Clinical education is a valued component of professional formation. 

Actively engaging in the provision of physical therapy services fosters student development in professional identity, motivation, confidence, communication, and clinical skills. Our clinical education curriculum begins in the first fall semester and consists of both integrated and terminal clinical education experiences. Strong relationships between academic faculty, clinical sites, and clinical instructors create learning environments that strive for excellence in clinical education.  Student physical therapists deserve a quality education in the clinic, and clinical sites deserve well-prepared students and continual support from the faculty at the academic institution. 

Our Mission

The mission of our clinical education program is to graduate new physical therapists who strive for excellence in professional behavior, clinical care, and lifelong learning. Our Directors of Clinical Education provide advisement, teaching, support, and student assessment throughout the clinical education curriculum to endorse this mission. 

Clinical Education Curriculum Overview

Integrated Clinical Education (ICE)

ICE experiences are scheduled during the first and second year of the program to afford the opportunity for students to apply their new skills and knowledge in an authentic learning environment, explore a variety of patient/client care settings, and to begin to develop their professional identity. ICE experiences may be part-time or full-time. The University of Iowa has 4 ICE Courses, two part-time and 2 full-time, including our Rural Health Initiative that requires each student to complete their 6-week ICE III course in a rural health environment. 

Terminal Clinical Education (TCE)

Full-time clinical education experiences that occur after the student has completed the didactic curriculum of a physical therapist professional education program. The expected outcome of the final, or terminal, experience is entry-level performance.  The University of Iowa has three 9-week full-time TCE courses.  Students must complete one rotation in an outpatient orthopedic setting, one in a medically complex setting, and one in a setting of the student’s choice. 

Clinical Education Curriculum

Year 1-Integrated Clinical Education
 CourseDescription
FallPTRS:5790-ICE I
  • Half-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Begin to apply new knowldge and skills in a clinic environment
SpringPTRS:5791-ICE II
  • Full-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Practice skills learned in the classroom in a clinic environment

 

Year 2-Integrated Clinical Education
 CourseDescription
SummerPTRS:5793-ICE III
  • Rural Health Initiative (RHI)-Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Outpatient Clinics and Home Health
  • 6-week full-time clinical experience at RHI partnered sites
  • Primary care role allows students to practice the skills learned in the first year on a variety of patient types--ages, diagnoses, life experiences
SpringPTRS:5792-ICE IV
  • 2-week full-time clinical experience in any setting
  • Often used to explore a specialty area of practice or to round out a well-balanced overall clinical education plan

 

Year 3-Terminal Clinical Education
 CourseDescription
SummerPTRS:6794-TCE I
  • Three 9-week full time clinical experience
  • Occur after the completion of didactic curriculum
  • Students must complete one out patient orthopedic and one medically complex clinical experience.
  • Their 3rd experience may be in a setting of their choice, including specialty settings if desired.
  • Full-day clinical rotations on Fridays
  • Practice skills learned in the classroom in a clinic environment
FallPTRS:6795-TCE II
PTRS:6796-TCE III