TOURO UNIVERSITY NEVADA

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment

Every applicant who seeks admission to the School of Physical Therapy or is a continuing

student is expected to possess those intellectual, ethical, physical, and emotional capabilities

required to undertake the full curriculum and achieve the levels of competence required by the

faculty. Once enrolled in the program each candidate for the DPT degree must be able to

quickly and accurately integrate all information received, perform as a member of a healthcare

team, and demonstrate the ability to learn, integrate, analyze and synthesize information and

data.

The School of Physical Therapy will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations

for physically challenged students based upon evaluation by a recognized practitioner in the

area of disability. However, in doing so, the program must maintain the integrity of its

curriculum and preserve those elements deemed essential to the acquisition of knowledge and

demonstration of technical and decision-making skills required for the practice of physical

therapy. Students entering the program with, or acquiring deficits of these standards while

enrolled, will be evaluated by a team of faculty to determine if accommodation is feasible.

Accommodations to meet technical requirements will be at the student’s expense.

In consideration of the technical requirements of the practice of physical therapy, the

School requires each student to assure necessary ability in the following:

1. Observation: Students must have sufficient vision to be able to observe demonstrations,

experiments, and laboratory exercises. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at

distances and for close details. Students must have sufficient visual skills to scan the area for

environmental safety factors.

2. Communication: Students must be able to write, speak, hear, and observe in order to elicit

information, examine, educate, and provide interventions, describe changes in mood, activity,

and posture, and perceive non-verbal communication. Communication includes not only

speech, but also reading and writing. Students must be able to communicate effectively and

efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.

3. Motor Function and Strength: Students must have sufficient motor function and strength to

execute movements reasonably required to provide physical therapy interventions to patients

in a therapeutically effective and safe manner. Examples of interventions reasonably required

for Physical Therapists are cardiopulmonary resuscitation; lift and transfer of patients; provide

balance stability and falls guarding during transfers, gait, exercise and functional activities;

administer manual therapy techniques, set up and move equipment. Such actions require

coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of

proprioceptive, vestibular, and tactile senses.

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4. Sensory: PT students need enhanced sensory skills in coordination, proprioception,

vestibular, and tactile senses in order to complete the examination, evaluation, and application

of interventions to patients in a therapeutically effective and safe manner.

5. Mobility: Mobility in body movement and locomotion is required to provide interventions

to patients and participate in emergency care if necessary.

6. Visual Integration: Consistent with ability to assess asymmetry, range of motion, and tissue

color and texture changes, and monitor patients during activity, it is essential for the student to

have adequate visual capabilities for the integration of evaluation techniques and treatment of

the patient.

7. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able

to demonstrate ability in measurement, calculation, reasoning, comparison and contrasts,

application, critical analysis, synthesis, and problem solving. Candidates and students must

demonstrate ability to comprehend three-dimensional relationships, to understand spatial

relationships of structures, assess threats to safety, and to apply research methods to practice.

8. Behavioral and Social Abilities: Students must possess the emotional / psychological

health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment,

ability to prioritize and complete responsibilities in a timely manner, and the development of

mature, culturally sensitive relationships with faculty, other students, patients, and others in

the professional environment. Students must be able to tolerate physically and mentally taxing

workloads, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the

face of uncertainties inherent in professional education and the workplace as well as treating

the problems of patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills,

interest, and motivation are personal qualities will be assessed during the admissions and

education process. Students must possess the ability to work effectively as a team member.

9. Participation in Skills Laboratories: Active participation in all laboratory sessions is an

admission, matriculation, and graduation requirement. In the laboratory setting, students are

required to participate as patients, therapists, and observers with a variety of people

representing different physical attributes, gender, age, disabilities, religious beliefs, sexual

orientation, and ethnic backgrounds to simulate the diversity expected in the practice setting.

Students with concerns about their ability to meet these technical standards should discuss

them first with their academic advisor or a member of the student services staff. If the student

requires accommodation of or exemption from educational activities the Director of the School

of Physical Therapy must be notified in writing. Students requiring exemption from any of the

activities included in these technical standards on a temporary basis of greater than 90 days

may be requested to resign from the program.

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Approved:

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Touro University Nevada

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Technical Standards Certification

Touro University Nevada is committed to ensuring that otherwise qualified disabled

students fully and equally enjoy the benefits of a professional education. Touro

University Nevada will make reasonable accommodations necessary to enable a

disabled student who is otherwise qualified to successfully complete the degree

requirements for a Physical Therapist.

However, Touro University Nevada insists that all students meet the minimum

essential requirements to safely, efficiently and effectively practice as a Physical

Therapist. Please read the attached Technical Standards for admission.

I,_________________________, hereby certify that I have read the above mentioned

portions of the Touro University Nevada’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and

that I can meet all requirements listed therein, either without accommodation or

with reasonable accommodation from the university.

Signature: _________________________

Date: _____________________________

TUNV Universal Application Form 874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson, NV 89014

Approved:

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