Doctor of Physical Therapy
PT Clinical Education
About the DPT Clinical Education Experience
Through extensive Clinical Education Experiences, SFU DPT students develop their knowledge and skills in clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, or within homes settings. Working under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist, SFU DPT students participate in 39 weeks of Clinical Education over four different experiences.
Students must complete rotations in two different settings, at least one of which is a non-ambulatory setting (hospital, nursing home, inpatient rehabilitation facility, home health, etc.). Specialty rotations, such as pediatrics, neurology, sports, or pelvic health physical therapy, may be available to students completing their 3rd or 4th rotation, pending approval from the clinical education team and clinical availability.
SFU PT has contracts with well over 300 sites across the United States and even a site in Italy! Students work with the clinical education team at SFU PT to find clinical education experiences that meet their needs as students while also considering their interests.
Where are some of the places SFU students completed rotations?
- UPMC Rehabilitation Institutes
- Drayer Physical Therapy Institutes
- Chan-Soon Shiong Medical Center at Windber
- Kids First Physical Therapy
- Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Palo Alto VA Medical Center
- UPMC Mercy CORA Physical Therapy
- And many, many more!
Schedule of Clinical Experiences
Experience 1 (8 weeks – mid-May to mid-July): This experience takes place in the summer of the DPT 2 year and allows students to experience a general outpatient clinic. This early clinical experience lets students apply the skills they have learned in the classroom over the past year, learn from experienced clinicians, and build relationships with practices and clients in their communities.
Experience 2 (8 weeks—mid-August to mid-October): This experience takes place in the fall semester of the DPT 3 year. It may be in an outpatient, home health, or inpatient setting. At this point, students have completed their patient management curriculum and are working on integrating the information into practice.
Experience 3 (8 weeks – mid-October to mid-December): This experience takes place in the second half of the fall semester of the DPT 3 year. Students may complete a rotation in any setting, including a specialty setting. Students continue to work on integrating information into practice.
Experience 4 (15 weeks—mid-January to end of April): This final clinical education experience takes place in the spring semester of the DPT 3 year. Students may complete this rotation in any setting, including a specialty setting. The goal of this rotation is for students to be fully prepared to be entry-level generalist physical therapists upon completion!
Our Clinical Education Team
