The Doctor of Physical Therapy professional programs are committed to ensuring that each student is well prepared and safe to administer evaluative tests and treatment interventions before advancing to clinical experiences. There is a risk that psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills mastered in the program may decline during an extended absence (defined as 2 or more consecutive semesters). Therefore, return to the professional program (defined as enrollment or re-enrollment in one or more courses) after the extended absence will require that a clinical skills development plan be designed to make sure the student has the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to safely advance and be successful in the program. This plan will be developed by the academic and clinical education advisors in consultation with the core faculty, and will be co-signed by the Department Chair and Assistant/Associate Dean in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

The student development plan for the semester he/she returns may include, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

Part 1 – Demonstration of successful retention of clinical reasoning and psychomotor skills mastered from previous course content (last successfully completed semester in the program).

• The student will be registered for PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy (1 credit).
• No later than the first week of the semester the student will take and pass the comprehensive clinical competence performance exam and the comprehensive computer exam for content covered in the last semester successfully completed.

• If the student is unsuccessful in passing the above exam requirements of PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy within the first week, then a special plan will be developed. This special plan may include the requirement to:
  1. restart the professional curriculum; or,
  2. develop a remediation plan of action for mastery of the relevant material and clinical skills in order to retake and pass the above exams by the midterm of the enrolled semester.
• If the student is not successful in meeting the requirements for PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy as outlined above, then a grade of “F” will be assigned. If this is the student’s second “F” in the professional program, then the student will be dismissed from the program.

Part 2 – Demonstration of successful mastery and integration of clinical reasoning and psychomotor skills for the semester the student is currently enrolled (if not enrolled in the full-time curriculum for the semester).

• The student will be registered for PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy(0 to 6 credits).

• As part of PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy the student must attend and actively participate in designated courses in the professional curriculum as well as pass any competency and practical exams associated with those courses.

• The student must take and pass the comprehensive clinical practice exam and the comprehensive computer exam for the current semester of enrollment.
• The student must engage in and successfully complete supervised clinical experiences usually required for the current semester of enrollment.
• If the student is not successful in meeting the requirements for PTD 590 Directed Study in Physical Therapy outlined above, then a grade of “F” will be assigned. If this is the student’s second “F” in the professional program, then the student is dismissed from the program.