Physical Therapy Undergraduate Admissions

Students apply to Lebanon Valley College by submitting either the Common Application or the LVC Application and other required materials for admission to the college. On the application, students must indicate Physical Therapy as their intended major. Acceptance into the College is a prerequisite for acceptance into the physical therapy program.

The Department established two distinct phases by which first-year students may apply:

• Guaranteed Freshman Admission
• Early Professional Admission

Guaranteed Freshman Admission Phase

Approximately 45 freshmen are accepted to the program by way of the Guaranteed Freshman Admission phase.  This phase is a 6-year guaranteed direct admit into the physical therapy program. After the third undergraduate year of study at LVC, students must have met the following requirements during those first three years in order to matriculate to the professional phase of the program:

• 3.0 GPA cumulative average at the end of their third undergraduate year.
• 2.8 GPA in all science courses (as delineated in each cohort’s catalog).
• Exposure to physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of at least 60 observation hours in at least two PT practice settings.

Graduates of this 6-year direct admit program will receive a Bachelor of Exercise Science degree and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Students who do not meet the requisite standards to continue the program may complete their undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with the others in their Exercise Science cohort.

Guidelines for Acceptance into the Guaranteed Freshman Admission Cohort

Applicants accepted into the Physical Therapy program under the Guaranteed Freshman Admission phase will be students of the highest academic quality most likely meeting the following academic standards:

• SAT at or above 1250 or ACT at or above 26*
• GPA at or above 3.5
• Top 10% of the class

Offers of admission are based on academic performance and standardized test scores. Although Lebanon Valley College is test-optional, standardized test scores are strongly encouraged for all first-year applicants to be considered for admittance to the Physical Therapy Program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis. Due to the competitive nature of our physical therapy program, students are encouraged to apply early.

Applicants not admitted into the Physical Therapy Guaranteed Freshman Admission cohort but still matriculate to LVC, may be eligible to apply for the Early Professional Admission Phase at the end of the fall semester of their third undergraduate year at LVC. Eligible students must meet the minimum requirements to apply for the Early Professional Admission Phase.

Early Professional Admission Phase

Qualified LVC Exercise Science majors may apply to the Physical Therapy Early Professional Admission phase at the end of the fall semester of their third undergraduate year. Approximately eight students will be selected from the applicant pool, based on available seats and academic quality of the applicants. This is an excellent option for applicants not admitted into the Guaranteed Freshman Admission cohort.

Guidelines for Acceptance into the Early Professional Admission Cohort

Applicants accepted into the Physical Therapy program under the Early Professional Admission phase will be students of the highest academic quality most likely meeting the following academic standards:

• 3.0 GPA cumulative average in all courses taken at LVC
• 2.8 GPA in all science courses taken at LVC
• Exposure to physical therapy as demonstrated by documented paid or volunteer experience of at least 30 observation hours, preferably in more than one PT practice setting

Acceptance into the Early Professional Admission Phase is based on academic performance and successful completion of the prerequisite coursework. Students must also pass an interview process and complete the Early Professional Admission Request Form.

The application deadline to apply for the early professional phase is December 15. Students will be informed of their acceptance no later than March 1 of their third undergraduate year at LVC. Accepted students will be asked to complete and return a reply form by April 1 to indicate their intent to continue their education at LVC as part of the Physical Therapy Early Professional Admission cohort.

Applicants not admitted into the Physical Therapy Early Professional Admission cohort might still be eligible to apply under the Traditional Professional Admission Phase after earning a Bachelor’s degree from Lebanon Valley College or from another institution if seats are available.

Physical Therapy Program Essential Requirements

There are physical, cognitive, and affective requirements for the professional phase of the program. Interested students should review these essential requirements prior to admission to the program. Requests for accommodations should be made to the department once the student is accepted.