Criminal Background Check

Upon acceptance of a conditional offer of admission, all matriculating students will be subject to a criminal history records check. The check will reflect all prior convictions, including felonies (serious crimes) and misdemeanors (lesser crimes, including but not limited to public intoxication; possession of illegal substance; or possession of alcohol under the legal age). In some cases, the report may reflect “expunged” records. The objective of these checks is to enhance patient health and safety, facilitate student access to affiliated clinical facilities, and ensure eligibility for licensure. PTHMS follows the background check procedures utilized by other programs within the Feinberg School of Medicine.

Acceptance decisions are provisional, pending the required criminal background check, and may be revoked if the background check yields any criminal information. Should the background check yield criminal information, the applicant will be provided an opportunity to respond to any positive result reported.

The following definitions apply:

"Sex offender" means any person who is convicted pursuant to Illinois law or any substantially similar federal, Uniform Code of Military Justice, sister state, or foreign country law with any of the following sex offenses set forth in the Criminal Code of 1961:

Indecent solicitation of a child.
Sexual exploitation of a child.
Custodial sexual misconduct.
Exploitation of a child.
Child pornography.

"Violent felony" means any of the following offenses, as defined by the Criminal Code of 1961:

First degree murder.
Second degree murder.
Predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Aggravated criminal sexual assault.
Criminal sexual assault.
Aggravated arson.
Aggravated kidnapping.
Kidnapping.
Aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement.

Acceptance into the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum does not imply or guarantee that the student will be able to obtain state licensure upon graduation.