PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) OBSERVATION HOURS

As part of the PTCAS application, you will enter the information about your paid or volunteer physical therapy (PT) observation hours, if PT experience is required by one or more of your designated PT programs. If you are a physical therapy assistant (PTA), enter your paid PT experience in this section. Paid experience may or may not be accepted by your designated PT programs. If you have observed a physical therapist in more than one setting, select the Add A New Entry button to enter each additional experience. You can NOT make edits to this section after you e-submit your PTCAS application.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Not all PT programs require PT hours or a signed form as part of the admissions process. Review the online PTCAS Directory pages for program-specific requirements. PTCAS will not determine if you met the minimum observation requirements for your designated PT programs.

SIGNED VERIFICATION OF HOURS

If a program requires the physical therapist to verify your observation hours, you must follow the steps below:

• Enter your observation hours on your PTCAS application.
• For each PT observation experience, print one copy of the PTCAS form(s) for each designated PT program that requires verification.
• Deliver the forms to the appropriate physical therapist(s) who will review your hours and sign the form.
• Mail the signed PT hours form directly to your PT programs, as required. DO NOT MAIL TO PTCAS.

You are strongly encouraged to verify your observation hours with the physical therapist before you e-submit your final PTCAS application so that you can edit this section and print a revised form, if needed. The data on the signed form should match your PTCAS application.

ITEMS ON PTCAS APPLICATION

Name of Facility - Enter the formal name of the clinic, hospital, or PT facility in which you observed or worked with a physical therapist.

Name of Physical Therapist - Enter the name of a licensed physical therapist who supervised you during the observation experience and/or can verify your PT observations hours. If the physical therapist will also complete a letter of reference on your behalf, you must also enter the individual's information in the REFERENCE section.

PT License Number - Enter the state licensure number for the physical therapist entered above. If not available, leave item blank. If verification of hours is required, ask the PT to complete the license number field.

State of PT License - Enter the state in which the physical therapist license was received. If not available, leave item blank. If verification of hours is required, ask the PT to complete the state of PT license field.

Street Address of Facility -Enter the business mailing address for the facility.

PT Email Address - Enter the business email address for the physical therapist entered above. If not available, leave item blank. If verification of hours is required, ask the PT to complete the email address field.

PT Phone Number - Enter a daytime phone number for the physical therapist or PT facility entered above.

Paid or Volunteer Experience - Indicate if it was a paid or volunteer experience.

Type of Experience - Select inpatient or outpatient experience. An inpatient facility is generally located in a hospital or rehabilitation clinic that admits patients overnight. An outpatient facility is generally located outside of a hospital setting.

Select the PT Setting - Select one setting from list. If “Other”, describe setting. If you experienced multiple settings with the same PT, add a new entry for each experience separately in this section.

• Acute Care
• Private Practice
• Ambulatory Care
• Rehab/Sub Acute Rehab
• Extended Care Facility /Nursing Home/Skilled Nursing Facility
• School/Pre-school
• Federal/State/County Health
• Wellness/Prevention/Fitness
• Industrial/Occupational Health
• Other

Indicate Physical Therapy Specialty Area(s) Observed (check all that apply). Enter the number of hours observed in each specialty area.

• Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
• Clinical Electrophysiology
• Geriatrics
• Neurology
• Orthopaedics
• Pediatrics
• Sports
• Women’s Health
• Other

Total Number of Hours Over Span of Experience - The PTCAS application will automatically tally your total number of hours at this facility based on the information provided in the previous question.

Start Date - Enter the month and year of your start date.

End Date - If experience is in-progress, enter the anticipated end date or leave item blank, as appropriate.