Pre-Physical Therapy
Academic Preparation for Physical Therapy Schools
Physical therapists provide health care services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. 
The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home by improving the client’s strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) identifies 16 accredited physical therapy programs in Texas.
Prerequisites for these doctoral programs generally include:
- 8 hours anatomy & physiology
- 8 hours of general biology for science majors
- 3 hours exercise physiology
- 8 hours general chemistry
- 8 hours physics
- 3 hours statistics
- 6 hours psychology
- social science
- public speaking
- medical terminology
Math and science coursework are recommended for completion at 4-year institutions with upper division, science major credible, natural science coursework. Although no specific major and/or minor is specified, most successful applicants major and / or minor is within the natural sciences. Admission to an accredited Texas PT program is highly competitive. For a composite list of PT programs and their prerequisite course requirements, please click here:
The Graduate Record Exam is required for admission to all PT programs. The Centralized Application Service for Physical Therapy Schools is PTCAS. PTCAS has a wealth of information regarding the application process, PT programs and their requirements for admission.