Clinical Residency Program
The Next Generation of
Clinical Excellence.
IAOM's 12-month clinical residency is a structured, mentorship-driven program that transforms promising physical therapists into orthopedic manual therapy experts — whether embedded inside your institution or pursued as an individual clinician.
Request Residency ConsultationWho It's For
Built for Institutions & Individuals
Whether you're an organization building clinical depth or an individual PT advancing your career, the IAOM Residency is designed for you.
Individual PTs
Advance your own clinical career with a structured, mentorship-driven residency — earning OCS eligibility and expert-level orthopedic manual therapy skills.
University PT Programs
Integrate the IAOM Residency as a structured post-professional track to differentiate your DPT program and improve graduate employment outcomes.
Hospital Systems
Develop internal clinical experts and reduce reliance on external recruitment. Retain top therapists with a clear career advancement pathway.
Private Practices
Build a pipeline of expert clinicians from within. The residency model identifies and develops your highest-potential therapists.
Why IAOM Residency
What Sets This Program Apart
Program Results
Why Complete a Residency?
Work with expert mentors who sharpen your clinical reasoning and guide you in developing and revising effective plans of care.
Build a strong foundation to sit for the Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) examination and advance as a leader in orthopaedic physical therapy practice.
Employers consistently report higher ratings for residency‑trained clinicians in leadership, communication, clinical aptitude, evidence‑based practice, and teaching.
IAOM‑US Residency Outcomes (2020–2025)
Program retention rate: 87.5% (7/8 residents retained; includes cohorts 2020–2025, with 1 voluntary withdrawal)
Completion rate: 87.5% (7/8 residents successfully completed the program)
First attempt passing rate on OCS exam: 100% (all graduating residents passed on their first attempt)
This highlights the program's exceptional effectiveness in preparing residents for board certification and long-term success in orthopaedic physical therapy practice.
OCS Examination Passing Rates—Orthopaedics
| Examination Year | Non-residency Graduates | Residency Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 79% | 87% |
| 2020 | 67% | 86% |
| 2021 | 78% | 91% |
| 2022 | 71% | 85% |
| 2023 | 86% | 93% |
| 2024 | 85% | 96% |
| 2025 | 84% | 93% |
References:
- Mulligan EP. Attributes, attitudes, and motivations of personnel involved with sports physical therapy residency training. JSPT. 2021; 16(4):1145-1157.
- 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.
- 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.
Clinical Partners and Locations
Our IAOM-US Orthopaedic Residency is currently offered in partnership with outstanding outpatient orthopedic practices across the country.
Kansas City, MO
Five Locations in Alaska
Richfield, OH
How Clinical Placement Works
IAOM-US assists residents with placement at an approved IAOM-US Residency clinical partner, and in some cases this may require relocation to the clinical site.
The decision to hire a resident and any post-residency employment decisions remain solely with each clinical partner and the resident.
Residents may also pursue the IAOM-US Residency at their own clinical site, as long as the site is approved as an IAOM-US Residency clinical partner with an IAOM-US clinical mentor.
IAOM-US clinical partners must:
- Provide a minimum of 1500 patient care hours for the resident
- Hire the resident for full-time employment
- Fulfill required clinical mentor hours and expectations
- Offer a broad mix of musculoskeletal conditions in an outpatient setting
Each IAOM-US Residency clinical partner determines the number of resident positions available at its site.
Become a Clinical Partner
If your clinic is interested in partnering with IAOM-US to host an Orthopaedic Residency, please contact info@iaom-us.com
Program Leadership & Application
Meet the Team & How to Apply
Program Leadership
How to Apply
Submit all materials via RF-PTCAS by April 30, 2027. Required materials:
- Complete RF-PTCAS web-based application
- Letter of intent to apply for the residency
- Current resume including professional experience
- Two (2) letters of recommendation
- Responses to essay questions
Important Dates
- Applications open: September 15, 2026
- Applications due: April 30, 2027
- Final decisions: Within 6 weeks of deadline
- Prerequisites due: August 1
- Program start date: August 15
Get Started
Request a Residency Consultation
Tell us about your institution and goals. An IAOM residency specialist will reach out within one business day.