Physical Therapy Clinical Education at MUSC
About the Experience
Students will gain experience in various settings throughout the program based on their interests. Before the clinical practicum experience, students will engage in immersive clinical experiences and observations as volunteers in community activities like the CARES Therapy Clinic (in person or through telehealth), medical mission trips, and more. During the clinical practicums, students engage in direct patient care supervised by a licensed physical therapist.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, new students will complete the program in 8 semesters instead of 9. This change in curriculum reduces the number of clinical experiences in the program from 4 to 3 rotations.
For Current DPT Students
Students entering the DPT program in the 2024-2025 academic year and earlier complete four clinical practicums throughout the program. The first practicum is an eight-week outpatient orthopedic experience beginning in the second year. In the fall of year three, students complete two 10-week practicums and a full-time 12-week clinical placement during the last semester of the program.
For Future DPT Students
Students entering the DPT program in the 2025-2026 academic year or later complete three clinical practicums throughout the program. The clinical practicums begin in the fall of year three with two 10-week practicums and a full-time 12-week clinical placement in the last semester of the program.
Where do students go?
Our DPT program, in both residential and hybrid formats, has a significant number of clinical placement contracts throughout the country. Students should be prepared to complete clinical practicums in locations other than where they live and anticipate traveling to other locations across the U.S., including South Carolina. Like other programs, students must secure their housing for clinical education placements, and this should be accounted for in the cost of living during these final two semesters of the program.
Read our clinical education FAQs.
For Residential DPT Students
Residential students in the DPT program must have one inpatient experience, one outside of the Charleston tri-county area, and the remaining placement(s) are assigned based on the student's interests. The program follows a lottery process for clinical site selection. Students make their top selections and will be matched to one of their ten picks. Some of the more competitive sites require an application process.
For Hybrid DPT Students
Because Hybrid DPT students reside nationwide, our clinical education team works with individual students to determine the locations they prefer for clinical placements. There is still a lottery system. However, our clinical education team works with each student to ensure they get the required time within a variety of settings required by accreditation to gain relevant practice, feedback, and skills to become an entry-level therapist.
For Clinical Instructors
Become a Clinical Instructor
You can help prepare future physical therapists and make an impact on our profession. The Division of Physical Therapy at MUSC is always looking for new opportunities to provide clinical instruction for our students. We are currently seeking clinical instructors for all inpatient settings and outpatient neuro-rehabilitation, as well as specialty areas such as women’s health, vestibular, wound care, pediatrics, etc.
- Access to the MUSC medical library.
- Ability to attend scheduled classes in our entry-level program
- Consultation with faculty on complex patient problems or research interests
- Early access to CEU courses offered by the college
- Earn up to six contact hours (.6 CEUs) every two years.*
* Clinical instructors shall receive one (1) contact hour for every one hundred sixty (160) hours of clinical internship, limited to a maximum of six (6) contact hours per instructor per biennium. Students must be enrolled in CAPTE accredited or eligible DPT or PTA programs. Clinical instructors must be credentialed by APTA to receive clinical continuing education credits. Verification of the clinical supervision agreement with the student’s educational program and a log reporting supervision hours is required as evidence of compliance. A certificate of completion from the educational program may also be used as evidence of compliance.
If you are interested in becoming a clinical instructor, please contact either Brigid Lucas, kelleybr@musc.edu | 843-876-6272 or Caitlin Keller kellerca@musc.edu. You may also contact us by completing the Clinical Instructor Interest Form.
Clinical Practicum Details
Our objective is to provide structured and varied learning opportunities for our students that address comprehensive patient/client management across the spectrum of care. We believe that quality clinician mentoring is essential for the transformation of our students into compassionate, confident, and reflective practitioners with excellent critical thinking and psychomotor skills. We are interested in collaborating with clinical sites that share our philosophy.
Clinical Practicum I (PT 740)
Week 1: Patient Care, Orientation
Week 2: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 3: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 4: Patient Care, Summative Midterm Evaluation
Week 6: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 8: Patient Care, Summative Final Evaluation
Provision of Physical Therapy Services by Student Physical Therapists
It is the position of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) that student physical therapists, when participating as part of a physical therapist professional education curriculum and when acting in accordance with APTA policy and applicable state laws and regulations, are qualified to provide services only under the direction and direct supervision of the physical therapist who is responsible for patient/client management. Direct supervision means the physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
Definition of Levels of Supervision
- General Supervision: The physical therapist is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision, but must be available at least by telecommunications.
- Direct Supervision: The physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice as all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
- Direct Personal Supervision: The physical therapist, or where allowable by law the physical therapist assistant, is physically present and immediately available to direct and supervise tasks that are related to patient/client management. The direction and supervision is continuous throughout the time these tasks are performed. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct personal supervision.
Required textbook:
- APTA Guide to Physical Therapist Practice. Alexandria, VA: American Physical Therapy Association, 2001.
August to October (Eight Weeks)
First Monday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Practice Act and license verification (completed by student)
First Friday of practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning and Feedback Form (PDF) required week one. Submit to Brightspace.
Second Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- CPI-Web online training (completed by instructor)
- Weekly Planning and Feedback Form (PDF) required week two. Submit to Brightspace.
- Begin the Clinical Reasoning Form: Planning the Objective. Submit to Brightspace.
Third Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning and Feedback Form (PDF) required week three. Submit to Brightspace.
Fourth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) mid-term evaluation (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
- Begin the Orthopedic retrospective case study. Submit to Brightspace.
Final Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) final evaluation, (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
- MUSC Physical Therapy Student Evaluation Clinical Experience and Instruction (completed by student).
- Both orthopedic assignments completed (“Planning the Objective and Retrospective case study", completed by student and shared with instructor).
Clinical Practicum II (PT 741)
Week 2-3: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 5: Patient Care, Summative Midterm Evaluation
Week 6-8: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 9-10: Patient Care, Summative Final Evaluation
Provision of Physical Therapy Services by Student Physical Therapists
It is the position of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) that student physical therapists, when participating as part of a physical therapist professional education curriculum and when acting in accordance with APTA policy and applicable state laws and regulations, are qualified to provide services only under the direction and direct supervision of the physical therapist who is responsible for patient/client management. Direct supervision means the physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
Definition of Levels of Supervision
- General Supervision: The physical therapist is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision, but must be available at least by telecommunications.
- Direct Supervision: The physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice as all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
- Direct Personal Supervision: The physical therapist, or where allowable by law the physical therapist assistant, is physically present and immediately available to direct and supervise tasks that are related to patient/client management. The direction and supervision is continuous throughout the time these tasks reperformed. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct personal supervision.
August to October (Ten Weeks)
First Monday of Practicum (Due date)
- Practice Act and license verification (completed by student)
First Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week one. Submit to Brightspace.
Second Friday of Practicum (Completion Date)
- CPI-Web online training (completed by instructor)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week two. Submit to Brightspace.
Third Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week three. Submit to Brightspace.
Fourth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week four. Submit to Brightspace.
Fifth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) mid-term evaluation (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
Final Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) final evaluation, (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
- MUSC Physical Therapy Student Evaluation Clinical Experience and Instruction (completed by student).
- Wound Care Assignment (completed by student during IP acute care practicum).
- Interprofessional Health care Delivery Activity Tracking (completed by student).
Clinical Practicum III (PT 742)
Week 1: Patient Care, Orientation
Week 2-3: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 5: Patient Care, Summative Midterm Evaluation
Week 7-8: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 9-10: Patient Care, Summative Final Evaluation
Provision of Physical Therapy Services by Student Physical Therapists
It is the position of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) that student physical therapists, when participating as part of a physical therapist professional education curriculum and when acting in accordance with APTA policy and applicable state laws and regulations, are qualified to provide services only under the direction and direct supervision of the physical therapist who is responsible for patient/client management. Direct supervision means the physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
- Definition of Levels of Supervision
- General Supervision: The physical therapist is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision, but must be available at least by telecommunications.
- Direct Supervision: The physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice as all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
- Direct Personal Supervision: The physical therapist, or where allowable by law the physical therapist assistant, is physically present and immediately available to direct and supervise tasks that are related to patient/client management. The direction and supervision is continuous throughout the time these tasks reperformed. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct personal supervision.
November to January (10 Weeks)
First Monday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Practice Act and license verification (completed by student)
First Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week one. Submit to Brightspace.
Second Friday of Practicum (Completion Date)
- CPI-Web online training (completed by instructor)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week two. Submit to Brightspace.
Third Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week three. Submit to Brightspace.
Fourth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week four. Submit to Brightspace.
Fifth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) mid-term evaluation (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor)
Final Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web), final evaluation (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor)
- MUSC Physical Therapy Student Evaluation Clinical Experience and Instruction (completed by student).
- Wound Care Assignment (completed by student during IP acute care practicum)
- Interprofessional Health care Delivery Activity Tracking (completed by student)
- Submit patient description for EBP IV assignment
Clinical Practicum IV (PT 743)
Week 1: Patient Care, Orientation
Week 2-3: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 6: Patient Care, Summative Midterm Evaluation
Week 7-10: Patient Care, Formative Evaluation
Week 11-12: Patient Care, Summative Final Evaluation
Provision of Physical Therapy Services by Student Physical Therapists
It is the position of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) that student physical therapists, when participating as part of a physical therapist professional education curriculum and when acting in accordance with APTA policy and applicable state laws and regulations, are qualified to provide services only under the direction and direct supervision of the physical therapist who is responsible for patient/client management. Direct supervision means the physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice and all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
Definition of Levels of Supervision
General Supervision: The physical therapist is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision, but must be available at least by telecommunications.
Direct Supervision: The physical therapist is physically present and immediately available for direction and supervision. The physical therapist will have direct contact with the patient during each visit that is defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice as all encounters with a patient/client in a twenty-four-hour period. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct supervision.
Direct Personal Supervision: The physical therapist, or where allowable by law the physical therapist assistant, is physically present and immediately available to direct and supervise tasks that are related to patient/client management. The direction and supervision is continuous throughout the time these tasks re performed. Telecommunications does not meet the requirement of direct personal supervision.
February to April (12 Weeks)
First Monday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Practice Act and license verification (completed by student)
First Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Mentor for EBP IV assignment will be given
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week one. Submit to Brightspace.
Second Friday of Practicum (Completion Date)
- CPI-Web online training (completed by instructor)
- Contact your mentor for EBP IV assignment
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week two. Submit to Brightspace.
Third Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week three. Submit to Brightspace.
Fourth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- Weekly Planning form (PDF) required week four. Submit to Brightspace.
Fifth Friday of Practicum (Due Date)
- First draft of poster for EBP IV assignment due to mentor
Sixth Friday of Practicum
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) mid-term evaluation (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
- Mentor will provide poster feedback to student for EBP IV assignment
Ninth Friday of Practicum (Completion)
- Final poster submitted to mentor and EBP faculty
Final Friday of Practicum (Completion)
- APTA Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI-Web) final evaluation, (completed by instructor and shared with the student). Self-Assessment evaluation, (completed by student and shared with instructor).
- MUSC Physical Therapy Student Evaluation Clinical Experience and Instruction (completed by student).
- Wound Care Assignment (completed by student during IP acute care practicum)
- Interprofessional Health care Delivery Activity Tracking (completed by student)
Additional Information
- Completion of MUSC and facility required documentation prior to each clinical assignments
- Students will comply with the Clinical Education components as outlined in the Department of PT Student Handbook.
- Students will successfully complete the required number of weeks of clinical practicum.
- Students are to complete the clinical information spreadsheet by end of first week of each practicum.
- Students will successfully complete all assignments or projects as specified by the clinical instructor and/or course coordinators to a level commensurate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy education for each practicum.
- Students will complete a midterm and final self-evaluation using the PT Clinical Performance Instrument Web for each practicum.
- Students will complete MUSC Weekly Planning Form (PDF) for a minimum of three (3) weeks for CP 1 or four (4) weeks for CP 2 - 4 and review each week with clinical instructor.
- Students will complete the MUSC Physical Therapy Student Evaluation Clinical Experience and Instruction at the completion of the clinical experience. They should offer a copy to the SCCE and/or CI for their records.
- Students will complete all MUSC didactic requirements which occur during clinical practicums. These include but are not limited to Clinical Reasoning Assignment, Interprofessional Health care Delivery Activity Tracking form, Wound Care, and Evidence Based Practice Case Study requirements.
- For Clinical Practicums II, III, and IV, students who miss up to two (2) days for illness / business purposes are not required to make up time by the University. Students shall communicate with facility to approve any missed time. Facilities may require students to make up missed time.
- For Clinical Practicum III, which spans multiple holidays, an extra week is scheduled to accommodate five (5) days leave per clinic discretion. These days must be pre-approved by the facility.
Up to date immunization records. The CHP clinical education team cannot access your LifeNet information. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the CHP clinical education team has verification of your immunizations.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) proof of age-appropriate immunization or immune antibody titer
- Varicella immunity (documentation of two varivax vaccines or immune antibody titers)
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis B vaccine (three vaccines and 1 positive antibody titer)
- Influenza (annual)
- Tuberculin (TB) Test (initially a two-step TB test is required; followed by an annual self-evaluation). Although MUSC does not require an annual TB skin test, Fieldwork sites set their own credentialing requirements and often require an annual TB skin test.
Biennial renewal of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers course is required.
Annual renewal of and ongoing coverage for personal health insurance.
NOTE: When any of the above compliance documents are updated, changed, or renewed, supportive documentation should be e-mailed to chp-clinical-ed-info-rs@musc.edu the Subject: PT Compliance Documents. If you have questions please contact Edie Hering, Clinical Education Program Coordinator at hering@musc.edu. Students are responsible for providing updated information to the clinical education site.
Failure to maintain credentialing components is considered “non-compliant” with the university and clinical education requirements. If you are deemed non-compliant, you will be prohibited from attending classes, labs, clinical practicums, MUSC CARES Clinic, community observations, and all other program-related activities until all your credential components are current.
Students are expected to be present if the clinical facility remains open for business during inclement weather, please check with your Clinical Instructor to determine if, and when, you are to arrive. However, if your facility is in an area impacted by inclement weather, you should contact your Clinical Instructor and the MUSC DCE to determine whether you are expected to be there. If inclement weather curtails facility operations, students may need to make up time missed, and this too should be arranged with your CI and the DCE.
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Generic Abilities (PDF)
- Bloodborne Pathogen Protocols
- Student and Medicare Summary
- Medicare Supervision
- Implementing MDs 3.0: Use of therapy students (PDF)
- Student placement over last five years (PDF)
- Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP)
- ACAPT Collaborative Model Toolkit
- The Collaborative Clinical Education: Success in the 2:1 model webinar
- Pediatric CI Toolkit
Clinical Instructor of the Year
Williams Berkes, PT, DPT | Medical University Hospital Authority (Charleston, SC)
Benjamin Cuenin, PT, DPT, COMPT, FDN level 1; ASTYM | CORA Physical Therapy (Powdersville, SC)
Would you like to offer an experience for an upcoming clinical practicum? Complete an online reservation form to let us know.