Clinical Education

Binghamton University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program aims to create and maintain a high-quality clinical education program that supports students in realizing their goals, prepares students to become entry-level clinicians and adheres to Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards.

The two main components of the DPT clinical education program are: 

Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE)

  • ICE are part-time experiences designed to prepare students for their clinical full-time experiences. 
  • These opportunities are designed for students to develop the essential skills of a physical therapist, including professionalism, empathy and communication, while gaining an appreciation for challenges their future patients may experience.
  • Students will engage with people who may be representative of future patients/clients, their families or professionals providing the service. 

Integrated clinical experiences are components of two courses taken during the student’s first academic year:

Course

When taken

DPT 614: Introduction to Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation/ICE I

Year 1, fall 

DPT 625: Special Populations II, Clinical Management of the Older Adult/ICE II

Year 1, spring 

Full-time Clinical Education Experiences

Students will participate in no less than 30 weeks of clinical education experiences created to provide them with opportunities to apply didactic material. Students will work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a variety of settings. The didactic curriculum is designed to prepare students for specific clinical education experiences. Students are required to participate in one acute care type experience (inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health or acute inpatient rehab) and one outpatient experience. 

Full-time clinical education experiences are components of three courses taken during the student’s second and third academic years:

Course/credits When taken Duration Eligibility

DPT 692: Clinical Education I
(4 credits)

Year 2, summer 

10-week, full-time experience

participation based on academic standing

DPT 694: Clinical Education II
(4 credits)

Year 3, summer 

10-week, full-time experience

participation based academic standing and successful completion of DPT 692

DPT 696: Clinical Education III
(6 credits)

Year 3, spring 

12-week, full-time experience

participation based on academic standing and successful completion of DPT 694

Every effort will be made to assist students to achieve their personalized goals based on site and clinical instructor availability. The clinical education offerings will evolve as the Division of Physical Therapy identifies and collaborates with new clinical sites to enhance offerings to our students.