THE APTA CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALING PROGRAM: A COMPARISON OF PARTICIPANTS AND NON- PARTICIPANTS REGARDING THE PERCEIVED NEED AND INDIVIDUAL CLINICAL INSTRUCTION SKILLS. Stacey L. Stephens; William D. Bandy* Physical Therapy, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how clinical instructors (CIs) who completed the APTA Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program compared to CIs who did not participate in the program in regard to how CIs value the education program and self-rated clinical instruction skills. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: The APTA has offered a voluntary Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program since 1996. Although in existence for over 15 years no data, to date, has been published on the effects of the program as compared to those that did not participate in the program. Therefore, this study was undertaken. SUBJECTS: Thirty-four subjects comprised two groups. Group one (program-participants) consisted of twenty (15 female and 5 male) participants who successfully completed an APTA CI Education and Credentialing Program. These participants were surveyed four months after the course (response rate = 70%). Group two (non-participants) consisted of twenty (12 female and 8 male) CIs who did not attend the course but responded to a mailed survey (response rate= 67%). Average years experience as a CI for program-participants was 5.89 (range 1-18 years) and for non-participants 8.70 years (range 3-22 years). Fifty percent of program-participants and 60% of non-participants were APTA members; and as highest degree 60% of program-participants and 50% of non-participants held the masters, 30% of program- participants and 45% of non-participants held the bachelors, and 10% of program-participants held the DPT, while one of the non-participants held the DC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Surveys were used to (1) collect information about each CI and (2) assess, using a five-point Likert scale of strongly disagree (1.0) to strongly agree (5.0), whether CIs viewed a credentialing program as an asset, and whether the program was necessary to be a good CI and (3) to assess how comfortable they were performing 10 general clinical instruction skills. ANALYSES: Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Program-participants rated the program as an asset to being a CI (mean = 4.36) at a higher level than non-participants (mean=3.60). Both program-participants (mean = 2.57) and non-participants (mean = 2.50) thought that the course was not necessary to be a competent CI. In regard to the 10 clinical skills, the majority of program-participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were comfortable performing all 10 skills; while, the non-participants agreed that they were comfortable performing 8 of the 10 skills and less than half agreed they were comfortable performing two of the skills (identifying legal issues including ADA and dismissing a student). Both groups agreed that they were comfortable planning/preparing for students, setting goals, using questioning and feedback, communicating, defining student readiness, and adjusting supervisory approach. In addition, both groups rated the same skills as lowest including documenting student performance, managing exceptional students, identifying legal implications including ADA, and dismissing students. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical instructors who completed the APTA Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program (four months prior) and those who did not participate agreed that the course was not necessary to be a competent CI; although, program participants rated the course as an asset to anyone serving as a CI more often than non-participants. Overall, both groups rated themselves similarly on 10 clinical instruction abilities. Participants and non-participants generally rated themselves as comfortable performing the skills with the exception of two skills. Also, ratings for both groups were lower for similar clinical instructor skills. Future research examining the CI Credentialing Program on a regional and national level with a larger sample size is encouraged. FUNDING SOURCE: Funded by the University of Central Arkansas Department of Physical Therapy, Conway, Arkansas. No monetary reward pending. KEYWORDS: clinical education, clinical instructor, credentialing, clinical instruction skills Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.