PTCAS Opens Today: Your First Week Action Plan

The day PTCAS opens is exciting, and it can also feel overwhelming. With so many sections to complete and deadlines to track, having a clear plan for your first week makes the difference between a smooth start and a stressful scramble. Here is exactly what to do and in what order, with the processing times that explain why sequence matters.

Before PTCAS Opens

If you have been following our PTCAS application timeline, you should already have these ready:

Your personal essay drafted and reviewed by 3 to 4 people (see our personal statement guide)
Recommenders identified and asked (see our letters of recommendation guide)
Your program list finalized using the PTCAS Directory
Personal copies of your official transcripts for reference during course entry
GRE completed and scores ready to send (if required by any of your target programs)
Fee waiver requested if eligible (deadline May 29, must request before submitting)

Day 1-2: The Critical First Steps

Complete "Colleges Attended" Immediately

This is the most important first step. PTCAS cannot post transcripts until this section is complete. List every institution you attended, even for a single course. Include community colleges, study abroad programs, and dual enrollment coursework from high school.

Order Official Transcripts

Do this the same day you complete Colleges Attended. Transcripts take up to 5 business days to post after PTCAS receives them. Electronic transcripts via Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse are accepted and typically faster than mail.

One transcript per institution is sufficient, even if you are applying to multiple programs. Mail transcripts go to: PTCAS Transcript Processing Center, PO Box 9112, Watertown, MA 02471.

Set Your FERPA Waiver

Before requesting any references, you must decide whether to waive your right to view recommendation letters. This decision is binding and cannot be changed. Most advisors strongly recommend waiving access. Programs may view non-waived references with more skepticism.

Day 2-3: Set Up References

Add your recommenders in the Program Materials section for each program. References are program-specific (not global), so you must add them to each school individually.

Your recommenders will receive an email from support@ptcas.myliaison.com with a link to complete their reference through Liaison Letters. Warn them to check their spam folder. Recommenders can opt to reuse their letter for subsequent program requests, so they typically only need to write once.

Day 3-5: Send GRE Scores

If any of your target programs require the GRE, send scores now. Each program has its own PTCAS GRE code (there is no universal PTCAS code). Look up codes in the PTCAS Directory. ETS delivers scores in approximately 5 business days. Make sure your name and date of birth match exactly between your ETS and PTCAS accounts.

Day 3-7: Begin Course Entry

This is the most time-consuming part of the application. You must enter every course from every institution: lectures, labs, withdrawals, repeated courses, PE, orientation credits. Use your official transcript as your reference document (not memory or an unofficial copy).

Key rules:

Enter courses under the institution where originally taken, not where credits transferred
Match the exact prefix, number, title, credits, and grade from your transcript
For failed courses, enter credits attempted (not zero)
For withdrawals, enter zero credits

This step typically takes several hours depending on how many institutions you attended. Do not rush it. Course entry errors are the most common reason applications are returned as "Undelivered" during verification. See our transcript tips guide for the most common mistakes.

If you prefer, the Professional Transcript Entry service ($85 to $160) has specialists enter your courses for you, but it adds 10+ business days of processing and you must approve their entries.

Week 1: Enter Observation Hours

Enter each observation experience with facility name, dates, setting type, patient populations observed, total hours, and supervising PT contact information. Only hours supervised by a licensed PT count. See our observation hours guide for documentation details.

Week 1: Paste Your Essay

Copy your finalized essay from a plain text editor (not Word) into the PTCAS text box. PTCAS strips all formatting (bold, italics, tabs). Use double returns for paragraph breaks. Verify the character count stays within the 4,500-character limit. The essay cannot be edited after submission.

Week 1-2: Review Supplemental Requirements

Many programs require supplemental materials beyond the core PTCAS application: additional essays, program-specific questions, fees, or forms. Supplemental deadlines may differ from PTCAS deadlines. Review each program's requirements now so nothing catches you off guard.

Week 2-3: Final Review and Submit

Before submitting, review every section of your application:

All institutions listed with transcripts ordered
All courses entered accurately against official transcripts
Observation hours complete with PT verification information
Essay finalized and character count confirmed
References requested for each program
GRE scores sent (if applicable)
Supplemental materials reviewed

PTCAS recommends submitting 6 to 8 weeks before your earliest deadline. For programs with rolling admissions (like Baylor and UConn), earlier submission means first consideration for available seats.

Processing Times to Plan Around

Item	Timeline
Transcript posting	Up to 5 business days after receipt
GRE score delivery	~5 business days
PTE course entry	Up to 10 business days
Verification (early cycle)	A few days to 2 weeks
Verification (peak: Sept-Nov)	4-5 weeks
Reference completion	Depends on your recommender

The single most important timing principle: count backwards from your earliest deadline and add buffer at every step.

For the complete PTCAS walkthrough, see our PTCAS application guide. For the full timeline, see our month-by-month application checklist.