The Children's Wisconsin Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program is a 13-month program dedicated to post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists. The program is designed to advance expertise in the domains of clinical reasoning, knowledge for specialty practice, professionalism, communication, education, systems-based practice and patient management in the area of sports physical therapy.

Residents will mentor one on one with board certified physical therapists, physicians and surgeons at our specialty Children's Wisconsin clinics. Our community affiliations with youth, high school and club sports programs provide a unique learning opportunity for hands-on venue coverage. The curriculum for the sports physical therapy residency is based upon the description of specialty practice for sports physical therapy put forth by the APTA.

Total hours must meet: 2000

• 1500 clinical hours
  • Includes 150 mentoring hours
• 300 hours didactic material
• 200 venue coverage hours

To develop highly skilled pediatric sports physical therapists through education, mentorship and clinical experiences promoting care, advocacy, research and education to impact the local community and support the vision of the children of Wisconsin being the healthiest in the nation.

1. To support the mission, vision and guiding principles of Children’s Wisconsin by elevating the practice of physical therapists serving the children of Wisconsin.
2. To provide the children of Wisconsin with residency-trained physical therapists who excel in sports practice across all levels of activity.
3. To obtain and maintain accreditation as a sports physical therapy residency from the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education.
4. The program will be nationally recognized as a leader in residency training in pediatric sports physical therapy.
5. To graduate residents who will contribute to the profession of physical therapy, and the larger health care community, through leadership, care, advocacy, research and education.
6. To graduate residents with the knowledge and skill to pursue board-certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).

To apply to the Children's Wisconsin Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program, you must meet the following application requirements:

• Candidates must meet all requirements to be employed as a practicing physical therapist at Children's Wisconsin
• Physical therapy degree from a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program obtained prior to accepting the position if candidate has not yet graduated. 
• Current license to practice physical therapy in the state of Wisconsin for the duration of the residency
• Current certification as one of the following obtained no later than August 1 the year of program start:
  1. Certification as an Athletic Trainer, Certified (ATC) or
  2. License as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or
  3. Certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
  4. Certification in Emergency Response for the Athlete (ERA)
• Be an active APTA member
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong skills in scientific inquiry and writing
• Evidence of commitment to a career in sports physical therapy
• Current CPR, AED and First-Aid Certification
• Letter of intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Two letters of recommendation

• 32 hours in clinical care
  • Inclusive of three hours of one-on-one mentoring
• Five hours lecture/lab
• Five hours at venue coverage
• Two hours allotted (provider clinic shadowing, surgical shadowing, MCW lectures, grand rounds, research, orthopedic lab assistant, etc.)

*This is subject to change based on program specific requirements and/or needs of the resident. 

• Financial fact sheet

For more information on the program or how to apply, email Jonathan Belk at JBelk@childrenswi.org.

Children’s Wisconsin Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program has been granted candidacy status by ABPTRFE.