Residency FAQs

Our Residency programs are committed to preparing physical therapists who will engage in clinical, academic and professional teaching and consultative activities that will contribute to the advancement of the physical therapy profession. Residents will have the opportunity to gain teaching experience within Emory’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, service learning and clinical experiences.

Participating in a residency program will provide clinical experiences and didactic knowledge that will prepare you to sit for a specialty examination upon completion of the residency program.

The requirements for application into our residency program include the following:

• Georgia physical therapy license
• Be in good standing with the State Board prior to the August start date.
• Graduate of an accredited APTA entry-level physical therapy program
• Application submission through RF-PTCAS including all required documentation

• Transcripts
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Employment history (if applicable)
• Essays
• Three letters of recommendation/reference. For those applicants who are new graduates, letters of recommendations from Clinical Instructors can attest to your skills and habits in a clinical setting.

Yes, all residency programs offered through Emory University are accredited through ABPTRFE.

12-13 months

Requirements for program completion include passing both written and practical exams, full participation in all required clinical hours, teaching requirements, didactic courses/journal review and educational opportunities. Participation in research is different for each residency with guidelines and expectations tailored to the individual program.

We are looking for candidates who are interested in engaging in a challenging academic program while fostering clinical growth within specialty settings specific to the residency track. Candidates should exhibit a strong work ethic, be self-motivated, introspective and an engaged learner throughout the rigorous program. Ideal candidates approach learning and feedback with a positive attitude, collaborative spirit, growth mindset and flexibility of thought.

ABPTRFE restricts worked hours for residents to 50 hours per week. Within our programs, each resident’s schedule is adapted to maximize learning throughout the program. An average work week consists of 40-45 hours of program activities.

Student loans may be deferred while the resident is participating in the program. Each resident is responsible for verifying the necessary documentation for loan deferment. The University can provide documentation attesting to the resident’s participation in the program if needed. Loan deferment rules and processes may be variable among lenders.

Currently, our programs are designed for full-time residents only.

Each resident is scheduled to receive 3-5 hours of 1:1 mentoring per week. Each resident must have a minimum of 150 mentoring hours to complete the program.

Our clinical mentors are selected for their expertise in specialty practice and for their dedication and enthusiasm for clinical education. Each mentor is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist or has at least three years of specialty clinical practice. Mentors must be able to provide three hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring per week (150 hours total). Mentors participate in annual training sessions, guidance from residency faculty and periodic evaluations to aid in development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning and communication skills essential to being an effective mentor at the residency education level.

Orthopedic residents have the option to become employed through Emory University for the 12-month program or be employed within a community clinical site and work with Emory University to receive didactic, clinical and mentoring experiences. Neurologic and acute care residents must become employed through Emory University for the program.

The research experiences of our residence range from working with a faculty member on an established project to writing publishable case reports effectively utilizing evidence-based practice.

The orthopedic residents participate in the South Georgia Farm Workers’ project one weekend in June. Neurologic residents participate in an international service-learning project in rural Jamaica, and in a local pro bono clinic that specializes in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation.

The RFPTCAS cycle opens annually in October. Refer to the RFPTCAS website for the application deadline for each residency program.