at-home GRE testing through ETS for the 2024-2025 cycle.

Submit scores to UNM PT Program Institution Code: 7670

Deadline for taking the GRE:

October 1st , 2025

GRE: www.gre.com

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GRE Assistance

Prep classes and books are helpful
GRE Intensive Prep Course offered throughout the year at Anderson School of Business https://mba.mgt.unm.edu/testprep/
Other classes offered online and in person

HSC Office for Diversity Test Prep Programs- Applications due in April for summer course June– July
https://hsc.unm.edu/diversity/programs/community/test-prep.html
Stipend upon completion of the program.
Contact the office of diversity for more information: 1 (866) 494-0064, HSC-diversity@salud.unm.edu

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#6 Apply on PTCAS

http://www.ptcas.org

Application portal opens in June/July

Completed application due October 1st, 2025.

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If you are taking courses in �Fall 2025/Spring 2026

All classes being taken in the Fall of 2025 should be listed in PTCAS as in progress

You will update the grades for the classes being taken in the Fall of 2025 during the Academic Update in December 2025

All classes you are planning to take in the spring of 2026 must be listed in PTCAS as in progress

only 1 of these can be a prerequisite class

Must complete Bachelor degree by May of 2026

June of 2026 for trimester curriculum

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Total Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in any field
Overall/cumulative GPA of > 2.67
Prerequisite classes with a B- or better and Prerequisite GPA ≥ 3.0
GRE
Essays on PTCAS

Our semi-structured interview
PTCAS essay

2 Letters of Reference

(1 must come from a PT)

Asynchronous interviews in November
In person interview on January 10^th, 2026

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How competitive am I?

Average PREREQUISITE GPA Class of 2028: 3.7
Average CUMULATIVE GPA Class of 2028: 3.7
Average GRE Scores Class of 2028:

Verbal Percentile 55
Quantitative Percentile 26

Essays
LORs
Asynchronous & In-person Interview

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Students must have Junior Standing (60 credit hours) with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, which must include at least:
General Chemistry – 2 semesters
Biology – 2 semesters
English – 2 semesters
Intro to Psychology PSY1110
Intro to Statistics Math 1350 or PSY2510
Exceptions to prerequisite requirements can occasionally be made by petition to the director for special approval.

Strengthen your application

This unique social science focused Pre-Health Scholars Certificate was designed with input from graduate health programs. The curriculum was developed to address many areas of weakness in applications as identified by the programs. Through highly interactive, discussion-based, rigorous curricula the program incorporates thought-provoking engagement and mindful learning. Through demanding discussion, activities, application exercises, and field trips, students will be challenged to think deeply and analyze factors influencing healthcare.

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How to Apply

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Application Process

Individuals applying to the Physical Therapy Program must apply through the PTCAS
http://www.ptcas.org/home.aspx (Central Application Service) by October 1^st, 2025

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Application Materials

1. Complete online application

2. Enter all college courses taken and GRE scores

3. Send an official transcript from each school attended (update December 2025 when transcript is available for courses in progress during time of application) to PTCAS

4. Complete PTCAS essays & documents

5. Upload your reference contact information

5. $140 Application fee (financial assistance may be available through PTCAS)

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1. PTCAS Application Home – Create a profile

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2. Select programs you want to apply to

Verify you meet requirements for each individual program. We are not all the same!

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3. Complete your personal information

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4. Complete supporting information

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1. PTCAS Application Home – Create a profile

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5. Enter all colleges attended

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6. Enter your coursework from every transcript of every college attended

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7. Match pre-requisites from your transcripts. Choose the best fit with the highest grade!

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8. Create reference request

Please inform the people you select to write your reference letters that the UNM Division of Physical Therapy cannot contact them for more information about you, they need to be thorough and include everything they want the UNM Division of Physical Therapy to know about you in their reference letter.

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9. Enter your GRE – make sure you have your official scores sent to our program (7670)

You are required to take the GRE by October 1^st,2025; however, we know it will take a few weeks for the scores to arrive in PTCAS.

If your official scores have not been received in PTCAS by November 1st, please call ETS and PTCAS to identify the delay.

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10. If Applicable, complete the NM Residency Application found in PTCAS

If you are a New Mexico Resident, please complete the NM Residency form found on our website under the application requirements page.
Upload the needed documents (3) on PTCAS

The completed form
A copy of your driver's license
A copy of your vehicle registration or other verification of residency.

***IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, YOU NEED NOT COMPLETE THE RESIDENCY FORM

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11.Check Status Often

Make sure that your official GRE are received and that your transcripts are verified by PTCAS.

If your transcripts are not verified or your official GRE is not received it can cause delays in processing your application

These transcripts are not verified

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Academic Update in December

Complete an academic update in PTCAS in December 2025, to update any classes listed as in progress in the Fall semester, if applicable.

If you are enrolled in classes in Spring of 2026, they should also be listed in PTCAS as in progress. Remember only one of those classes can be a prerequisite

�https://help.liaisonedu.com/PTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center/Submitting_and_Monitoring_Your_PTCAS_Application/Before_and_After_You_Submit_Your_PTCAS_Application/03_Updating_Your_Application

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Asynchronous Interview

In November if chosen you will be asked to complete an asynchronous interview.
Record yourself answering 4 questions.
30 seconds to read/listen to the question.
3 minutes to answer the question.

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In Person Interview

January 10^th, 2026
Discussion with students
Panel of 3 interviewers (faculty & clinicians)
Growth with skills: communication, problem-solving abilities and grit

Career services gives one-on one mock interviews – email career4u@unm.edu

Volunteer experience helpful but not required – a basic knowledge of PT issues is recommended (check APTA website and ask your LOR author)
Only the top 75-80 applicants will be offered an interview

Interview format is subject to change at any time.

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Final Selection

Offers are made to the top 30 applicants with up to 20 alternates

Strong preference is given to residents of the State of New Mexico

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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. 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). 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 those that might need tutoring early in the program to ensure they are set up to succeed as early as possible.