Accreditation involves a process by which institutions and programs demonstrate quality and achievement of designated outcomes. A successful accreditation process requires competent reviewers who objectively evaluate information provided by the institution or program which leads to a decision about compliance with specified standards and awarding an accreditation status. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), as the sole agency recognized in the United States for awarding accreditation to physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs, has established specific quality standards for programs to achieve accreditation status, a status required for program graduates’ eligibility to sit for the national licensure examination and become a licensed physical therapy practitioner. This course is designed for those interested in accreditation, specifically specialized programmatic accreditation by CAPTE. The course defines accreditation, identifies its purposes, reviews stakeholder interest, and outlines requirements for program reviewers. 

Learning Objectives:

 Individuals successfully completing the course will:

1. Differentiate accreditation at institution and program levels.
2. Identify the purposes of accreditation, values associated with the process, and interested stakeholders affected by accreditation.
3. Complete CAPTE requirements to establish a current account for program review, travel, and reimbursement.
4. Submit required documentation for CAPTE related travel and reimbursement.
5. Identify expectations for applying CAPTE standards and rules.
6. Appraise the program review process as well as the roles, responsibilities and activities of all persons involved.
   

Individuals successfully completing the course will demonstrate competence by scoring at least 80% on the course test, complete a post-course evaluation, and participate in a 90-minute synchronous online session with accreditation staff. Accreditation staff will ask participants completing the course to confirm available dates for an upcoming program evaluation. 

Course Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recordings.
2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 80% of questions correctly.
3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org.