The EA-PT Opportunity

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.

Requirements for applying for Early Assurance in Physical Therapy
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 >3.5
4. Have a prerequisite GPA >3.25
5. 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 https://pt.ecu.edu/students/prospective-students/#eligibility and scroll down to Prerequisites for details)
6. Have an established relationship with Pre-Professional Advising Center
7. Be an active member of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club
8. Have completed the Honors College seminar Survey of Health Careers
9. Have completed at least 30 hours of observation or employment in a physical therapy setting (preferably in more than one setting). Hours must be supervised by a licensed physical therapist

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).