Residency Program

Clinical Orthopedic Residency at Physical Therapy Specialists

At Physical Therapy Specialists, our Clinical Orthopedic Residency offers licensed physical therapists a structured, evidence-informed pathway to clinical excellence. Grounded in our mission, the program provides an immersive and comprehensive educational experience that emphasizes advanced orthopedic clinical reasoning, manual therapy, patient-centered care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Residents benefit from one-on-one mentorship, hands-on clinical training, and dedicated time for didactic learning—all within a supportive and intellectually rigorous environment. Our goal is to cultivate advanced practitioners who not only deliver high-quality care for complex orthopedic conditions, but also grow into compassionate leaders and advocates for the profession

hrough this residency, participants will refine critical thinking, expand their therapeutic skill set, and gain the confidence to make a lasting impact—both in their communities and in the field of orthopedic physical therapy.

Residency Outcomes: The residency has no official outcome numbers at this time as it is undergoing Initial Accreditation.

Prerequisite Qualifications

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree or equivalent, or currently enrolled in the final semester of a CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Active licensure to practice physical therapy in the state of Connecticut (or anticipated licensure if currently enrolled in the final semester of a CAPTE-accredited program).
Applicants who have previously held licensure in Connecticut or other states must not have a license under suspension, revocation, probation, or any ongoing disciplinary investigation or inquiry.
All applicants must hold current CPR certification and provide proof of certification to the Residency Program Coordinator prior to program start.

Application Process

Complete the online application form on RF-PTCAS. Which includes:
Submit official transcripts, licensure documentation, and a current resume/CV.
Provide at minimum two letters of recommendation, preferably from supervising clinicians or mentors specializing in orthopedics.
Submit short essays based on the prompts.
Application due date is listed on RF-PTCAS.
The admissions committee will review applications and invite qualified candidates for interviews.
Final candidates will be invited for a second interview and shadowing experience.
Selected candidates will receive an official offer of acceptance.