Practice-Oriented Examination as a Component of the Unified State Qualification Examination for Bachelor’s Degree Students in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy

On June 15, 2026, a Practice-Oriented Examination (POE) was conducted at the Simulation Training Center of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University to assess the knowledge and practical skills of 38 fourth-year bachelor’s degree students majoring in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

As a component of the students’ final attestation, the Practice-Oriented Examination aimed to evaluate the level of professional competencies and learning outcomes acquired through the study of specialized educational components in the following disciplines: Neurology and Neurosurgery (Profession-Oriented Course), Examination, Assessment and Monitoring Methods for Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Fundamentals of Cardiology and Pulmonology (Profession-Oriented Course).

The examiners assessed various aspects of professional competence, including communication skills and professional ethics, subjective and objective patient assessment and monitoring, evaluation, planning and prognosis of the rehabilitation process, as well as the implementation of rehabilitation interventions.

The Examination Board consisted of:

Petro Skobliak (Chair of the Board) – Deputy General Director for Rehabilitation, Physical Therapist at the Ternopil Regional Clinical Psychoneurological Hospital, Assistant Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Education, TNMU;

Professor Arkadii Shulhai – Vice-Rector for Science and Education;

Associate Professor Svitlana Kucher – Dean of the Medical Faculty;

Liubomyr Synoverskyi – Chief Physician of the Bilche-Zolote Regional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Hospital;

Zinovii Yasenyk – General Director of the Mykulyntsi Regional Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Hospital;

Inha Kubei – Director of the Rehabilitation Center of the Ternopil Regional Center for Child Rehabilitation and Development;

Rostyslav Levchuk – Director of Ternopil Municipal City Hospital No. 2;

Ulyana Hevko (Secretary of the Board) – Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Education.

The examiners included:

Neurology and Neurosurgery (Profession-Oriented Course):
Professor Ihor Mysula, Professor Tetiana Bakaliuk, Professor Andrii Holiachenko, Professor Iryna Kamyshna, Associate Professor Yurii Zavidniuk, Associate Professor Nadiia Makarchuk, Associate Professor Halyna Stelmakh, and Assistant Professor Yaroslav Panasiuk.

Examination, Assessment and Monitoring Methods for Musculoskeletal Disorders:
Professor Dariia Popovych, Associate Professor Valentyna Boiko, Associate Professor Olena Vaida, Associate Professor Anastasiia Bai, Assistant Professor Andrii Havrylenko, and Associate Professor Nataliia Davybida.

Fundamentals of Cardiology and Pulmonology (Profession-Oriented Course):
Professor Oleksandr Susla, Associate Professor Larysa Martyniuk, Associate Professor Olena Prokopovych, and Associate Professor Sofiia Lypovetska.

Each student completed 12 stations sequentially, with each station designed to assess specific professional competencies and practical skills. Student performance at each station was evaluated using electronic digital checklists developed in accordance with approved algorithms and assessment criteria for the practical training of future physical therapists.

We express our sincere gratitude to the members of the Examination Board for the high level of organization and objective assessment of the students’ performance. It is worth noting that the students demonstrated a high level of practical skills, solid professional preparation, and the ability to apply their acquired competencies effectively within clinical station settings.