Director of Clinical Education, Physical Therapy (DCE)
A Director of Clinical Education (DCE) shapes the clinical experiences that bridge the classroom and the clinic in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, keeping them aligned with CAPTE standards. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates, drawn from a retained search, that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Director of Clinical Education (DCE) do?
The DCE plays a pivotal role in shaping clinical experiences that bridge the classroom and the clinic, making sure graduates are prepared to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care across diverse healthcare settings. The role oversees the development, coordination, and assessment of clinical education components within the DPT curriculum.
It requires a forward-thinking professional who excels in collaboration, relationship building, and academic leadership. The DCE works closely with clinical partners, faculty, and students to maintain compliance with CAPTE standards while fostering high-quality learning experiences, and is central to a program's mission of producing practice-ready clinicians.
A Director of Clinical Education (DCE) is the faculty member who owns the clinical phase of a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, including clinical site partnerships, student placements, and site visits. CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, sets the standards the DCE keeps clinical education aligned with.
What does this role connect?
What are the key responsibilities?
- Develop, coordinate, and oversee all aspects of the clinical education program within the DPT curriculum.
- Ensure compliance with CAPTE accreditation standards and institutional policies related to clinical education.
- Lead faculty and staff in continuous assessment and improvement of clinical education processes.
- Collaborate with faculty to integrate academic and clinical content for cohesive program delivery.
- Identify, recruit, and maintain partnerships with clinical sites that meet program standards and provide quality learning opportunities.
- Conduct site visits and maintain strong relationships with clinical instructors and organizational partners.
- Serve as a key liaison between the institution and the broader clinical community, promoting collaboration and excellence in physical therapy education.
- Advise and support students through clinical placements, performance evaluations, and professional development.
What qualifications are required?
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or terminal academic degree in a related field required.
- Active physical therapy license or eligibility for licensure in the state.
- Minimum of 3 to 5 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist and at least 2 years in academic or clinical education leadership.
- Comprehensive understanding of CAPTE standards and accreditation processes.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated success in building and maintaining clinical partnerships.
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Download the TemplateWhy is this role important?
The Director of Clinical Education is the critical link between the academic and clinical worlds, making sure students transition seamlessly from theory to practice. By cultivating strong partnerships with clinical sites and aligning education with real-world needs, the DCE strengthens the professional readiness of graduates and the reputation of the program.
This position directly affects student outcomes, community health, and the advancement of the physical therapy profession.
What does a Director of Clinical Education (DCE) earn?
In Excelon Associates' Director of Clinical Education (DCE) searches, offers have typically landed between $120,000 and $180,000 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under postsecondary education administrators (SOC 11-9033), which carried a median annual wage of $103,960 in May 2024. That category spans deans through admissions leadership, so pay for any single title can sit well off its midpoint.
CAPTE accreditation responsibility and the size of the clinical site network set the band, with large DPT programs at the top.
A hiring note from Excelon
The DCE role is a relationship engine. Its real value is the network of clinical sites willing to take students year after year, and that network walks out the door if the relationships were personal rather than institutional. We look for candidates who have built durable site partnerships and understand CAPTE's clinical education requirements cold, because both are slow and costly to rebuild.
A DPT program is only as strong as its clinical placements, and the DCE is the person who keeps those doors open.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Director of Clinical Education (DCE) do?
The DCE develops, coordinates, and assesses the clinical education components of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, working with clinical partners, faculty, and students to maintain CAPTE compliance and high-quality learning experiences.
What qualifications are required?
This sample role requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or a terminal academic degree in a related field, an active physical therapy license or eligibility, a minimum of three to five years of clinical experience as a physical therapist, and at least two years in academic or clinical education leadership.
What is CAPTE?
CAPTE is the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the body that accredits physical therapy programs in the United States. The DCE keeps clinical education aligned with CAPTE standards.
How is a DCE different from a department chair?
A DCE focuses specifically on the clinical education phase of the DPT program, including clinical site partnerships, placements, and site visits, while a department chair holds broader responsibility for the entire program's faculty, budget, and operations.
Why is this role important?
The DCE is the critical link between the academic and clinical worlds, helping students transition from theory to practice. Strong clinical partnerships and aligned education directly affect student outcomes, community health, and the program's reputation.
How much does a Director of Clinical Education (DCE) make?
Director of Clinical Education (DCE) offers in Excelon Associates' searches have typically ranged from $120,000 to $180,000 per year, against a BLS median of $103,960 for the broader postsecondary education administrators category (SOC 11-9033, May 2024). CAPTE accreditation responsibility and the size of the clinical site network set the band, with large DPT programs at the top..
Need to hire a Director of Clinical Education?
Excelon Associates recruits physical therapy and allied health education leaders for colleges and universities nationwide, connecting programs with professionals who strengthen clinical partnerships, support students, and uphold CAPTE accreditation standards. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC. The average Excelon search delivers a slate of 5 qualified candidates in 3 to 5 weeks, with 88 searches completed in the last 12 months.
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