While looking at PT school admissions info, you may have noticed that some schools require a PTCAS application and you are thinking great what’s a PTCAS? Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) is the brain child of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and is intended to streamline the process of applying to PT school. Basically, you fill out 1 application through the PTCAS and then they send your application to all the PT programs you want to apply to.

In theory, I think this is a fantastic idea. You only have to go through the hassle of filling out one application, you only need to hound professors, physical therapists, or bosses once for a recommendation letter, and you can check the status of your application, transcripts, and recommendation letters any time online.

Unfortunately, when I took a closer look I found some definite drawbacks to the PTCAS.  The PTCAS launched in August 2008 and currently only about half of the country’s PT programs use the PTCAS so you still may have to fill out multiple applications. Many of the programs using the PTCAS also require a separate supplemental application that is sent directly to the school so again you have to fill out multiple applications.  But the biggest problem I have with the PTCAS is the application fee.  The fee for applying to 1 program is $120 and then it is $35 for each additional program you apply to. In addition, for the schools that require a supplemental application you may have to pay an additional $20-$60 fee to the school. I think it is ridiculous that a prospective student could have to pay nearly $200 just to apply to 2 schools!

I’m sure that as more schools choose to participate in the PTCAS changes will be made to the PTCAS process and hopefully the application fee will be part of that!

If some of the schools you are interested in applying to use the PTCAS, here are a few things that may help you out:

Most programs that require the PTCAS link you to the PTCAS site from their site or you can access it directly at http://www.ptcas.org/.

What you have to submit to PTCAS before your file will be processed:

• PTCAS web application
• Official Transcripts from every college or university you have attended
• PTCAS application fee ($120 for the first program and $35 for each additional program)

You want your PTCAS application, transcripts, and application fee to arrive by your program’s deadline so check back frequently to make sure PTCAS has all your info.

Once PTCAS has received your application, transcripts, and fees your application goes into the transcript verification stage.  Basically, PTCAS checks the courses on your application to what‘s on your official transcript.  PTCAS will change any minor errors and will contact you if there are any major mistakes. PTCAS will also calculate a bazillion different GPAs (ok so I think it is really like 22) for you.  This usually takes 4-5 weeks and you can login to check your status.

What you send to PTCAS if required by the program you are applying to:

• Recommendation Letters
• Foreign transcript evaluation reports (This can take 4-6 weeks so get this started as early as possible if its required to keep out of trouble!)
• PT Observation Hours form
• TOEFL scores

Don’t forget to login so you can check the status of your application materials and see what still needs to be submitted.  For example, you can check to see if one of your recommendations is missing and people get busy so you may need to remind them to fill out that recommendation letter!

What you send directly to the school if required by the program you are applying to:

• GRE Scores
• Supplemental application
• Supplemental fees

Remember to always double check admission requirements with each school you are applying to so you have the most up to date info!