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CAPTE Adopts 2024 Standards and Required Elements
CAPTE adopted new Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education Programs and new Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Assistant Programs. All programs should refer to the 2024 Standards ad Required Elements Transition Plan for when the new standards will apply. CAPTE expects all programs to meet the new standards and required elements as of Jan. 1, 2026.
Thank you to the Standards and Review Group for their work over the past two years.
| Peggy Gleeson, Chair | CAPTE Central Panel |
| Pat Brown | CAPTE Central Panel |
| Pam Ritzline | CAPTE Central Panel |
| Scott Davis | American Council of Academic Physical Therapy |
| Sammi Beckman | CAPTE PTA Panel |
| Christina Howard | PTA Special Interest Group |
| Senobia Crawford | APTA Academy of Education |
| Lisa Bradley | CAPTE PT Panel |
| Kristin Greenwood | External Member |
| James Schanandore, PhD | External Member - non-PT/non-PTA |
The Commission thanks all those who provided feedback on the adequacy of previous PT Standards and Required Elements and PTA Standards and Required Elements as well as the multiple drafts of the revised standards.
Accreditation staff established a standards and required elements transition plan that includes a timetable on page four.
2024 Standards and Required Elements Transition Plan
Programs should review the 2024 Standards and Required Elements Transition Plan for the standards to which your program will write when submitting self-study reports, application for candidacy reports, compliance or progress reports, application for approval of substantive change, annual accreditation reports, and other CAPTE documents. Contact accreditation staff at accreditation@apta.org should you have any questions.
GLOSSARY
The glossary contains definitions of terms referenced in the Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Education Programs and Standards and Required Elements for Accreditation of Physical Therapist Assistant Programs.
The CAPTE Accreditation Handbook comprises the official operating policies, practices, and procedures used by CAPTE. It includes the Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Standards and Required Elements for PTs and PTAs, and CAPTE's Position Papers.
For ease of use, the Handbook is divided into those four parts:
Rules of Practice and Procedure
Contains CAPTE’s official operating policies, procedures, and practices, which the commission reviews regularly. The most recent revisions are highlighted in yellow.
2016 PT Standards and Required Elements
Defines the standards and required elements for accreditation as a physical therapist education program.
2016 PTA Standards and Required Elements
Defines the standards and required elements for accreditation as a physical therapist assistant education program.
2024 PT Standards and Required Elements
Defines the standards and required elements for accreditation as a physical therapist education program.
2024 PTA Standards and Required Elements
Defines the standards and required elements for accreditation as a physical therapist assistant education program.
2016 - 2024 PT SRE Crosswalk
This crosswalk highlights the differences between the 2016 SREs and the 2024 SREs.
2016 - 2024 PTA SRE crosswalk
This crosswalk highlights the differences between the 2016 SREs and the 2024 SREs.
CAPTE Position Papers
Lists the positions that CAPTE has adopted, with adoption and revision dates, as well as positions the commission has rescinded. The most recent revisions are highlighted.