Course Description
APTA's Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program (CCIP) is a nationally recognized program which provides training and development to clinical educators from a variety of health care professions. Courses are led by experienced clinicians who incorporate an impressive amount of clinical experience and professional expertise to their classroom instruction. Each of these individuals has successfully completed the CCIP trainer course, which occurs once every two years and involves three full days of training and interaction as candidates acquire and apply the information necessary to demonstrate their ability to serve as course instructors.
Course content focuses on adult and active experiential learning approaches. Participants are presumed to have a command of didactic content related to clinical teaching, supervision, and evaluation upon entering this course. By the end of the course, participants are expected to:
- demonstrate familiarity with CCIP course content,
- competently manage the Assessment Center,
- teach selected content by integrating active teaching strategies to different levels of learners, and
- demonstrate the ability to independently conduct CCIP courses.
Final decisions regarding the awarding of the clinical trainer credential are made by a group of experienced course trainers who serve as part of a programmatic workgroup. Their decision is based on successfully meeting established criteria as reflected by faculty evaluations, ability of candidates to accurately self-assess, and the attainment of performance criteria.
Once the decision has been made to award the clinical trainer credential, participants are expected and entitled to independently provide the CCIP for academic programs, consortia's, clinical sites, or other sponsors on request.
The most recent trainer course took place in October, 2012, at APTA headquarters in Alexandria, VA, and will not occur again until spring of 2014.
Course Application
Course participation is available to selected applicants who meet certain prerequisites and who have completed a thorough application and review process. Mandatory course prerequisites include:
- status as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant as evidenced by current documentation that meets state regulations to provide physical therapy services as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant (eg, licensure, certification, registration),
- current membership in APTA,
- minimum of 2 years as a CCCE, or 2 years as an ACCE, or 3 years combined experience as a CCCE and ACCE,
- experience as a CI for students,
- APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor status,
- teaching experience including different levels of learners and class size,
- commitment and willingness to provide ongoing training of clinical educators for a minimum of 3 years,
- access to a viable mechanism for providing CCIP courses, and
- completion of application materials by the stated deadline to include ALL of the following:
- 6-page applicant dossier, including a reference from the applicant's direct supervisor,
- self-assessment form completed by the applicant,
- reference form completed by a student/learner that the applicant has supervised or taught (must be submitted in a sealed envelope), and
- reference form completed by a colleague/peer who has observed the applicant's performance as a clinical or academic teacher (must be submitted in a sealed envelope).
Credentialed Clinical Trainer Benefits
The benefits to the individual, his/her employer, and the profession by becoming a credentialed clinical trainer include:
- support for career enhancement in areas such as promotion, tenure, educational advancement, and career ladder advancement
- national recognition as both a credentialed clinical trainer and credentialed clinical instructor
- access to the credentialed trainer online community
- opportunities to network with other credentialed clinical trainers through an annual credentialed clinical trainer forum and update at Combined Sections Meeting.
- opportunity, if desired, to receive honoraria for services (in addition to travel, hotel and food expenses, if applicable), of a maximum of $600 per individual trainer or a maximum of $1,200 per program with multiple trainers teaching the Program. Honoraria provide sufficient funds for the Credentialed Trainer to annually maintain APTA national, chapter, and education section dues to maintain status as a credentialed clinical trainer.
If you have questions or require assistance with this information, please contact ccip@apta.org.