The following statement defines the DPT Program's expectations for students throughout the clinical education program:
The program expects all students to achieve entry-level performance in the management of patients/clients with diseases and conditions representative of those commonly see in practice across the lifespan, continuum of care, and in a variety of practice setting that are consistent with contemporary Physical Therapy practice.
Overview of the DPT Clinical Education Program
The DPT Clinical Education Program consists of:
- 36 weeks of full-time and part-time clinical education experiences.
- At Alvernia, the cornerstone of our program is our emphasis on clinical competence and skill that is facilitated through early and frequent immersion of the student into real-world clinical experiences.  At Alvernia, we believe that authentic learning transpires when students are able to connect classroom instruction with actual patient interaction.  
- To accomplish our mission of developing clinical competence, students begin their clinical internship experiences within the first semester year of the program.  These initial part-time clinical experiences will serve to develop professional behaviors, connect classroom instruction with actual patient scenarios, and prepare students for full-time clinical internship experiences.  
- Throughout the curriculum, students will engage in 2 part-time a²Ô»å 4 full-time clinical education experiences. Clinical sites offering innovative care by experienced and well-trained Physical Therapist clinical experts will be used to guide students toward entry-level clinical competence.  The ACCE will work closely to forge close relationships between clinical instructors and the DPT Program by establishing clear expectations and communicating anticipated outcomes.  
- The final two  12-week  full time experiences are considered post-didactic and resemble the traditional residency model that is often used in medical education.  In this way, the program ensures that each student demonstrates entry-level proficiency prior to graduation. 
Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at ×îÐÂ91ÖÆƬ³§ is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: . If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 610-568-1546 or email soo.sun@alvernia.edu or pamela.unger@alvernia.edu.
For more information regarding the process of accreditation, please contact the:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
Phone: 703-706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org
