Pelvic & Women's Health Residency Programs

Advanced Professional Development

Physical Therapist Residency Programs

A Physical Therapist Residency is a planned program of post-professional education for licensed physical therapists that combines advanced didactic instruction with mentored clinical practice.

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Post-Professional Training

Residency programs provide structured advanced education and clinical mentorship for licensed physical therapists.

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Typically 9–12 Months

Programs generally take approximately 9–12 months to complete and combine classroom learning with mentored patient care.

Prepare for Specialization

Residency training can help prepare physical therapists for advanced practice and the Pelvic and Women's Health Certified Specialist (PWCS) exam.

About Residency Education

Physical therapist residency programs are overseen by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). Residency curricula are developed from the Description of Specialist Practice (DSP) and incorporate both didactic instruction and mentored clinical practice. Upon completion, a physical therapist resident should be prepared to provide advanced, skilled care for patients within pelvic and women's health practice and pursue specialist certification through the Pelvic and Women's Health Certified Specialist (PWCS) examination. Residency education can also create additional professional opportunities. Physical therapists who complete advanced post-professional training may strengthen their qualifications as specialized practitioners and may later become involved in residency program development, teaching, faculty roles, or clinical mentorship.

Explore Residency Opportunities

Learn more about residency education, explore currently available programs, or hear directly from residency programs through past Academy Residency Fairs.

Residency Experience

Common Elements of a Residency Program

Residency programs combine advanced education, mentorship, clinical experience, and professional development opportunities. These are common elements of residency programs. Please refer to the details provided by your desired residency program for an actual list of what is included.

Didactic Education

Structured learning through lectures, courses, case discussions, readings, and other educational activities.

Clinical Mentorship

Guided learning with experienced clinicians through observation, feedback, discussion, and mentored patient care.

Clinical Practice

Hands-on specialty practice that develops advanced examination, clinical reasoning, and intervention skills.

Special Projects

Additional experiences may include research, teaching, quality improvement, presentations, advocacy, or program-specific projects.

Community & Collaboration

Opportunities to learn alongside colleagues, collaborate across disciplines, and build a professional network.