We’re flexible.
We bring the program to you: Students may pursue their Residency at any qualified site in the United States. You may start the program in January, May, or September—and begin your clinical hours when it’s convenient for you.
Clinical Orthopaedic Residency - OCS Residency
Locations: Distance + on-campus
Formats: Online + hands-on
Program duration: 3-9 trimesters (1-3 years)*
See Requirements & Program Details
Residency at a glance:
- Online coursework; in-person seminars and skills labs
- 1500 hours of patient care
- 160 hours of 1:1 mentorship
- 3–9 trimesters (1–3 years)
- Location: Any qualified clinic in the U.S.
- Sept., Jan. & May start dates
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors.
USAHS’ Clinical Orthopaedic Residency program is an opportunity for physical therapists to gain the expertise and clinical hours they need to specialize in orthopaedics. Through online coursework and extensive one-on-one mentorship, the program helps recent Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates—as well as working PTs who wish to change specialties—advance their skills and expand their knowledge base. Graduates are eligible to enter a Fellowship program and are prepared to sit for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Orthopaedics Specialist Certification exam. Upon passing the exam, you will become an orthopaedic clinical specialist (OCS).
Become an OCS Under the Guidance of Mentors
As a resident, you may complete your patient care hours at any qualified clinical site across the country. Guided by faculty and on-site (or virtual) mentors, you will study evidence-based orthopaedic concepts and techniques and apply them in the clinic. The Residency program is a chance to substantially advance your skills in examination, evaluation, clinical reasoning, critical thinking, intervention, and patient management. It’s designed to graduate clinicians with superior post-professional clinical skills, advanced knowledge of clinical practice, and the ability to serve as consultants, advocates, and educators.
Through the Residency, you may also earn academic credit toward your Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from USAHS.
Residency Curriculum
USA’s Clinical Orthopaedic Residency is a demanding clinical and didactic learning experience, designed to graduate physical therapists with competency of skills in orthopaedic physical therapy. The minimum length of our Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency is 12 months, and the maxmimum length is 36 months.
Didactic Requirements
The didactic portion of the Orthopaedic Residency is based upon six (6) APTA Orthopaedic section monoliths. The curriculum covers examination, evaluation, and treatment of common orthopaedic conditions, and is organized into three (3) terms: Spine, Upper Extremity, and Lower Extremity.
Additional Requirements:
- Participate in 12 journal clubs, lead three (online or in the clinic)
- Participate and lead 12 case rounds (online or in the clinic)
- Complete healthcare observations, mentored clinical exams, and clinical skills checklists
- Present three formal case presentations
- Attend three residency skills labs (one per term: Spine, Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity)
- Attendance at one professional conference
- Produce a scholarly product which is disseminated to the professional community (e.g., poster and/or platform presentation, publication in peer reviewed journal)
- Opportunity to teach and mentor entry-level DPT students, depending on location and if desired
Instructional mediums will include individual study of curriculum, case scenarios, written and online examination, interactive web-based learning experiences, group discussions and review, and one weekend lab session each term.
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Residency Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, interested applicants must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of the clinic assignment before starting the program. Current students may apply prior to graduation. You must display professional behaviors and enthusiasm in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and demonstrate motivation and commitment to the profession. Desired applicants must possess clinical reasoning skills for the application of examination and treatment procedures.
To apply, please visit RF-PTCAS. Applicants will be required to submit the following items to complete the application package:
- Online application
- Official transcripts from the degree conferring institution.
- Essay
- Two references from professional colleagues
- PT state license or proof of eligibility for licensure in the state of practice
- Current resume or curriculum vitae, which lists continuing education and professional publications
- Current photo
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Residency Tuition & Fees
There will be an application fee when you apply through RF-PTCAS.
- Program Cost is $10,000.00
- Cost of APTA/Ortho Section membership dues
- Tuition & fees and travel to the Clinical Instructor (CI) Credentialing Course and professional conference
- Cost of travel to the three (3) required Residency skills labs on our St. Augustine, FL Campus
- Cost of malpractice insurance
Residents will be mentored in an outpatient orthopaedic clinic by a qualified mentor while completing didactic components. If applicable, mentor fees for clinical mentoring are negotiated between resident and mentor
The University offers an interest-free tuition payment plan administrated by Sallie Mae®. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
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Residency Accreditation/Post-Graduation Licensure
USAHS’ Clinical Orthpaedic Residency (OCS) is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in orthopaedic clinical practice.
The OCS program was accredited by ABPTRFE in 2016.
The Clinical Orthopaedic Residency program is not subject to accreditation by CAPTE.
For more information visit our Accreditation page.
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Residency Student Outcomes
- The 15-year graduation rate from 2010 to 2025 is 69%.
- The board pass rate for USAHS graduates of the program who have taken the OCS exam between 2010 and 2025 is 100%.
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Residency Fact Sheets
Program Information
Name of Program: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Orthopaedic Residency
Physical Address:1 News Place St. Augustine, FL 32086
Program Hours
Educational Hours: 520 hours
Patient-Care Clinic / Practice Hours (inclusive of mentoring): 1,500 hours
Mentoring Hours: 160 hours.
Program Travel
Please indicate if participants are required to travel greater than 50 miles for any aspect of patient-care clinic/practice hours (does not include daily commute): Yes
Please indicate if participants are required to travel greater than 50 miles for any aspect of educational hours: Yes
Participant Costs
The Financial Fact Sheet is designed to collect program financial data and provide applicants with transparent information on the true costs of residency and fellowship education.
| Type of Cost | Total Cost for the Entire Program | Notes/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | $575.00 | Any fees. Include: CPR, EMR, APTA dues, Section/Academy dues, other professional memberships, or other program fees. |
| Tuition (if applicable) | $10,000.00 | Any tuition amounts. |
| Curriculum Costs (not included in tuition) | $0.00 | Lab materials, simulation fees, or other required coursework costs. |
| Required Textbooks, Software, Apps | $0.00 | Costs not included in fees or tuition. |
| Application Fees | $0.00 | Program-assessed fees beyond RF-PTCAS. |
| Conference Registration Fees | $600.00 | Required conferences not included in fees above. |
| Travel Costs | $3,000.00 | Travel for program-required activities or conferences, not included in fees above. |
| Parking / Mass Transit Fees | $0.00 | Transportation related to program participation, not included in fees above. |
| Mentoring Fees | $0.00 | Mentoring fees, if applicable and not included in program fees above. |
| Malpractice Insurance | $200.00 | Required liability coverage for residents/fellows, if not included in program fees or provided by the program. |
| Other Program Costs | $100.00 | Any additional costs not captured above. |
| Total Program Costs | $14,475.00 |
Program Sponsored Financial Assistance
| Type of Financial Assistance | Total Assistance for the Entire Program | Notes/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Salary Paid by Program (if applicable) | $0.00 | Stipends or salaries provided directly by the program. |
| Percentage Salary to a Comparable PT | 0.00% | Indicate the percentage of the above salary relative to that of a comparable physical therapist at the organization. |
| Student Financial Aid | $0.00 | For tuition-based programs only; include grants, loans, or other aid. |
| Graduate Assistantships | $0.00 | Assistantships providing financial support in exchange for work or teaching. |
| Other Assistantships | $0.00 | Non-graduate assistantships or program-specific assistantships |
| Scholarships | $0.00 | Merit-based or need-based scholarships. |
| Travel Costs / Stipends | $0.00 | Reimbursement or stipends for travel related to program requirements. |
| Malpractice Insurance | $0.00 | Insurance coverage provided by program. |
| ABPTS Board-Certification Examination Fees | $0.00 | Fees covered by program or offered as assistance for board exams. |
| Other Financial Assistance | $0.00 | Any additional financial support not listed above. |
| Total Financial Assistance | $0.00 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Clinical Orthopaedic Residency program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply skills of self-reflection and information literacy to the orthopaedic clinical practice.
- Consult with peers, colleagues, other healthcare professionals, community agencies, legislative, legal and/or regulatory organizations in a collaborative manner for orthopaedic patient/client management.
- Demonstrate advanced clinical competencies through the use of evidence-based practice relevant to patient client management in orthopaedic physical therapy.
- Demonstrate service as consultant, educator, clinical instructor and patient advocate for orthopaedic physical therapy.
- Demonstrate independent ethical and moral decision making in orthopaedic physical therapy practice which is in the best interest of the patient.
- Create a professional development plan for leadership to contribute to the advancement of the orthopaedic physical therapy profession as a healthcare leader through professional and community contributions.
- Demonstrate independent decision making through advanced clinical reasoning and critical thinking patient values and current evidence in orthopaedic physical therapy practice.
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