From Classroom to Clinic: Innovative Strategies to Develop and Assess Clinical Readiness and Student Success

Clinical education readiness is a foundational expectation in physical therapist education and a core requirement of CAPTE accreditation. In response to national concerns regarding variability in student preparedness, the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy published a set of core knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that students should demonstrate prior to beginning full-time clinical experiences. Many of these KSAs emphasize competencies within the affective domain, such as adherence to professional standards and effective communication. Clinical reasoning is also highlighted as a key component essential for clinical readiness. However, these competencies are often underemphasized and difficult to assess prior to clinical placement, despite being among the most frequently cited concerns by clinical instructors. Traditional assessment tools such as written exams and group projects often fail to provide accurate, individualized insights into student readiness. There is a growing need for innovative, scalable, and validated instructional strategies that support both the development and assessment of these KSAs prior to clinical education. This session will present a comprehensive and longitudinal approach to building clinical readiness across a DPT curriculum, beginning in the first semester and culminating in Integrated Clinical Education Readiness Assessments (ICRA) before students embark on full-time clinical education experiences.