DPT Practical Examination / Skills Check Policy

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First Attempt Practical Examination / Skills Check Process

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 technical skill 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% on the technical skill performance, the student will likewise receive an F grade for the practical examination. In either case, the student must retake the practical examination. The student must meet both safety (100%) and technical skill performance competencies (77%) to pass the practical retake.

Second Attempt Practical Examination / Skills Check Process

Safety Fail

If indicated in the practical examination/skills check rubric, omission of any identified critical safety element will result in failure. Critical safety elements may include:

  • Using standard precautions
  • Introducing oneself
  • Wearing an identification badge
  • Confirming patient identity
  • Obtaining informed consent
  • Donning a gait belt

The student will be required to retake the entire practical examination/skills check.

  • The grader will notify the course lead instructor of a student safety fail
  • The lead instructor will fill out a student performance notification, placed on academic monitoring and inform the student of safety failure and arrange a retake
  • No remediation plan is required
  • The highest grade awarded for passing the second attempt practical examination/safety check 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 fill out a student performance notification, placed on academic monitoring and 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 that will effectively prepare the student for their second attempt practical examination/skills check within two business days.
  • The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s remediation plan and administer the first retake practical examination.
  • The highest grade awarded for passing the second attempt practical examination/safety check will be 77%.
  • The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director throughout the process.
  • Students who fail the second attempt practical examination/safety check (score below 77%) will be allowed a third attempt (see Third Attempt Practical Examination/Skills Check Process Policy).

Third Attempt Practical Examination / Skills Check Process

Should a student score below 77% on their second 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 student is required to submit a written revised plan of remediation to the lead instructor that will effectively prepare the student for their third attempt practical examination/skills check within two business days.
  • The lead instructor will review and approve the student’s revised remediation plan.
  • The lead instructor will communicate the student’s status with the program director and the Director of Clinical Education.
  • The student will meet with the Program Director and submit both the original and secondary remediation plans.
  • Upon approval from the Program Director, the lead instructor will schedule and administer the third attempt practical examination/safety check.
  • The highest grade awarded for passing the third attempt practical examination / safety check will be 70%.
  • Students who fail the third attempt practical examination/safety check (score below 77%) 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 or Skills Check Failures Across the entire Curriculum

  • In total a student may only accumulate 4 failed attempts for practical and skills check exams across all courses.
  • Upon the second failed attempt, across all courses, the student will receive a student performance notification and placed on academic monitoring.
  • Upon the third failed attempt across all courses the student will be placed on academic probation.
  • Upon the fourth failed attempt across all courses the student will be dismissed from the program.

A student may accumulate four failed attempts for practical and skills check exams across all courses, after which they will be dismissed from the program. A student performance notice will be issued upon the second and third failed attempts.