A minimum of 77% proficiency is required on all clinically related practical examinations. Safety requirements must be met at a 100% competency level. The practical examinations require the student to meet both safety and performance competencies. If a student does not perform in a safe manner, the student will receive an F grade for the practical examination; if the student earns less than 77%, the student will likewise receive an F grade for the practical examination. In either case, the student must retake the practical examination.
Safety Fail
The rubric for the practical exam will clearly indicate the required critical safety elements, if indicated. Omission of any identified critical safety element will result in failure. Critical safety elements may include, but are not limited to:
- Using standard precautions
- Introducing oneself
- Wearing an identification badge
- Confirming patient identity
- Obtaining informed consent
- Donning a gait belt
- Providing appropriate guarding assistance to prevent patient fall or injury
The student will be required to retake the entire practical examination.
- The grader will notify the course lead instructor of a student safety fail
- The lead instructor will inform the student of safety failure and arrange a retake
- No formal written remediation plan is required, but precision remediation may be required
- The highest grade awarded for passing the second attempt practical examination will be 77%
Traditional Fail
Should a student score below 77% on their initial attempt, the following process will occur:
- The grader will notify the course lead instructor of the failure and the reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of the failure and reasons for failing.
- Following the meeting, the student is required to submit a written plan of remediation to the lead instructor within two business days that will effectively prepare the student for their second attempt practical examination.
- The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s remediation plan and administer the first retake practical examination.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director throughout the process.
Second Attempt Practical Examination Process
The highest grade awarded for passing the second attempt practical examination will be 77%.
Should a student score below 77% on their second attempt (Safety Fail or Traditional Fail), the following process will occur:
- The grader will notify the course lead instructor of the failure and the reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of the failure and reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will work with the Program Director to complete a Student Performance Notification and review the SPN with the student.
- Following the meeting, the student is required to submit a revised written plan of remediation to the lead instructor within two business days that will effectively prepare the student for their third attempt practical examination.
- The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s remediation plan and administer the second retake practical examination.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director throughout the process.
Third Attempt Practical Examination Process
The highest grade awarded for passing the third attempt practical examination will be 70%.
Should a student score below 77% on their third attempt (Safety Fail or Traditional Fail), the following process will occur:
- The lead instructor will notify the program director who will progress the student performance notification to academic probation.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of failure and reasons for failure.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the Program Director and the Director of Clinical Education.
- Students who fails the third attempt practical examination will not be allowed to pass the course and will be placed on Academic Probation. (See the Grade and Progression Policy - DPT)
Limit to total Number of Practical Examination Failures Across the entire Curriculum
- In total, a student may only accumulate four failed attempts for practical examinations across all courses.
- Upon the second failed practical examination across all courses, the student will receive a student performance notification and placed on academic monitoring. This may include a first failure of two different practical examinations OR a second failure of a single practical exam as outlined above.
- Upon the third failed practical examination (first take or retakes included) across all courses, the student will be placed on academic probation.
- Upon the fourth failed practical examination across all courses, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Competency Check Process
Students are required to pass all competency checks in courses throughout the DPT Program. Competency checks are graded as pass / fail and require that students meet expectations for all components of each skill being assessed. Should a student not meet the passing criteria for one or more skills being assessed, they must retake the competency check.
Should a student fail their initial attempt, the following process will occur:
- The grader will notify the course lead instructor of the failure and the reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of the failure and reasons for failing.
- Following the meeting, the student is required to submit a written plan of remediation to the lead instructor within two business days that will effectively prepare the student for their second attempt skill competency examination.
- The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s remediation plan and administer the first retake skill competency examination.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director throughout the process.
Second Attempt Competency Check Process
The grade awarded for passing the second attempt of a competency check will be "pass".
Should a student fail their second attempt, the following process will occur:
- The grader will notify the course lead instructor of the failure and the reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of the failure and reasons for failing.
- The lead instructor will work with the program director to complete a Student Performance Notification and review the SPN with the student.
- Following the meeting, the student is required to submit a revised written plan of remediation to the lead instructor within two business days that will effectively prepare the student for their third attempt competency check.
- The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s remediation plan and administer the second retake competency check.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director throughout the process.
Third Attempt Competency Check Process
The grade awarded for passing the second attempt of a competency check will be "pass".
Should a student fail their third attempt, the following process will occur:
- The lead instructor will notify the program director who will progress the student performance notification to academic probation.
- The lead instructor will notify the student of failure and reasons for failure.
- The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director and the Director of Clinical Education.
- Students who fail the third attempt competency check will not be allowed to pass the course and will be placed on Academic Probation. (See the Grade and Progression Policy - DPT)
Limit to total Number of Competency Check Failures Across the entire Curriculum
- In total, a student may only accumulate six failed attempts for competency checks across all courses.
- Upon the fourth failed competency check across all courses, the student will receive a student performance notification and placed on academic monitoring.
- Upon the fifth failed competency check across all courses, the student will be placed on academic probation.
- Upon the sixth failed competency check across all courses, the student will be dismissed from the program.