PTACAS Program User Guide

Cycle Timeframes

Applicant Portal

The Applicant Portal opens in mid-September and closes in late August. You can view the specific cycle dates, including final processing dates (e.g., last date to submit transcripts, last date to request letters of recommendation, etc.), on the PTACAS Application Cycle Dates page.

Configuration Portal

Between mid-May and early August, configurations are entered into the prelaunch environment. The account team and APTA review submitted configurations in August.

[CAS NAME]

You can view new applicants shortly after the new cycle opens in mid-September.

Program Participation Requirements

APTA requires all programs to designate two contacts at your institution who will receive all communication from APTA and PTACAS, including the configuration, application, and [CAS NAME] launch notifications.

Applicant Portal

The first three sections of the PTACAS application (i.e., Personal Information, Academic History, and Supporting Information) compose the core application. They contain questions that are commonly asked of applicants across all participating programs, such as an applicant's biographic information, standardized test scores, and experiences. The fourth section of the application is Program Materials, which is customized by you through the Configuration Portal (discussed in the next section).

You can access the PTACAS application and PTACAS Applicant Help Center to review the applicant experience. You can also create a test application in the Applicant Portal; we recommend creating a new account and adding "test" to your name (e.g., TestJohn TestDoe).

For a general overview of the applicant experience, review the following documents:

Applicant Processing Reference Guide: learn how applicants move through the application and Liaison processes applicant materials, such as transcripts and official test scores.
Application Statuses Reference Guide: review what each application status means and how you can interact with applicants at different stages.
- Review the requirements for the PTACAS Complete application status.
PTACAS Quick Start Guide and FAQs: a suggested timeline for completing and submitting the application, links to important pages including cycle dates and fees, and a FAQs section.

You can direct any applicant inquiries related to the application to PTACAS Customer Service.

Configuration Portal

Use the Configuration Portal Quick Start Guide to make sure you configure your program(s) efficiently and completely in the prelaunch environment. Be sure to check out your CAS's configuration options and review the best practices found throughout. If any optional sections of the application are required for your program (e.g., experiences, test scores, etc.), you'll want to note this on your program home page.

Once you've configured your program, you'll need to have it approved by the account team and APTA before it is available to applicants. If your program is reviewed after the cycle launches, APTA will approve it.

Review the Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses table below to learn how your transcript and coursework requirements affect the applicant's Application Status and the GPAs provided to you.

Program Transcript and Coursework Requirements and Application Statuses

This table is from the PTACAS Applicant Help Center. All links below will redirect you to that help center.

[CAS NAME]

Review the [CAS NAME] Manual for any questions related to working in [CAS NAME]. The Reference Guides and [CAS NAME] Training and Support sections are additional resources as you configure [CAS NAME] for your needs. Documents commonly requested include:

Application Coupons Reference Guide: learn how to request coupons to offset application fees and disperse them to applicants. To purchase coupons, use the Coupon Code Payment Gateway.
Data Dictionaries and Master Code Lists: a comprehensive list of all fields available in the Export Manager and Report Manager, including associated lookup tables.
Deferring Applicants via Transfer Settings: learn how to transfer deferred applicants from one cycle to the next.
Integration Help Center and WebAdMIT API: learn how to set up an API and schedule automatic data exports from [CAS NAME] into your SIS/ERP.
Transfer Settings Guide: a review of how programs and templates built in [CAS NAME] are carried forward each cycle.

The Release Notes feature new enhancements in the Applicant Portal, Applicant Gateway, Configuration Portal, Liaison Letters, and [CAS NAME], in addition to upcoming training opportunities.

For any questions, contact the Client Support Specialist Team.

Cycle Enhancements

2023-2024

The table below contains enhancements for PTACAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal	Section	Enhancement Details	Implementation	Availability
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Release Statement	New release statements were added: Pre-Submission Release of Information Total Cost of Education Acknowledgement	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Economic/Educational/Environmental Factors	A new Did you receive or were you eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant at any time? question was added to the Family Information section. New questions were also added to the High School Information section: Did you participate in a HOSA-Future Health Professional during high school? Were you a member of the National Society for High School Scholars (NSHSS) during High School?	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Other Information	New questions were added to the Previous Health Profession Education section: Have you previously or are you currently applying to a health professional school other than a Doctor of Physical Therapy program? Have you ever matriculated in or attended any medical school or health profession as a candidate for a professional degree?	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Supporting Information – Observation Hours	New questions were added: Experience Type Role of person(s) shadowed An Other Settings: Non-clinical Settings section was added to the Setting and Hours of Experience question.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Supporting Information – Experiences	Applicants can edit in progress experiences after they submit their application.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	Program Details	You can edit your program's deadline.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
WebAdMIT	Applicant Details Page	Applicants' licenses and certifications data is now located under the Licenses and Certification panel on the Applicant Details page. Previously, it was listed under the Achievements panel.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch

2022-2023

The table below contains enhancements for PTACAS for the cycle timeframes noted at the top of this page. Note that some sections have multiple enhancements. If an action is required by participating programs to use the enhancement, click the links under Enhancement Details to learn more. Additional enhancements may have been automatically released; review the Release Notes to learn more.

Portal	Section	Enhancement Details	Implementation	Availability
Applicant Portal	Academic History – Colleges Attended	If an applicant selects Unlisted French Speaking Canadian or Other Foreign Institution, they must complete a new required field for the college’s country. If you created exports to pull a college's country data, you must edit and select the new college country fields. Review the Country Field for Manually Entered Foreign Institutions release note for more information.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Fee Waivers	If an applicant is eligible for a fee waiver but the fee waiver fund is depleted, then applicants can be alerted that they qualified for the fee waiver even though they could not be awarded one.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Extended Profile	A new Extended Profile feature was added, which are question(s) an applicant must answer after they create their application and before they can select programs or complete any part of the application. The Extended Profile includes the Program Plan/Intent to Apply question.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Biographic Information	The Sex question was updated to Legal Sex. Additionally, a Preferred Pronouns question was added.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Other Information	The Felony question was removed.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Personal Information – Release Statement	The release statement was updated to reflect current application behavior.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Supporting Information – Experiences	Applicants can edit in progress experiences after they submit their application.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Applicant Portal	Chatbot	Liaison has partnered with Ada to offer an AI chatbot. The chatbot, nicknamed Cassie, leverages an API with CXone Expert, which hosts the CAS-specific Applicant Help Centers. Applicants can access this chatbot once they are logged in to the application. The chatbot responds with information and links to the CAS-specific Applicant Help Center and, if needed, directs the applicant to live support with customer service.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available now
Applicant Portal	Coupon Codes	You can offer organization-specific coupon codes to applicants. Applicants can only use the coupon for a program at your organization.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
Configuration Portal	College Transcripts	You can select different requirements for domestic transcripts and foreign transcripts or evaluations.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Organization Details and Program Details	You can preview your programs in the application using the Preview feature and continue making edits as necessary.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Organization Details	You can only access the Add Program and Copy Program buttons in the Configuration Portal prelaunch environment. Additionally, instead of rebuilding your program in the prelaunch environment, you can import your program from a previous cycle's production environment into the prelaunch environment. You can access the Import from Previous Cycle button in the Configuration Portal prelaunch environment. Visit the Import Your Programs page for more information.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Configuration Portal	Program Details	You can edit the Program Code program attribute, which may be useful for importing program data into your Student Information System (SIS).	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available now
Liaison Letters	Evaluation Form	The Relationship and Physical Therapy Information sections were combined into one section.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Applicant Details Page List Manager Export Manager	You can view the observation hours facility's Address 2 field under the Experiences panel. This field is also available in the List Manager and Export Manager.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Clipboard	You can now add multiple applicants to your Clipboard by uploading a CSV file of their CAS IDs. Review the Using the Clipboard page for more information.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Decision Codes	A new Deferral Decision Code is available that you can use to carry forward applicants from one cycle to the next. Review the Deferring Applicants via Transfer Settings page for more information. Additionally, the Withdrew After Offer Made - Deposit Forfeited Decision Code was renamed to Withdrew After Offer Accepted - Deposit Forfeited.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	In Progress Applicants Search Page	CASs can now create a custom Program Plans question and answer values that are available in: The In Progress Applicant search page as a filter. Pre-configured exports for application statuses that you have partial viewing rights to. The Applicant Header, List Manager, and Export Manager.	No action required by participating programs to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	PDF Manager	If you create a list that searches for applicants based on any field in the Designations field grouping (e.g., Designation, Application Status, etc.), you can now extract the full application PDFs that adhere to your list's criteria. For more information, see the PDF Manager page.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch
WebAdMIT	Export Manager List Manager	The Applicant Gateway and Evaluator Address field groupings and associated fields were removed. Be sure to review your existing lists and exports to review and update your criteria, if applicable.	Action required by participating programs choosing to use this enhancement.	Available at cycle launch