DPT Shadowing/Observation

What is Required?

40 total hours, verified by a licensed PT or PTA, are required. Observation experiences can be different depending on who you are shadowing –  it can be helpful to shadow multiple PT’s, to get a strong understanding of the profession – or where you are shadowing. Types of settings include:

• Acute care hospital
• Nursing home/skilled nursing facility/extended care facility
• Other inpatient/specialty facility
• Rehabilitation/sub-acute rehabilitation
• Free-standing PT/hospital clinic or private practice clinic
• Home health
• Industrial/occupational health
• Other outpatient/specialty facility
• School/pre-school
• Wellness/prevention/fitness/sports
• Other settings: attended PT as a patient, or with a family member; HOSA PT event participant

How to Get Started

• Ask friends/relatives who work in healthcare if they have connections to your area of interest
• Ask your personal healthcare provider, or someone you have had an appointment with, for connections
• Research physical therapy facilities online (search for ‘physical therapy’ in the geographic area where you are interested in observing)
• Contact the PT department of the facility via email or phone (if it’s a larger clinic/hospital system, you will likely connect with someone who coordinates all volunteer services and may need to participate in an orientation program; regardless of who/where you reach out to, they should be familiar with the need/interest to shadow):
  • Introduce yourself and explain why you are reaching out (and who referred you, if applicable)
  • Explain your interest in the PT profession, and let them know you are seeking observation experience in preparation for applying to a DPT program
  • Ask if they are willing to set up a time for you to shadow
• Early during the volunteer time, ask the PT/PTA if they would be willing to verify the number of hours that you spend in the setting
• Keep a signed record of your hours, in addition to the name and email address of the PT or PTA. This information will need to be scanned into your Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) application (or entered electronically, in which case PTCAS will then email the PT to verify that the information entered is correct) during the admissions cycle in which you are applying

Things to Consider

• Hours from paid positions (as a PT Aide) also count
• Each clinic, hospital or private practice, etc. will have their own policies and procedures involving shadowing
• If the PT can’t accommodate an in-person observation, they may be willing to set up a time for an informational interview (20-30 minutes) to discuss their role
• Ask questions to engage with the PT during your time with them; this will help build a relationship (they could potentially be a letter writer for your admissions application)
• Be professional and courteous; you are also building a shadowing network and professional connections
• Dress professionally, but be aware you may be on your feet for long periods
• Not all patients may be comfortable with you in the room; do not take it personally
• Send a thank you note afterwards