ABPTRFE Accredited · Salaried · 14 Months
Highbar Orthopedic Residency
The most comprehensive, fully integrated, specialist-level orthopedic training in the Highbar ecosystem — designed for clinicians pursuing elite clinical reasoning, examination precision, and decisive orthopedic management.
14 Months
150 Hours 1:1 Mentorship
Full Salary During Training
Rhode Island’s Only Orthopedic Residency
Program outcomes
20
Board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists produced
100%
Pass rate on the OCS examination
9.7/10
Average rating for transformational impact on clinical practice
20
Board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists produced
100%
Pass rate on the OCS examination
9.7 / 10
Average rating for impact on clinical practice
150 Hours
Individualized 1:1 mentorship per resident
Application Timeline · 2026 Cohort
Applications open now · rolling interviews
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Open Now
Applications are being accepted through RF-PTCAS.
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Rolling
We review and interview as applications arrive. Earlier is better — the cohort is selective and positions are limited.
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September 1
Final application deadline.
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November 2, 2026
Cohort begins. The program runs 14 months from the first Monday of November.
Accredited, funded, and real
Three Facts. Any One of Them Is a Reason.
Each of these stands on its own. Together they describe a residency that is rare regionally, rare nationally, and externally accountable for its standard.
Regionally
Rhode Island’s Only Orthopedic Residency
If you want this level of training without leaving the region, this is the program. There is no second option in the state.
Nationally
Among the Few Offering Full Salary
You develop at a specialist level without going unpaid to do it. Most residencies nationally ask clinicians to absorb the cost of training in lost income. This one does not.
Externally
ABPTRFE Accredited, With University Partners
Externally governed and held to the highest educational standard in the profession, in collaboration with surrounding university partners.
ABPTRFE accredited · externally governed, held to the profession’s highest educational standard
Highbar Clinical Education
Orthopedic Residency Program Calendar
Course schedule, live discussions, labs, and major program milestones
Live virtual discussions: 7:00–9:00 PM ET
2026–2027
| Course | Course dates | Live virtual discussions | In-person lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Pain Management | Nov 2–Dec 27, 2026 | Wed, Nov 11 Mon, Nov 23* Wed, Dec 9 Mon, Dec 21* | No in-person lab |
| Management of the Lumbopelvic Region | Dec 28, 2026–Feb 21, 2027 | Wed, Jan 6 Wed, Jan 20 Wed, Feb 3 Wed, Feb 17 | Feb 20–21, 2027 |
| Management of the Cervicothoracic Region | Mar 1–Apr 25, 2027 | Wed, Mar 10 Wed, Mar 24 Wed, Apr 7 Wed, Apr 21 | Apr 24–25, 2027 |
| Management of Upper Extremity Disorders | May 3–Jun 27, 2027 | Wed, May 12 Wed, May 26 Wed, Jun 9 Wed, Jun 23 | Jun 26–27, 2027 |
| Management of Lower Extremity Disorders | Jul 5–Aug 29, 2027 | Wed, Jul 14 Wed, Jul 28 Wed, Aug 11 Wed, Aug 25 | Aug 28–29, 2027 |
| Post-Surgical Management | Sep 6–Oct 31, 2027 | Wed, Sep 15 Wed, Sep 29 Wed, Oct 13 Wed, Oct 27 | No in-person lab |
MedBridge Asynchronous Requirements
- Evidence, Measurement & Clinical Decision-Making
- Dec 27, 2026
- Diagnostic Imaging & Clinical Decision-Making
- Jan 24, 2027
- Exercise Prescription, Loading & Progression
- Feb 21, 2027
- Elective Knowledge Track
- Select May 31 Complete Sep 30
* Holiday-adjusted calls: Nov 23 and Dec 21 move to Monday of the same week.
Major Program Milestones
- Spine Case Presentation
- May 4 or 6 (make-up Jun 7)
- Midterm
- Jul 5 (make-up Jul 19)
- Extremity Case Presentation
- Sep 7 or 9 (make-up Oct 4)
- Final
- Nov 1 (make-up Nov 15)
- Capstone Submission
- Dec 13
- OCS Prep
- Oct 1, 2027–Mar 1, 2028
What differentiates this residency
One Continuous Line, Not Four Disconnected Pieces
There is no disconnect between what residents learn and what mentors reinforce.
Many residency programs operate in silos. Mentorship gets outsourced or left for residents to coordinate. Didactic content is purchased from third-party providers. Labs, lectures, and mentorship run independently of one another. Highbar’s residency is fully integrated — didactic curriculum, immersive labs, live patient reasoning, and 1:1 mentorship are all designed and delivered in-house, with educational threads deliberately connecting every component.
How most programs run
Didactic Curriculum
Content licensed from a third-party education provider.
PurchasedImmersive Labs
Scheduled separately, often taught by faculty who never see the residents again.
StandaloneLive Patient Reasoning
Happens on the resident’s own caseload, unconnected to the week’s teaching.
Unlinked1:1 Mentorship
Outsourced, or left for the resident to arrange themselves.
Self-coordinated
How this one runs
Didactic Curriculum
Written and taught in-house by the clinicians who mentor you.
In-houseImmersive Labs
Reinforce that week’s lecture with hands-on work, same faculty.
Reinforces lectureLive Patient Reasoning
Real-time diagnostic reasoning and treatment refinement on real cases.
Applies the lab1:1 Mentorship
150 structured hours refining what lecture taught and lab practiced.
Refines all threeWho This Is For
The Most Demanding Program We Run
This is the most demanding program in our education section, and it isn’t a fit for everyone reading it. It asks for 14 months structured around training rather than around your current routine. In return it is salaried, accredited, and mentored more intensively than anything else we offer. It’s built for:
Clinicians Who Want Maximum Structure
PTs seeking the highest level of structured, mentored development available in the region.
Clinicians Pursuing Board Certification
Those working toward board certification and specialist-level competence, with the OCS as the near-term target.
Clinicians Aiming Beyond the Clinic
Professionals preparing for leadership, faculty, or advanced orthopedic roles.
Program structure
What 14 Months Actually Looks Like
A progressive curriculum that integrates virtual didactics, immersive weekend labs, and applied clinical refinement — delivered while you work as a salaried clinician, not on top of it.
The Four Components
14 months of structured development — progressive virtual didactics, immersive weekend labs, and applied clinical refinement. The next cohort begins the first Monday of November.
150 hours of individualized 1:1 mentorship — delivered in a structured framework that ensures consistency, progression, and depth, rather than informal check-ins.
Live patient & case-based application — real-time diagnostic reasoning, treatment refinement, and hands-on clinical feedback.
Dedicated OCS preparation — an OCS prep course before boards, reinforcing diagnostic accuracy, reasoning clarity, and examination precision.
Capstone evidence-based project — presented at the end of the residency.
Held to a High Educational Standard
Mentors are trained as mentors — not simply assigned. The mentorship framework is itself structured and assessed.
Curriculum is in-house — The core orthopedic management curriculum is developed and delivered in-house by Highbar faculty, supplemented by selected external learning resources.
ABPTRFE accreditation — the program answers to an external accrediting body.
University partner collaboration — with surrounding academic institutions.
Growth You Can Expect
Expert-level orthopedic clinical reasoning
Highly refined examination and treatment decision-making
Confidence managing complex and high-level cases
Prepared for — and successful in — board certification
Positioned for advanced leadership, mentorship, and faculty roles
Length
14 months, beginning the first Monday of November
Next cohort
Begins November 2, 2026
Format
Virtual didactics, immersive weekend labs, applied clinical practice
Mentorship
150 hours of individualized 1:1 mentorship
Accreditation
ABPTRFE accredited, with university partner collaboration
Compensation
Full salary throughout training
Who can apply
Licensed physical therapists, including new graduates
How to apply
RF-PTCAS — the centralized application system for PT residencies
Deadline
September 1 · rolling interviews before then
The money question
Salaried, Not Self-Funded
You develop at a specialist level without going unpaid to do it.
Most residencies nationally ask a clinician to absorb the cost of training in lost income, tuition, or both. Highbar’s is among the few offering full salary during training — a compensation structure, not a discount. That is what a teaching practice looks like from the inside.
If you’re still working out whether the numbers hold together for your situation, the financial fact sheet lays them out in full. Download it before you apply, not after.
What the fact sheet covers
01
Salary during the residency — what you earn across the 14 months.
02
What’s covered by the program — curriculum, labs, mentorship hours, and the internal OCS prep course.
03
Costs that remain yours — stated plainly, so nothing arrives as a surprise mid-program.
04
What happens after — where graduates go inside Highbar, and what changes. Compare with COMT →
From clinicians who completed it
Rated 9.7 Out of 10 for Clinical Impact
Three voices lead, chosen to span the widest range of applicant profiles. Three more are a click away.
9.7
Average clinical impact rating
"I thought it was just OCS prep — it literally changed how I feel and perform as a clinician. I was always uncomfortable with the spine, and now I prefer it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND."
Hilary Bicknell
Residency Graduate
"I began the program just 8 months after graduating, and I felt fully supported every step of the way. My confidence and clinical growth have exceeded all my expectations."
Avery Carrara
Residency Graduate
"As an international student, I feel fortunate to continue my OCS journey with Highbar. It's strengthened my skills, boosted my confidence, and improved how I guide patients toward self-management."
Rovena Prekulaj
Residency Graduate
Frequently asked questions
Before You Apply
What is RF-PTCAS, and why does the application leave your site?
RF-PTCAS is the centralized application system used for physical therapy residencies nationally — the same system you would use to apply to residencies at other organizations. It isn’t a Highbar system, so the application itself lives there. The step off our site is expected, not a detour. See exactly what happens when you click →
Can I apply as a new graduate?
Yes. Residents have joined within months of graduating from PT school, with the mentorship structure built to support exactly that. One of the graduates quoted above began eight months after finishing school.
Is this a paid position?
Yes. Residents receive full salary throughout the 14 months. Highbar is among the few programs nationally that do this. See the financial fact sheet →
What does ABPTRFE accreditation actually mean?
The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education accredits residency programs against the profession’s educational standards. It means the program’s curriculum, mentorship, and outcomes are externally governed and audited rather than self-declared.
How selective is the cohort?
Positions are limited and the cohort is deliberately small, which is what makes 150 hours of individualized mentorship per resident possible. We review and interview on a rolling basis, so applying earlier meaningfully improves your position.
Should I do the residency or COMT?
Both draw from the same accredited curriculum. Residency is immersive and salaried across 14 months; COMT delivers the curriculum around a full-time caseload over a longer period. Compare them side by side →
I'm interested but not ready to apply. What now?
Schedule a conversation with our clinical faculty before you start the application, not only after. Residency is a meaningful professional commitment and a 20-minute call will get you further than another hour of reading. Schedule a call →
Ready to apply
Applications Are Open
The cohort begins November 2, 2026. Final deadline: September 1. We review and interview on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.
One thing worth knowing before you click: applications go through RF-PTCAS, the standard centralized application system for PT residencies nationally. It's the same system used across the profession — so the step off our site is expected, not a detour.
01
You'll create an RF-PTCAS account
A standard online application. It doesn’t take long to get started, and you can save and return to it.
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You'll select Highbar Physical Therapy
Find the Highbar Orthopedic Residency in the program list and add it to your application.
03
We review as applications arrive
Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis rather than all at once after the deadline. Applying earlier means being reviewed earlier.
04
The cohort begins November 2, 2026
Fourteen months, salaried, starting the first Monday of November.
Start Your Application
Highbar Orthopedic Residency · cohort beginning November 2, 2026
You'll continue on
- rfptcas.cas.myliaison.com
RF-PTCAS — the centralized application service for PT residencies, operated by the profession, not by Highbar.
✅ ABPTRFE accredited
📅 Deadline September 1
Residency or COMT?
TWO PATHWAYS. DIFFERENT LEVELS OF IMMERSION.
Both programs are built around Highbar’s evidence-informed orthopedic curriculum and emphasize clinical reasoning, examination, treatment selection, progression, and reassessment.
The difference is how deeply you want to immerse yourself in the experience.
You're on this page
Accredited Orthopedic residency
The most immersive pathway.
Designed for clinicians who want orthopedic development integrated into their day-to-day clinical practice, with extensive mentorship, structured assessment, and progressive responsibility throughout the program.
Mentorship
150 hours of one-to-one clinical mentorship with experienced orthopedic clinicians.
Format
Full-time residency experience integrating clinical practice, mentorship, coursework, live discussions, labs, and competency assessment.
Timeline
14 months.
Accreditation
ABPTRFE-accredited orthopedic residency.
Cost
No tuition. Residents remain salaried throughout the program.
Best if
You want the highest level of immersion, individualized mentorship, and structured clinical development—and are ready to make residency a major focus of your professional growth for 14 months.
Curriculum
Full ABPTRFE-accredited orthopedic residency curriculum, including advanced coursework, clinical application, assessment, and additional residency-specific learning experiences.
The other path
CERTIFIED ORTHOPEDIC MUSCULOSKELETAL THERAPIST (COMT)
Advanced orthopedic training with greater flexibility.
Designed for clinicians who want substantial orthopedic development without the time, mentorship, and clinical-integration requirements of a full residency.
Mentorship
Faculty guidance through scheduled case discussions and laboratory instruction without the 150-hour one-to-one mentorship requirement of residency.
Format
Self-paced online coursework, scheduled faculty-led virtual discussions, and focused in-person laboratory intensives.
Timeline
14–24 months, allowing greater flexibility in how the program fits around clinical and personal responsibilities.
Accreditation
Residency-informed; COMT is not itself ABPTRFE-accredited.
Cost
$4,800 for external participants. No tuition for eligible Highbar clinicians.
Best if
You want advanced orthopedic training and hands-on development in a flexible, focused pathway without committing to the full immersion and extensive mentorship requirements of residency.
Curriculum
184 hours of structured education built around the five core orthopedic management courses shared with Highbar’s residency curriculum.
WHICH PATH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Choose Residency if you want orthopedic development embedded into your clinical practice with intensive mentorship and the structure of an accredited residency.
Choose COMT if you want access to the core orthopedic curriculum and hands-on training with substantially more flexibility and a lower overall time commitment.
Both are designed to make you a better orthopedic clinician. The difference is how much immersion you want along the way.
Neither one quite right? There are seven programs in the Highbar education section, from a single weekend lab through to this residency. Start at the hub and work out which depth fits where you are now.
Applications Close September 1
Fourteen months, salaried, 150 hours of mentorship, and a 100% OCS pass rate behind it. Interviews are rolling — the earlier you apply, the earlier you're reviewed.