IS THE MPT DEGREE ACCREDITED? The MPT degree program at LSUHSC is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association.

HOW LONG IS THE PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM AT LSUHSC? Seven full time semesters. Classes begin the summer semester and graduation is at the end of the summer semester two years later.

DO YOU ACCEPT OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS? Yes, we are authorized to accept up to 10% (approximately 4 students) of our class as out of state residents. 

WILL BECOMING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (PTA) ENHANCE MY CHANCES TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM? No. You should become a physical therapist assistant if that is the career you wish to pursue.

IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE? Yes. You can get more information about financial aid by contacting the LSUHSC School of Allied Health Professions Office of Student Affairs.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION? See the Admission Requirements above.

DO MY GRE SCORES NEED TO REACH THE OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS / DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY BY THE NOVEMBER 15 APPLICATION DEADLINE? Yes.

IF I TAKE THE GRE BY COMPUTER, WHAT IS THE LATEST DATE THAT I CAN TAKE IT AND HAVE THE SCORES REACH YOU IN TIME? We cannot answer for the testing service. The applicant will have to contact the testing service for this information.

IF I APPLIED LAST YEAR AND WAS NOT ACCEPTED, WOULD IT HELP TO RETAKE THE GRE? If an applicant retakes the GRE and scores higher than previous tests, it can only help them.

IF THE GRE IS RETAKEN, WHAT SCORES ARE USED FOR COMPUTATION? The highest scores.

WILL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION ENHANCE MY CHANCE OF ADMISSION? Letters of recommendation are discouraged. The Admissions Committee receives enough information about applicants from the Documentation of Experience forms, found in the application packet, which are completed by the physical therapist(s) who supervise(s)  the applicant during the observation/volunteer portion of application.

WHY DO YOU REQUIRE VOLUNTEER HOURS? We feel the applicant needs to spend time volunteering/observing in a physical therapy clinical setting to help assure the applicant that physical therapy is the proper career choice. Also, feedback from supervisors of volunteers assists the Admissions Committee in determining an applicant's potential for success.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEER HOURS DO I NEED? At least 60 clock hours.

WHAT TYPE OF SETTING IS BEST TO OBTAIN VOLUNTEER HOURS? We require the applicant to volunteer/observe in a physical therapy setting supervised by a licensed physical therapist. We would prefer that a major portion of experience be gained in an acute care setting due to the diversity of patients and patient care this provides. However, we realize that this is not always possible.

CAN I ATTEND THE PROGRAM ON A PART TIME BASIS? No. The courses are sequenced around a two year full time schedule. No mechanism exists for students to attend part time.

WILL I BE ABLE TO WORK WHILE IN SCHOOL? Due to the heavy class (approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday) and study schedule, we do not recommend that you work while in the program. Students have a difficult time scheduling their lives around study, class, and family without having to include a work schedule. Some students have been able to work part time on weekends on an "as needed" basis, however we do not recommend this.

WHAT SCIENCE COURSES DO YOU RECOMMEND I TAKE? See Admission Requirements.

ALTHOUGH HISTOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY ARE RECOMMENDED, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICES OR DO YOU PREFER A CERTAIN GRADE LEVEL - JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR LEVEL? We accept any advanced biology / zoology above basic introduction.

SHOULD I TAKE MORE SCIENCE COURSES THAN THOSE REQUIRED? Additional science courses would be beneficial to you if you do get accepted into the program. They would increase your knowledge of science and prepare you for the rigorous course level of the physical therapy curriculum.

WHAT TYPE OF DEGREE DO I NEED TO APPLY? You are required to have a baccalaureate degree in any field of study as long as you satisfactorily complete the prerequisites.

HOW MANY APPLICANTS WERE THERE THIS YEAR? Approximately 110. HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED? We accept a maximum of 36 students.

WHAT IS THE ALTERNATE LIST? When the class is selected, an alternate group of applicants is also selected. Applicants from this list may be called upon to fill a vacancy if a selected applicant decides not to accept a position in the class.

I WAS IMMATURE MY FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE AND DID POORLY. DO YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT I DID MUCH BETTER IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS? Yes, we look for academic "trends" and will look more favorably on a student who has done well in recent courses. We do accept academic amnesty granted by other colleges and universities.

I DIDN'T GET ACCEPTED LAST YEAR. MAY I MEET WITH A FACULTY MEMBER TO DISCUSS MY APPLICATION? We recommend, if you have questions, to attend one of the Informational Sessions.

DO YOU HAVE COUNSELING REGARDING PREREQUISITE COURSES? If you are not sure about prerequisite courses, check the Admission Requirements above. These are the official requirements and may differ from what you might be told. The Informational Sessions are used to answer any questions potential applicants have regarding the physical therapy program including prerequisite course questions. These Sessions are also used to explain the application process and answer any other questions the potential applicant might have. The Informational Sessions are held on the last Friday of April, May, June, July, and August. If you are unable to attend an Informational Session and have questions regarding prerequisite courses that were not answered by reading the Admissions Requirements, you may call the Physical Therapy Department for clarification.

DO I HAVE TO GET MY DEGREE FROM A UNIVERSITY IN THE LSU SYSTEM? No. You can take the prerequisite courses at any accredited college or university in the United States. We recommend taking at least one full semester of prerequisites at a major university.