Do you offer a residency or fellowship distance learning program?
No, Brooks does not offer a distance learning program. All residents and fellows become employees of Brooks Rehabilitation and complete most of the curriculum in-person.
How long are the Brooks’ residency and fellowship programs?
The physical therapy residency programs are one year in length (July – July)
The occupational therapy neurologic fellowship program is one year in length (July – July)
The OMPT fellowship is two years in length (July Year 1– July Year 2)
Are the residency and fellowship programs available only to those available to work full time, or can part-time employees apply?
For therapists already employed with Brooks Rehabilitation, the requirement is that individuals must hold, at minimum, a part-time position. Therapists who are not employed at Brooks when applying to a program must be able to work full-time upon acceptance into the program.
Do you accept licensed physical therapists with prior clinical experience into the residency and fellowship programs?
Yes, we accept therapists with prior clinical experience into our program. Our resident/fellowship programs are comprised of new graduates from accredited physical and occupational therapy programs as well as clinicians with prior experience.
If I graduate in June, will I be able to start the residency program immediately after?
The process to attain a Florida Physical Therapy License is lengthy and typically takes 6-8 weeks or more. We require that incoming residents have verification of their Florida Physical Therapy license by the second Friday in June.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for all of our residency and fellowship programs open in RF-PTCAS early October and close mid-January.
Applications for one of the Physical Therapy residency or fellowship program may be found online at RF-PTCAS
Instructions for applying to the Brooks Occupational Neurologic Therapy Fellowship are available here.
Is there an interview associated with the application and what is the process?
Applicants that complete an application for the Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy Residency or Fellowship programs are provided directions for, and asked to submit a short video after we process the application. Your full application is then reviewed, and if you are selected to move on to the next level in the process, you will receive an invitation to a live interview day. Live interviews are conducted in person on the Brooks Rehabilitation campus however; in some circumstances, a virtual interview may be arranged. The interview process consists of a 30-60-minute group interview, an opportunity for applicants to have conversations with faculty and past graduates, as well as a tour of our facilities and clinics.
How will I know if I have been accepted to one of the residency fellowship programs?
After completion of the live interviews, Program Coordinators initiate a personal phone call to inform you of your acceptance status. Shortly after the personal phone call, those accepted will receive an acceptance letter from the Brooks Institute of Higher Learning.
Does Brooks provide housing assistance for residents and/or fellows?
No, Brooks does not assist with obtaining housing. Past participants have sought rooming opportunities with other participants or secured long-term Airbnb.
Regarding the recommendation letters in the application process, is it okay to have the recommending clinicians write their own letter of recommendation in addition to the form Brooks provides?
Yes. However, we do ask that the recommendation letter and recommendation form be mailed together.
Regarding the Orthopaedic Residency and OMPT Fellowship application process, do I have to complete a University of North Florida application in addition to RF-PTCAS application for Brooks Rehabilitation?
Brooks is partnered with the University of North Florida; however, you will not need to complete any additional paperwork for UNF during the application process. Once accepted to the Orthopaedic Residency or OMPT Fellowship, you will be asked to complete the UNF application. Tuition is paid by Brooks however; fees are the responsibility of the applicant.
Regarding the list of continuing education courses attend in the last 5 years, is it appropriate to list my attendance at a conference here?
Regarding CEU Courses the format we suggest is to list the course title (such as Conference Title), how many contact hours you received, who was the sponsoring organization (APTA, AOTA etc.), and then the Instructor (for a conference session it would be “Multiple Speakers” or the instructor for the specific course you attended). Don’t worry about the certification component for the course at this time. We do not require the certificates of completion for CEU courses. If you are a current student that has not taken any CE courses, simply write the word “student” in one of the fields.
I am a student applying for one of the Brooks’ residency or fellowship programs. What information should I provide on the professional license verification section of the application?
In this section, students should simply state that they are a student. We also ask that you provide the date you plan to take the Florida licensure exam.
Is the resident and fellow a salaried employee with benefits?
Yes, residents and fellows are full-time salaried employees of Brooks Rehabilitation and receive compensation based on a number of factors (i.e., years of experience, certifications, etc.). Residents and fellows are eligible for our full benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurance.
Where will I practice if I am accepted to a residency or fellowship program?
Within the Brooks’ system of care, there are over 40 outpatient clinics, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, a home health division, and two skilled nursing facilities. Your placement will depend on the program you apply to. The majority of placements occur in the greater Jacksonville area.
If I am accepted into a Brooks’ residency or fellowship program, will I have to pay tuition?
Applicants accepted into a Brooks’ residency or fellowship program must commit to 1-year of employment with Brooks Rehabilitation after graduation from the program, or pay $15,000 tuition.
Upon graduation, will I be required to remain at Brooks as part of my program requirement?
Applicants accepted into a Brooks’ residency or fellowship program must commit to 1-year of employment with Brooks Rehabilitation after graduation from the program, or pay $15,000 tuition.
Will I receive mentoring during the residency or fellowship program?
Yes, in accordance with our accrediting guidelines you will receive no less than 150 hours of 1:1 mentoring if enrolled in a physical therapy residency and 130 hours for the OMPT Fellowship program. Therapists enrolled in our OT Fellowship will receive >/ 350 hours of mentored service delivery.
As a resident or fellow, will there be any learning opportunities involving other specialties or professions?
Absolutely. Our residents and fellows-in-training participate in a unified foundational curriculum where cases are discussed from multiple clinical perspectives. Additionally while practicing within our system you will be exposed to numerous opportunities for consultative practice and interprofessional collaboration.
What will my schedule look like?
Your schedule is programmed by your Program Coordinator based on your work environment (inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic etc. Residents and fellows-in-training work full time, maintaining a full patient caseload, in addition to completing the scheduled classes and learning activities. You will be expected to work full-time, carry a full patient caseload, and maintain the required educational tasks/assignments.
Does Brooks support conference participation?
Conference attendance and participation is an important component of the learning and networking process. Brooks encourages residents and fellows to submit an abstract to national, state, and/or local conferences based on research they are participating in. A stipend is awarded to a resident or fellow based on their participation level (Poster Presentation, Platform, or Education Session). A stipend is not available for attendance only.
Can I defer my student loans while a resident and/or fellow?
For additional information, please contact us at info@brooksihl.org
Is there an interview associated with the Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship application and what is the process?
Those accepted for a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship are considered full-time employees for the agreed upon timeframe determined between the clinician and the hiring manager. Based on this, there is a traditional interview process arranged with the hiring manager.