PTA Admissions

Applications open February 1st, 2026

Admission Steps and Timeline

1. The following MUST be on file in the Registrar’s Office
   

   1. Completed Application for admission to Utah Valley University

   2. Official copy of high school transcript or G.E.D. Certificate

   3. Official copy of college transcript(s)

   4. Placement test scores as required by the university

2. Submissions
   The following must be submitted to be considered for admission to the PTA Program no later than 5 p.m. on May 15th. 
   

   1. Complete the PTA application located online at https://www.uvu.edu/chps/allied-health/physical-therapist/index.html

   2. Official college transcripts from all schools, including Utah Valley University

   3. Evidence of a minimum total of 20 hours of observation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant – observation form attached. Note the observation form will be uploaded in the documents section of the online application

   4. Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills for Allied Health (TEAS). Minimum of at least 60% (may be modified based on applicant pool)

   5. Evidence of a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA

   6. Evidence of a minimum 3.00 GPA in the general education courses required for PTA degree

   7. All pre-requisite courses must be successfully completed prior to applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Utah Valley University. All courses must be completed with a final grade of “C” or higher

   a. ZOOL 2320 Human Anatomy and ZOOL 2325 Human Anatomy Laboratory

   b. HLSC 1300 Medical Terminology and Functional Anatomy

   c. ENGL 1010 Introduction to Academic Writing or ENGH 1005 Foundations of Academic Writing

   d. MATH 1050 College Algebra or MATH 1055 College Algebra with Preliminaries or STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics. or STAT 1045 Introduction to Statistics. With algebra

   e. PSY 1010 General Psychology Modified Course or PSY 1100 Human Development Life Span

   f. COMM 1020 Public Speaking

   Note: Even though Utah Valley University is an open-admissions institution, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program must limit their enrollment due to accreditation.

3. Academic & Admission Requirements
   Acknowledge the following requirements:
   

   1. I have completed all of the prerequisite courses OR their acceptable substitutions as applicable.

   2. All of my transcripts have been successfully transferred to Utah Valley University if applicable.

   3. If English is my second language, I have the correct copy of my TOFL test report ready to upload during the submission of this application.

   4. I am currently eligible to register for classes at Utah Valley University.

   5. I will be able to attend an in-person interview on date outlined by the program.

   6. I understand that I am applying for entry into the UVU Physical Therapist Assistant Program beginning August of the year of application.

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   Post-Acceptance Requirements

   7. I understand that if I'm accepted into the PTA Program, I must successfully pass a federal background check to secure my position.

   8. I understand that if I'm accepted into the PTA Program, I must successfully pass a drug test regardless of possession of a medical cannabis card that is legal in any state.

   MEDICAL CANNABIS NOTIFICATION: In accordance with UVU Policy 548, applicants to clinical programs at UVU must pass a drug test. Students will be tested upon acceptance to a clinical program. The responsibility for passing the drug test resides with the student regardless of possession of a medical cannabis card that is legal in any state. Clinical programs reserve the right to repeat drug tests at any time during the clinical program.

   9. I understand that if I am accepted into the PTA Program, I must attend the entire MANDATORY ORIENTATION on the date and time designated by the program. I will arrive on time and remain in attendance until dismissal. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of my position in UVU's PTA Program.

   10. I understand that if I'm accepted into the PTA Program, I must make this program my first priority, from the first day of class until the last day of class each semester throughout the entirety of my participation. The UVU PTA Program cannot make accommodations to fit my work or personal schedule. If I am unable to keep this commitment at any point during my participation, I will risk forfeiting my position in UVU's PTA Program.

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   Technical and Physical Standards (see Technical Standards in Student Handbook Appendix for details)

   11. I understand that I must be able to safely and consistently lift, transfer, and assist patients, which may include lifting up to 60 pounds independently and more with assistance, as part of the physical requirements of the program and profession.

   12. I understand that I must meet the essential functions and technical standards required of a Physical Therapist Assistant, including but not limited to visual, auditory, motor, communication, and cognitive abilities.

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   Program Participation and Financial Responsibility

   13. I acknowledge that I will be responsible for all associated program costs, including but not limited to textbooks, uniforms, background checks, drug screening, health insurance, and transportation to clinical sites.

   14. I understand that clinical placements may require travel and attendance at varying hours, including early mornings and weekends, and I am responsible for reliable transportation.

   15. I acknowledge that I will be required to maintain current CPR certification for healthcare providers throughout the duration of the program.

4. Notification of Acceptance
   

   Upon submission of all required application materials, the top 25 applicants will be notified by May 31 and invited to participate in an on-campus interview at Utah Valley University.

   Following the interview process, 16 students will be selected for admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. These candidates will be notified of their acceptance by June 30 and will begin the program in August of the same year.

   Enrollment is capped at 16 students per cohort in accordance with program resources and CAPTE accreditation standards. To prevent over enrollment, the following procedures will be applied:

   · Once 16 offers of admission are accepted, the class will be considered full, and no additional students will be enrolled.

   · A ranked alternate list will be maintained. If an accepted student declines admission prior to program start, the next alternate on the list will be offered the seat.

   · All remaining applicants will be notified of their status (accepted, alternate, or denied) within 30 days of the application deadline.

   · Under no circumstance will more than 16 students be enrolled in a cohort.

   This process ensures that the PTA Program admits only the number of students for which it has adequate resources, thereby maintaining program quality and compliance with accreditation standards.

5. Interview Day
   

   Applicants who meet the initial admissions criteria and rank among the top 25 candidates will be invited to participate in an on-campus interview day at Utah Valley University. The interview day is an important part of the selection process and allows applicants to demonstrate qualities that go beyond academic performance.

   During this day, applicants will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and gain a better understanding of the program and its expectations. The interview process is designed to assess communication skills, professional behaviors, and readiness to succeed in a rigorous academic and clinical training environment.

   Participation in the interview day is mandatory to be considered for admission. Final admission decisions are based on both the applicant’s ranking and performance during this event.

6. Extra Notes

   There are many ways to earn college credit (such as concurrent enrollment, AP, CLEP, or transfer courses). However, not all types of credit can be used to meet the UVU PTA Program prerequisite requirements. 

   To avoid delays in your application, please consult with a pre-PTA advisor before assuming that your credits will count. The following information outlines the types of credit and grades that may or may not affect your eligibility to apply to the PTA Program: 

   Repeating Course Work: Repeating a course for a better grade is an option and does not affect your UVU PTA application adversely. 

   AP Credits: AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 can be accepted for prerequisite requirements. These must be posted to your transcript as credit. For purposes of calculating the GPA, a score of 3 = B+, 4 = A-, and 5 = A. 

   Course Substitutions: In order to give students, the best opportunity to have a competitive GPA, there are some courses which may be used as a substitution for a prerequisite if a higher grade was received in the substituting course and the grade in the prerequisite course meets PTA standard minimum grade. The following are examples of appropriate substitutions: 

   ENGL 1010: If ENGL 2010 or 2020 has been completed with a better grade than the ENGL 1010, that course may be substituted for the prerequisite ENGL 1010 course. 

   MATH QL: Any higher-level math class which required College Algebra as a prerequisite (except Trigonometry) may be substituted for the prerequisite Math QL course. 

   Any other course substitutions will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the PTA Program. 

    

   TEAS Test: Applicants may take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) up to two (2) times per calendar year as part of the admission requirements for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. A minimum of 30 days must elapse between testing attempts. If an applicant completes more than two attempts in a calendar year, only the first two valid scores will be considered for admission purposes. Applicants are encouraged to adequately prepare before each attempt to demonstrate their highest academic potential. 

   Any other course substitutions will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the PTA Program.