Early Assurance: Physical Therapy

The ECU Department of Physical Therapy offers an Early Assurance in Physical Therapy (EAPT) program for two ECU Honors College students each year.  Students who meet the requirements (below) will apply to the EAPT program in the Fall semester two years prior to the proposed start date for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program (this will typically be in their sophomore/2nd year at ECU).  Eligible students will be interviewed in early Spring semester of that same year.

As an undergraduate, you are required to maintain a “B” average. Upon graduation, you will begin the Doctor of Physical Therapy program during the 11-week summer session (May) and graduate at the conclusion of the spring semester three years later. DPT students must complete: coursework in basic sciences and clinical sciences, 32-weeks of clinical education, a research project under the supervision of a faculty member, and pass a comprehensive examination. All major areas of physical therapy practice, including musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular and pulmonary, and the integumentary system, are emphasized in the curriculum. For more information regarding the degree program please visit the Physical Therapy departmental website.

Application Requirements

By the end of Fall semester of sophomore/2nd year*, students who wish to apply for EA in Physical Therapy must:

  1. Be a North Carolina resident
  2. Be in good standing in Honors College
  3. Have overall GPA of >3.5
  4. Have completed at least 16 (preferably 20) of the 28 credits of prerequisite science courses (12 credits biology, 8 credits chemistry, 8 credits physics – see Physical Therapy website for details)
  5. Have an established relationship with PPAC
  6. Be an active member of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club
  7. Have completed the Honors College seminar “Survey of Health Careers”
  8. Have completed at least 30 hours of observation or employment in a physical therapy setting (preferably in more than one setting)

Important Notes:

  • *Students in the EAPT program are guaranteed a seat in a specific cohort (i.e., cohort starting two full years after being accepted to the EAPT program) of our Doctor of Physical Therapy three-year graduate program upon completion of their undergraduate degree. 
  • *EAPT students must matriculate in that specific cohort; alternatively, they can forfeit their EAPT seat and apply through the standard DPT admissions process for a different cohort.  
  • Advanced Placement credit will be accepted for prerequisite courses, but this is limited to one AP course in each academic area (e.g., one biology course, one psychology course, etc.)
  • Community college courses (including those taken as dual enrollment in high school) will be accepted as prerequisite courses. 
  • EAPT students must have met all requirements of the EAPT program (listed below) prior to matriculating into the DPT program.
  • EAPT students must apply to the DPT program through the ECU Graduate School in the Fall semester of their graduation year (application deadline is typically September 15th).

Application Process for EAPT

  • ECU Honors College students who meet all the above requirements will apply for the EAPT program at the end of Fall semester (typically sophomore/2nd year).
  • Interested students must
    • submit an essay re: why they have selected physical therapy.
    • complete Casper online situational judgment testing (https://takealtus.com/ )
    • provide transcripts of all post-secondary education they have completed
  • Applications will be reviewed and ranked by ECU Department of Physical Therapy faculty, and the top applicants will be invited for a face-to-face interview.  Following this interview applicants will again be ranked.
  • Two applicants will be selected for EAPT; other eligible applicants will be placed on a ranked EAPT alternate list

Requirements for EAPT Students

Students who are selected for EAPT and those on the EAPT alternate list must meet the following requirements during the remainder of their undergraduate years at ECU:

  1. Maintain good standing in ECU Honors College
  2. Maintain GPA > 3.5
  3. Complete all prerequisites (must earn a C or better) for the DPT program by the end of Fall semester of senior/4th year
  4. Complete at least 100 hours of observation or paid employment in a variety of PT settings
  5. Participate in Pre-PT Club
  6. Attend meetings with Department of Physical Therapy EAPT faculty representative as requested (at least 1x/year)
  7. During Spring semester of junior/3rd year (i.e., one full year prior to matriculation to the DPT program), meet with Department of Physical Therapy EAPT faculty representative to confirm intent to accept EAPT seat in the cohort to which they are assigned.
  8. Complete ECU Graduate School application in the June-September application cycle in the calendar year prior to their DPT matriculation year (application deadline is typically September 15th).
  9. Alternates: EAPT alternates who complete and document all the above requirements will remain eligible to move into a vacated EAPT position within their cohort (i.e., same DPT matriculation year).

Application to the DPT Program

  • EAPT students will confirm their intent to accept their seat in the ECU DPT program during the Spring semester of their 3rd/junior year at ECU.
    • Though not legally binding, it is understood that students receiving an EAPT position will not apply to other DPT programs.
  • EAPT alternates will apply to the DPT program (through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application System, PTCAS) and to the ECU Graduate School the June-September application cycle of their senior year.
  • EAPT students and alternates who fail to meet all of the requirements stated above will lose their EAPT position but may apply to the DPT program through the standard DPT admissions process if they choose to do so.