How to Provide Comments to CAPTE About Programs Under Review

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is a nationally recognized accrediting agency. As part of CAPTE's recognition by the US Department of Education, the agency is encouraged to develop a method for allowing written comments to be provided about physical therapy education programs prior to review by CAPTE.

CAPTE has determined that one method of soliciting comments will be through this web site. Individuals wishing to make comments about a CAPTE accredited program or one seeking CAPTE accreditation may do so in the following manner:

• Review the list of programs with scheduled on-site review visits (Click to view a list of programs scheduled to be visited within the next year) (PT or PTA);
• If you wish to submit written testimony about the program, you must provide the following information:
  • Comments must be related to the published Evaluative Criteria (PT or PTA) and must identify the specific program;
  • Written comments must include your name, address and telephone contact;
  • Comments received at least two weeks prior to the scheduled on-site visit will be provided to the on-site team for investigation and to the program for a response, if needed, or for information. Both the written comments and the response, if any, will be provided to CAPTE in its deliberation on the program;
  • Comments received later than two weeks prior to the on-site visit will be provided to CAPTE in its deliberation on the program only if there is verifiable evidence that the comments have been shared with the program.

NOTE: There are established procedures for filing a formal complaint about a CAPTE accredited program or one seeking CAPTE accreditation. (Click here for access to information about the formal complaint process.) If the nature of a concern may fall into the possibility of a formal complaint, you are urged to contact the Department of Accreditation to discuss the nature of your complaint and to determine what procedures should be taken to initiate the formal complaint process.

[Last updated: 07/07/09 | Contact: accreditation@apta.org]