You qualify to enter the program when you have….

• Graduated from a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program
• A professional license in the state of your residency site
• Liability insurance, either personal or through your employer
• Active membership in the APTA
• Employment at an approved clinical partner site prior to matriculation (secured after the program interview through a separate clinical partner employment interview)

The resident is required to register for the APTA Current Concepts of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy course prior to starting the program. The 12 monographs of the Current Concepts of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy course are integrated into the program’s didactic curriculum.

In addition, the resident is to enroll in three courses through the Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program, School of Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC). In the fall and summer semesters, the resident enrolls in HPDS 6111 to HPDS 6116; these are one-credit courses. The HPDS 8363: Medical Screening in Differential Diagnosis is an online three-credit spring semester course. No travel to TTUHSC campus is required for any of these three courses.

Successful completion of the following is needed by the end of the program:

1. Two (2) live patient practical examinations.
2. One (1) final written comprehensive examination.
3. Eleven (11) modular quizzes.
4. One (1) IAOM-US CSI Course
5. Eight (8) IAOM-US online courses.
6. HPDS 8363: Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Screening through the School of Allied Health, Texas Tech University Health Science Center.
7. HPDS 6111 to HPDS 6116 through the School of Allied Health, Texas Tech University Health Science Center
8. APTA Current Concepts of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy course.
9. Written case study.
10. Formal presentation.
11. Chart reviews.
12. Patient care surveys.
13. Clinical mentoring sessions.
14. IAOM-US faculty mentoring sessions.
15. 1500 patient care clinic hours.

Note: Residents must enroll in HPDS 6111–6116 (one-credit courses taken in fall and summer) and HPDS 8363 (three-credit, online spring course). These TTUHSC courses are required, delivered online, and do not require travel to the TTUHSC campus.

Why complete a residency?

1. Access accomplished mentors who work with you to enhance your abilities to clinically reason and discern, as well as to create and effectively revise plans of care in your practice decision-making.
2. Prepare to complete board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.
3. Become a leader in the field.
4. Employers rate residency-trained employees higher in domains of Leadership, Communication, Clinical Aptitude, Scholarship/Evidence-Based Practice, and Teaching.
5. IAOM-US Program retention rate is 87.5%
6. IAOM-US Program completion rate is 87.5%.
7. IAOM-US Residents’ OCS exam pass rate is 100%
8. Historically, those with residency training demonstrate higher pass rates than non-residency-trained individuals. Board Certification Examination passing rates for all specialties are 92% compared to 76% of non-residency graduates in 2020. Specific to Orthopaedic Clinical Specialty, results are the same.

References:

1. Mulligan EP. Attributes, attitudes, and motivations of personnel involved with sports physical therapy residency training. JSPT. 2021; 16(4):1145-1157.
2. Hartley GW, Rapport MJ, Osborne R, Briggs MS, Jensen GM. Residency Education: Is It Now or Never? Phys Ther. 2021 Apr 4;101(4):pzaa225.
3. Briggs MS, Whitman J, Olson-Kellogg B, Farrell J, Glaws KR, Walker JM, Clutter J, Tichenor CJ. Employer perceptions of physical therapistsʼ residency and fellowship training: insights for career development planning. Journal of Physical Therapy Education. 2019; 33, 1:40-48.

Tuition cost $13,000.

Estimated TTUHSC tuition, fees, and books—and the APTA Current Concepts course—are listed in the ABPTRFE Financial Fact Sheet under Curriculum Costs; they are not part of program tuition or program fees.
TTUHSC rates are set by TTUHSC and may change.

The APTA Current Concepts course fee is reimbursed by the Residency Program upon successful registration and completion per program policy.

Financial aid is not available; payment plans are offered. Some clinical partners may cover part or all program costs—contact IAOM‑US to discuss options.

Download: Financial Fact Sheet & Cost Calculator.

IAOM-US will assist residents with placement with an approved IAOM-US Residency clinical partner, which may require the resident to relocate to the clinical partner site. The ultimate decision to hire a resident remains with the clinical partner. Post-residency hiring decisions remain solely at the discretion of the clinical partner and resident.

Residents may choose to pursue the IAOM-US Residency at their own clinical site. Clinical sites must be approved as an IAOM-US Residency clinical partner with an IAOM-US clinical mentor.

Clinicians interested in being an IAOM-US Residency clinical mentor must meet one of the following three conditions. 1). ABPTS board-certified specialist in Orthopaedics, or 2). Graduate of an ABPTRFE-accredited residency or fellowship, or 3). Minimum of three years of clinical practice in Orthopaedics. In addition, clinicians are required to submit the Mentor Abilities and Skills Competency Form and CV, which is reviewed by lead IAOM-US Residency faculty for acceptance.

Upon IAOM-US approval, clinical site information is submitted to the ABPTRFE for review.

IAOM-US clinical partners must provide a minimum of 1500 patient care hours, hire the resident for full-time employment, fulfill clinical mentor hours and requirements, and provide a variety of musculoskeletal conditions in an outpatient facility. IAOM-US Residency clinical partners determine the number of resident positions available at their site.

Contact IAOM-US to become an IAOM-US Residency clinical partner.