Frequently Asked Questions

How many residents do you accept each year?

We currently accept one resident into the program.  The resident is part of the cohort of Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Washington.  The cohort includes residents from Neuro, Acute Care, Pediatrics, Orthopedics and Sports.  You will be taking certain didactic modules together throughout the year (professionalism, leadership, advocacy, development of expert practice, and journal clubs, to name a few).

How much experience do I need to apply?

We do accept new graduates into the program but require them to have completed one clinical affiliation in the area of specialty practice preferably three months in length.

Can I be considered if I am taking the NPTE examination in July?

We strongly encourage all applicants to take the exam in April, as the processing time for your license can vary and you may not have it by the start date.

How long is the program?

The program is fifteen months long.  It will start in September and run to the following December.  For the first twelve months, the resident will spend 36 hours/week in the clinic with the remaining hours dedicated to didactics, quality improvement projects, and division projects.  The last three months of the resident will spend as a teaching assistant in the Division of Physical Therapy teaching in a variety of different classes.

What areas of clinical practice does the residency cover?

The clinical portion of the residency occurs at EvergreenHealth.  The resident will rotate through three neuro rotations, acute care, inpatient rehab, and OP. You will see a variety of neurologic diagnosis across the continuum of care

What does the teaching component of the residency involve?

The resident will be working full time for the UW Division of Physical Therapy as a teaching assistant in a variety of different classes including the neuro class for the 2nd year DPT students.  This occurs during the last three months of the residency.   The resident will develop skills in backward design and be responsible for presenting two lectures on their own as the primary instructor.  In addition, the resident will have an opportunity to be a clinical instructor for the students participating in an integrated clinical education session in the outpatient setting.

What does the leadership component of the residency involve?

The resident will be involved in participating in and leading some aspect of a quality improvement project for either the clinic or the Division of Physical Therapy.  There are structured didactics around this leadership activity.  The resident will give a formal presentation at the end of the year regarding this project.

How much mentoring will the resident receive?

The resident will receive mentoring in every setting.  On average there will be three to four hours of mentoring every week.  Both the resident and the primary mentor will assist in identifying patients and topics to be mentored on.

How many hours per week will the resident work?

A typical work week for the resident will be 45-50 hours a week.  This includes 36 hours of direct patient care, 2-10 hours of didactics and independent study, 4-6 hours working on the quality improvement project and occasional community service hours during the clinical portion of the residency. During the teaching portion of the residency, all of your hours will be dedicated to teaching, developing teaching resources, and continued didactic education.

Is the residency located in one site?

The clinical portion of the residency is located at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland Wa, there is potential for educational experiences at Harborview Medical Center and Northwest Hospital.   The majority of didactics and teaching are located at the University of Washington(UW) located in Seattle.

Is the residency paid?

Yes, the residency is a salaried benefited position.  It includes medical, dental, retirement benefits, in addition to sick leave and 12 days of vacation, and 11 state holidays.

Is there tuition for the residency?

Tuition is $5500. It covers the cost of some external continuing education (CSM or ANPT course), the fees to take the CI credentialing course, the fees to take the neurologic specialty exam and the cost of operating the residency. You can access the NeuroResidency and Fellowship Financial Fact Sheet 10.30.2023 for your review and completion.

Are there any scholarship opportunities?

Unfortunately, at this point, we are not able to offer any scholarships for tuition.

What is the application process like?

The application is completed through RFPTCAS.  It involves filling out an application, writing a personal essay, submitting three references, and an in-person or video interview. The application is due January 1st and the interview takes place in late January or early February.  We are participating in the universal decision day this year.