Process to Apply for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Idaho State University has one admission deadline for acceptance to the cohort beginning Fall of 2026. The deadline for the PTCAS application is November 1. We do allow some outstanding coursework (3 courses) that must be completed by the end of the spring semester with a grade of B or higher. 

With your application via PTCAS and the Graduate School you will be considered for both the Pocatello and Meridian, Idaho campuses. Apply early! It can take up to 5 weeks for PTCAS to verify your file, once it is in "complete" status. Both locations pull from the same applicant pool. If admitted, you will be given an opportunity to select a preference for attending at either location. Campus assignments are made with consideration for the student’s request, based on ranking within the admissions process, and in accordance with class size requirements.  Each year, we admit 24 students in each location for a total of 48 students in every cohort.

Step 1: Apply through PTCAS by deadline

Apply through PTCAS

1. Register, pay and apply with Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS).
2. Send official transcripts to PTCAS. PTCAS accepts hard copies or official electronic transcripts through Credentials Solutions, Parchment Services, and National Student Clearinghouse.
3. Complete the PTCAS application which includes an essay and entry of work, volunteer, and other experiences.
4. When filling in the coursework section of the application be sure to enter courses in progress and courses that will be taken in future semesters. Failure to include these courses will lead to an "Incomplete" application.
5. Request three letters of recommendation to be uploaded into PTCAS.
   • 1 letter of reference must be from a licensed PT who has direct knowledge of you and has preferably observed you in the clinic either as a volunteer/observation hours or as an employee.
   • 1 letter must be from either an academic professor, instructor, or advisor.
6. Submit/enter Physical Therapy experience/observation verification into PTCAS.
   • You need experience from 2 different facilities with a total of 80 hours.
7. Submit your official GRE Scores to PTCAS. Send your results to GRE code 4640 for PTCAS.

Step 2: Apply to ISU Graduate School by deadline

1. Submit your application for graduate studies to the Idaho State University Graduate School. Further Admission requirements for international applicants may be found in the Graduate Catalog or in the Graduate Catalog for International Students.
2. The Graduate School application requires uploading transcripts. Follow the instructions given within the application regarding what kind of transcripts and how to upload them.
3. Pay the Graduate School application fee at the time the application is submitted in order for the application to be processed. The DPT program cannot review an application without a complete graduate school application.
4. Submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores to the ISU Graduate School. Idaho State University's GRE code is 4355.

NOTE: At the time of application, transcripts and GRE scores submitted through the Graduate School application may be unofficial, however certain features must be present for them to be accepted, including the student's name, the institution's wordmark or logo in the header, courses, credits, terms, grades, and the date(s) of any awarded degrees.

Students will be required to send the Graduate School a set of official transcripts from all institutions attended immediately after the student has been accepted to the program.

Questions about applying to the DPT program? Many questions are addressed in our FAQ. You may also email dptadmit@isu.edu or call us at (208) 282-3508.

 Questions about applying to the DPT program? Many questions are addressed in our FAQ. You may also email dptadmit@isu.edu or call us at (208) 282-3508.