ACHE's Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Fort Smith uses PTCAS and holistic admissions. It has no minimum cumulative GPA. Casper is optional, and applicants may use the traditional or licensed allied health professional pathway. The full-time curriculum totals 123 credits over three years.
- Program
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Credential
- DPT
- Location
- Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
- Casper
- Optional (recommended)
- Next deadline
- October 1, 2026 (Priority application deadline)
- Interview
- Group interview
- Seats
- Up to 40 students annually
- Length
- 3 years full-time
Casper Requirement for Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy
Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy recommends Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle but does not require it: applications are considered with or without a score.
- Languages
- English
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Casper is optional; ACHE strongly prefers submission. Take it during the current application cycle and submit it by the date you submit your application.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- PTCAS
- Applications open
- June 15, 2026
- Application fee
- $175 for the first PTCAS program and $75 for each additional program; ACHE charges no supplemental application fee.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Priority application deadline | October 1, 2026upcoming |
| Final application deadline | April 1, 2027upcoming |
Submit official transcripts, including coursework in progress, a personal statement and two references through PTCAS. ACHE uses rolling admissions.
Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy Admissions Statistics
Period: 2025-2026 academic year
- Seats / class size: Up to 40 students annually
- Applicants: 349 applications received
- Average GPA: 3.41
- Average prerequisite GPA: 3.23
Eligibility Requirements for Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy
- Degree / credits
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, completed by May 2027.
- Citizenship
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; international students are not accepted.
Admission pathways
- Traditional Pathway: Complete the traditional prerequisite courses.
- Licensed Allied Health Professional Pathway: Applicants with a bachelor's degree and an active or renewal-eligible professional license involving direct patient care or clinical decision-making need only 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory, graded C or better, instead of the other traditional prerequisites.
Prerequisites must be from a regionally accredited institution, completed within 10 years of application, and graded C or better; pass grades are accepted. Complete them by application submission and no later than entry.
Selection Factors Arkansas College of Health Education Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Biology with laboratory | 7-8 credit hours; C or better At least 1 laboratory credit. |
| Chemistry with laboratory | 8 credit hours; C or better |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology with laboratory | 8 credit hours; C or better |
| Physics or Biomechanics with laboratory | 7-8 credit hours; C or better At least 1 laboratory credit. |
| Psychology | 3 credit hours; C or better |
GPA
- How it is calculated
PTCAS calculates overall GPA using all completed credits, including repeated courses. ACHE calculates prerequisite GPA using the highest grade earned in each repeated prerequisite.
- Minimum
- No minimum cumulative GPA
Holistic review assesses academic performance and potential beyond numbers. Upward GPA trends in science prerequisites strengthen the profile.
Admissions tests
- GRE (not required): ACHE does not require the GRE.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
No set number of physical-therapy shadowing hours is required. Hours included in an application will be considered.
Supplementary application
Submit a PTCAS personal statement and two letters of reference. For the traditional pathway, at least one letter from a physical therapist is preferred. Licensed allied health professional applicants must include a letter from someone familiar with their professional practice.
How applicants are ranked
ACHE holistically reviews completed files against its admissions criteria and may invite competitive applicants to interview. It makes offers on a rolling basis after interviews begin; applicants generally receive a decision about two weeks after their interview.
Interview Format at Arkansas College of Health Education
Format: Group interview
On-campus interview days include an approximately 50-minute small-group interview with a PT faculty member and community member, a facility tour and meetings with faculty, staff and students.
- Who is invited
- Competitive applicants whose completed files meet the admissions committee's criteria may be invited.
- When
- Select Fridays during the interview cycle.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy
- Program length
- 3 years full-time
- Structure
123 credits: 100 didactic and 23 clinical, including three full-time clinical experiences of 9, 9 and 14 weeks.
- Campuses
- Fort Smith
The plan of study includes integrated clinical experiences, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice and a capstone experience.
Campus and facilities
Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with access to regional clinical affiliations for hands-on training. The campus supports practical, competency-based learning; verify facility details on the official ACHE website.
Tuition and Funding at Arkansas College of Health Education
- 2026-2027 tuition per semester: $11,000
- 2026-2027 mandatory fees per semester: $850
- 2026-2027 tuition and mandatory fees per semester: $11,850
- Seat deposit: $500, credited toward tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe a structured progression emphasizing applied skills in kinesiology and patient management. Students report a supportive environment focused on preparing for PT practice, with forums like SDN highlighting connections among incoming cohorts. Pre-PT communities discuss accumulating observation hours; while not an explicit minimum, pre-PT forums emphasize 100+ hours. Current PT students recommend mentorship.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy Application
- Prepare transcripts, a personal statement and two references for PTCAS.
- Check that traditional-pathway prerequisites meet ACHE's course, grade and recency rules.
- If eligible for the licensed allied health professional pathway, prepare evidence of licensure and clinical responsibilities.
- Include shadowing hours if you have them; no minimum is required.
- If submitting optional Casper, take it during the current cycle by your application date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas College of Health Education Physical Therapy
Does ACHE DPT require Casper?
No. Casper is optional, though ACHE strongly prefers submission during the current application cycle by the date you apply.
What is the minimum GPA?
There is no minimum cumulative GPA; ACHE uses holistic review.
How many credits is the DPT?
The three-year, full-time program totals 123 credits.
What are the Casper dates?
Choose an available current-cycle sitting that lets you submit Casper by your application date.
Does ACHE DPT use PTCAS?
Yes. Submit your application, transcripts, personal statement and two references through PTCAS.
What prerequisites are required?
Traditional applicants need biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, physics or biomechanics, and psychology; an eligible licensed allied health professional needs only anatomy and physiology with laboratory.
Where is the program?
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Are observation hours required?
No set number is required; submitted hours are considered.
Sources
- ACHE DPT May 2027 Application Checklist
- ACHE DPT Apply
- ACHE DPT Admission Requirements
- ACHE Licensed Allied Health Professional Pathway
- ACHE Physical Therapy FAQ
- ACHE DPT Plan of Study
- ACHE 2026-2027 DPT Tuition and Fees
- PTCAS Application Fees
Last updated: September 26, 2026