How to Retake Prerequisite Courses Strategically

Retaking a prerequisite course is one of the most common strategies for strengthening a PT school application, but it is not always straightforward. PTCAS has specific rules about how retakes affect your GPA, individual programs handle them differently, and the math of GPA improvement depends on how many credits you already have. Here is how to approach retakes strategically.

How PTCAS Handles Retakes: The Two-GPA System

This is the most important concept to understand. PTCAS calculates multiple GPAs, and retakes affect each one differently.

Cumulative GPA: Both grades always count. PTCAS does not recognize any institution's grade forgiveness, academic renewal, or grade replacement policies. If you earned a D the first time and an A the second, both grades factor into your cumulative GPA. This is true even if your school removed the original grade from your transcript.

Prerequisite GPA: You designate which attempt counts. When you match courses to prerequisite requirements in PTCAS, you choose one attempt per requirement. Most programs then use only the higher grade for their prerequisite GPA evaluation, though this varies by program (see below).

This two-tier system means retaking a course has a much larger impact on your prerequisite GPA than on your cumulative GPA. An applicant on Student Doctor Network reported their prerequisite GPA went from approximately 2.5 to 3.66 after retakes, because programs used only the higher grade for prerequisite evaluation.

When Does Retaking Make Sense?

Not every low grade warrants a retake. Here is a practical decision framework:

Must retake (C- or below): Most DPT programs require a minimum grade of C in each prerequisite. A C- does not meet this threshold at programs like GW, Creighton, and the University of Minnesota. If you have a C- or below in a required course, retaking is not optional.

Strongly consider retaking (C to C+): If your prerequisite GPA is below 3.2 and you have C or C+ grades in science prerequisites, retaking is highly recommended. A competitive prerequisite GPA is 3.5 or higher. C grades in A&P, chemistry, or physics are the most impactful courses to retake because they directly reflect readiness for the DPT curriculum.

Probably not worth retaking (B- or above): If all your prerequisite grades are B- or higher, retaking is unlikely to move the needle enough to justify the time and cost. Your energy is better spent strengthening other parts of your application or taking new upper-level courses.

Which Courses to Retake First

If you have multiple courses with low grades, prioritize in this order:

1. Anatomy and Physiology. This is the most heavily weighted prerequisite by DPT programs because it directly predicts readiness for the foundational DPT curriculum.
2. Chemistry. Second priority. Strong chemistry performance signals scientific reasoning ability.
3. Physics. Third priority.
4. Statistics and other courses. Lower priority unless a specific program requires a higher grade.

When retaking, programs expect you to earn an A. Earning a B on a retake does not send a strong signal. If you are going to invest the time and money, commit to mastering the material.

How Programs Handle Retakes Differently

This is where research pays off. Program policies range from very favorable to quite strict.

Programs That Use the Higher Grade (Most Common)

Program	Policy
Baylor	Highest grade for prerequisite GPA; both count in cumulative
SDSU	Higher grade for prerequisite GPA; both in cumulative
Pacific University	Highest grade for prerequisite GPA
University of Minnesota	Previous attempts excluded from prerequisite GPA
IU Indianapolis	Higher grade; up to 15 credit hours of retakes allowed
Hanover College	Highest grade for prerequisite; both in cumulative

Programs That Average All Attempts

Program	Policy
University of Florida	All attempts averaged into prerequisite GPA (admitted average ~3.65)
Georgia State	Averages all course attempts
Emory and Henry	Both grades count; no replacement

Programs with Retake Limits

Program	Limit
Fresno State	No more than 3 prerequisites may be repeated, each only once. 7-year recency requirement.
NYIT	Only 1 course may be retaken, only 1 time. Requires B- minimum in all science/math.

The takeaway: research every program on your list before deciding whether and where to retake. A retake that dramatically improves your prerequisite GPA at Baylor may have minimal impact at UF where all attempts are averaged.

The "Last 60 Credits" Alternative

Several programs evaluate the last 60 credit hours of your transcript separately from your cumulative GPA. If your early college grades dragged down your cumulative but your recent work is strong, targeting these programs can be a strategic alternative to retaking.

Programs that consider the last 60 credits include Baylor (as an alternative if cumulative is below 3.0), UCSF (reviews overall, last 60, and prerequisite GPAs), IU Indianapolis, University of Missouri, URI, and South College.

Where to Retake

Community College

Most programs explicitly accept prerequisites from community colleges. UNC states "the grade received is far more important than the school attended." UT Health San Antonio calculates GPA the same way regardless of institution type. CSU Northridge gives no preference to four-year institutions.

The cost savings are significant: the national average cost per 3-credit course at a community college is approximately $474, compared to $1,344 at a four-year institution. That is roughly $870 in savings per course retaken.

A small number of programs may prefer university-level science courses. Always verify with your target programs, but for most applicants, community college is a legitimate and cost-effective option.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

If you need to retake multiple courses or are a career changer missing several prerequisites, a structured post-bacc program offers advising, a cohort, and a clear timeline. Notable options include:

• Northwestern University SPS: Pre-PT certificate, evening/weekend classes, 21 months
• Brenau University: Post-bacc pre-PT program, requires 3.0 GPA
• Loyola Marymount: Pre-allied health post-bacc, 16-20 months
• Fordham University: Start any semester, evening courses
• Northeastern University: 38-month post-bacc DPT with paid co-op experience

Post-bacc programs offer structured advising and sometimes committee letters of recommendation, but individual retakes at a community college are cheaper and more flexible.

The Math: How Much Will a Retake Move Your GPA?

Retakes have diminishing returns as your total credits increase. This is the most important mathematical reality to understand.

Example with 120 credits and a 3.0 cumulative GPA:

• You retake a 3-credit chemistry course, improving from D (1.0) to A (4.0)
• PTCAS counts both attempts: 123 total credits, new quality points = 360 + 12 = 372
• New cumulative GPA: 372 / 123 = 3.024 (only a 0.024 increase)

Example with 60 credits and a 3.2 GPA:

• You retake a 4-credit A&P course, improving from C (2.0) to A (4.0)
• New total: 64 credits, new quality points = 192 + 16 = 208
• New cumulative GPA: 208 / 64 = 3.25 (a 0.05 increase)

The cumulative GPA impact is modest in both cases. But the prerequisite GPA impact can be dramatic if the program uses only the higher grade.

When new courses are better than retakes: With 120+ credits, taking new upper-level science courses and earning A grades adds quality points without the penalty of the old grade still counting in the cumulative. An A in an upper-division biochemistry or neuroscience course also impresses admissions committees more than an A in a retaken introductory course, because it demonstrates higher-level mastery.

Rule of thumb: For grades of C- and below, retake. For C or above with a high credit count, consider taking an upper-level course in that subject instead.

Course Recency: When Retakes Serve Double Duty

Many programs require science prerequisites to be completed within 7 to 10 years of enrollment. If your original course is nearing or past the recency window AND you earned a low grade, retaking addresses both problems simultaneously.

Fresno State explicitly notes that retaking an expired course does not count against their 3-course retake limit. A&P courses face the strictest recency requirements (often 5 to 6 years), while programs may be more lenient with non-science courses. See our prerequisites guide for program-specific recency policies.

How to Enter Retakes in PTCAS

When entering courses in PTCAS:

1. Enter all attempts of every course, even if your institution removed the original from your transcript
2. Mark each attempt with a Special Classification of "Repeated"
3. Enter full credit values and grades for all attempts exactly as they appear on official transcripts
4. In the Transcript Review step, select "Yes" for repeated courses
5. When matching courses to prerequisites, designate the attempt with the higher grade

For failed courses, enter credits attempted (not zero), regardless of how credits appear on your transcript. Missing or incorrectly entered courses will cause your application to be placed on hold during verification.

How Admissions Committees View Retakes

Retaking is generally viewed positively, with some nuance. Programs see it as showing commitment and determination, especially when framed around mastering the material rather than chasing a grade.

However, excessive retaking can raise concerns. Professional programs generally expect students to perform well the first time. An A in a retake does not carry quite the same weight as an A earned originally or an A in a new upper-level course. Programs that average all attempts (like UF) implicitly treat retakes with more scrutiny.

A practical tip from multiple advisors: call the admissions director at your target programs and ask about their retake policy for your specific situation. They tend to be straightforward about what they recommend and what their program values.

Building Your Strategy

1. Pull up the PTCAS prerequisite comparison tool and identify which courses your target programs require.
2. Research each program's retake and GPA policy. Check whether they use the higher grade, average all attempts, or have retake limits.
3. Calculate your current PTCAS GPAs (cumulative, science, prerequisite) and identify where you fall relative to admitted student averages.
4. Prioritize retakes by impact: A&P first, then chemistry, then physics.
5. Consider the math. If you have 120+ credits, one retake barely moves your cumulative GPA. New upper-level courses may be more strategic.
6. Check recency requirements. If courses are nearing expiration, retaking solves two problems at once.
7. Target "last 60 credits" programs if your recent work is stronger than your overall record.
8. Retake at a community college unless your target programs specifically prefer university coursework. The cost savings are significant.

Retaking is a tool, not a guarantee. Use it strategically alongside other application strengthening efforts, and always research your specific target programs before investing the time and money.

---

For the full picture on prerequisites, see our complete prerequisites guide. For GPA calculation details, see the PTCAS section of our application guide.