CAPTE Accreditation Portal
The CAPTE Accreditation Portal allows for the electronic submission of program documents. Since the Portal contains confidential program information, access is allowed only with the username and password provided to the program director. Programs with Candidacy Status can check contact information and submit reports (Self-study Report, Annual Report, and Progress Reports) on the Portal.
Resource Documents
Accreditation Handbook
Provides the rules of procedure by which CAPTE operates, includes among other items:
- Candidacy Process (Part 7)
- Accreditation Process (Part 8)
- Substantive Change Rules (Part 9)
- Program Fees (Part 16)
- Standards and Required Elements (PTA; PT)
- CAPTE Position Papers
To access additional information regarding the On-site Visit process including the sample schedule, click here (.pdf).
Annual Accreditation Report (AAR)
Data about Candidate programs is collected annually in the Developing Program AAR and is used to monitor program development. The next Developing Program AAR is due December 1.
Aggregate Program Data
Includes demographic information accredited PT and PTA education programs and the numbers of accredited and developing programs.
Additional Resources
A list of useful CAPTE and APTA documents is provided, along with related web pages.
Documents Related to Standards and Required Elements
PT Standards and Required Elements (.doc) [effective January 1, 2016]
PTA Standards and Required Elements (.doc) [effective January 1, 2016]
SSR Instructions and Forms (.doc) (This document is for BOTH PT and PTA programs that are developing a Self-study Report (SSR); it is not to be used in the development of an Application for Candidacy. If you are looking for individuals forms for submission of a Compliance Report/Progress Report, this packet contains: Program Assessment Matrix, CV required format, Scholarship Form, Retention Rate table, Graduation Rate table, Allocations & Expense table, and Clin Ed Placements Available table.)
Side by Side Comparisons of the Standards and Required Elements to the Evaluative CriteriaFor PTA Programs (.xls)
For PT Programs (.xls)
Cheat Sheets (one page list of elements) PTA Cheat Sheet (.doc) (single page listing of elements)
PT Cheat Sheet (.doc) (single page listing of elements)
For Use with Web CPI DocumentsPT CPI Performance Criteria Matched with Elements for PT Programs (.pdf)
PTA CPI Performance Criteria Matched with Elements for PTA Programs (.pdf)
Self-study Process
Any changes to the program's timeline to complete the program for the charter class must be reported to the Accreditation Department.
Candidate programs submit a Self-study Report and host an on-site visit as part of the process to obtain Accreditation status. Initial accreditation decisions are only made by CAPTE during their regularly scheduled meetings (Fall and Spring). The related on-site visit for initial accreditation decisions always occurs late in the penultimate term of the charter class and at least ten (10) weeks prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at which the initial accreditation decision is scheduled to be made. Exceptions to this requirement will not be considered by CAPTE. Since state licensing laws require graduates to be from CAPTE accredited programs, it is not advisable to have students graduate from a program prior to the program achieving accreditation. Graduation prior to accreditation delays the ability of students to take the licensing exam and, therefore, begin employment.
Self-study Reports are submitted electronically through the CAPTE Accreditation Portal. The required documents, including instructions for and access to the Portal documents, are provided to the program director in January in the year preceding the visit.
Self-study Workshops
APTA's Accreditation Department holds Self-study Workshops three times a year. These Workshops are held to discuss CAPTE's expectations for specific criteria as well as to address general accreditation and self-study processes.
Consultants
A list of educational consultants, if desired, can be obtained from Libby Ross, APTA Director of Academic Services.
CAPTE Meetings & Visits
Upcoming CAPTE Meetings
Upcoming On-site & Candidacy Visits
APTA Curriculum Resources for Educators
A “Blueprint for Teaching Cultural Competence in Physical Therapy Education” and other resources to facilitate academic program curriculum development, review and enhancement are available to PT and PTA Educators.