Highbar Physical therapy & Health blog

Many outpatient physical therapy clinics describe themselves as supportive, collaborative, or mentorship-focused.
But a teaching practice is something different. It’s a clinic that is intentionally designed to develop students, new grads, and early-career clinicians—not just accommodate them.

For PT students and new grads who want a strong learning environment, understanding what a teaching practice is and how it functions can help you choose rotations and early career roles that accelerate growth and confidence.

What a Teaching Practice Is

A teaching practice is a clinic or multi-site organization where teaching, mentorship, and structured learning are core parts of the clinic’s identity—not an add-on.

Characteristics often include:

• Regular student involvement
• Established CI development
• Predictable mentorship structures
• Dedicated time for teaching and feedback
• Systems that support early-career clinicians
• Opportunities to observe, co-treat, or participate in case discussions
• A culture that values growth and development

Teaching practices aren’t built around one clinician who enjoys mentoring.
They are built around an institutional commitment to developing clinicians at every stage.

Why Teaching Practices Benefit PT Students

Students often learn more efficiently in teaching environments because:

• There are clear expectations

Teaching practices outline:

• What the student will see
• What the student will practice
• How often feedback will be given
• What milestones they should hit at each stage

This predictability reduces stress and improves learning.

CIs are prepared to teach

Clinicians are selected or trained based on their ability to mentor, not just their availability.

Students experience a more organized rotation

Teaching practices typically have:

• Orientation processes
• Weekly check-ins
• Structured exposure to different clinicians
• Routine opportunities to observe complex cases
• Students develop confidence sooner

Because feedback is consistent and actionable, students progress quickly and feel more comfortable in the clinic.

Understanding potential clinical settings can be easier when you browse outpatient examples, such as a clinic map like this: highbarhealth.com/locations

(This helps illustrate how multi-clinic teaching environments often operate.)

How Teaching Practices Support New Graduates

For new grads, a teaching practice offers a smoother and more supported launch into full-time practice.

Structured Mentorship

Mentorship is:

• Scheduled
• Protected
• Assigned
• Graduated over time
• Focused on both clinical and professional development

This prevents the common “figure it out alone” experience many new grads face.

Gradual Caseload Progression

Instead of starting with a full caseload immediately, new grads typically ramp up over 8–12 weeks.

Skill Progression Plans

Teaching practices often publish or outline:

• Month-by-month expectations
• Competency milestones
• Evaluation skills
• Documentation progressions

A clear progression reduces anxiety and promotes steady development.

Opportunities to Teach and Lead

New grads can:

• Assist with students
• Help in case discussions
• Lead small learning sessions over time
• Teaching reinforces learning and builds early professional identity.

Examples of how clinics might structure growth pathways can be seen on sites like: highbarhealth.com/careers

How a Teaching Practice Differs from a High-Volume Clinic

Not all outpatient clinics operate the same way.
A teaching practice stands apart from higher-volume or productivity-focused models in several ways:

Teaching Practice                     High-Volume / Non-Teaching Model
Structured mentorship             Limited or inconsistent mentorship
Predictable caseload ramp-up  Full caseload on day one
Protected learning time            Learning happens only if it fits into schedule gaps
Clear feedback loops                Feedback is reactive or sporadic
Culture of collaboration            Clinicians work more independently
Emphasis on development        Emphasis on throughput

This doesn’t mean high-volume clinics cannot be great environments.
But they often require stronger time-management skills up front and may be harder for new grads who benefit from guided development.

What to Look for When Evaluating a Teaching Practice

If you want to determine whether a clinic truly operates as a teaching practice, ask:

“How is mentorship scheduled for new clinicians?”

“Do you assign dedicated mentors?”

“What does the first 90 days look like for a new grad?”

“How often do you take students?”

“How do clinicians collaborate or review cases together?”

“Is there time reserved for learning, case discussion, or feedback?”

Clinics with real teaching infrastructure will answer these questions directly and confidently.

Why the Teaching Practice Model Matters

Strong teaching environments help students and new grads:

• Develop clinical reasoning
• Build sustainable caseloads
• Improve documentation efficiency
• Gain confidence more quickly
• Reduce early-career stress and burnout
• Establish healthy long-term clinical habits
• Feel supported as part of a community

Your first two years in the profession have an outsized impact on your long-term satisfaction.
Choosing an environment designed to help you grow—not just perform—can set the foundation for a strong, sustainable PT career.