Accreditation

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. 

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT;www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website. 

Auburn University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1st, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional/technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional/technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedure (22.3.12) 53 progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation. 

Timeline to Accreditation 2021: Inception – $2.5M MEF to Kinesiology funds the start of the AUPT Program 2023: Start – Hire of inaugural Program Director and Director for Clinical Education; Program Development Approval CAPTE, Start Renovation and construction in Kinesiology Building and Student Activities Center; Faculty searches fall 2023 2024: AFC – Application for Candidacy due May 1, 2024 (Site visit July 24 TBD); Faculty Hires for first 2 years; 60 Clinical sites; SACHSCOC Substantiative Change Submission; Admissions – fall 2024 2025: Charter Class – May 25 Charter class of 38 starts; Fall 2025 open admissions for cohort 2; fall 2025 searches for 3 faculty specialists 2027: Site-visit – Fall 2027 Initial accreditation self-study submission; fall 2027 CAPTE site visit 2028: Graduation – April 28 Initial 5-year accreditation; May 28 charter cohort graduates; July 28 National PT Board Exams

News

An Auburn faculty member and students work lead a community member through physical therapy exercises
Caring for health

Setting it apart from other programs in the state, Auburn has a distinctive approach to physical therapy education. Supported by the generosity of the Auburn Family, the program is grounded by experiential learning and meaningful community impact and fueled by real-world research.
An artist rendering of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program
Applications open for DPT program

October is National Physical Therapy Month, and Auburn is gearing up to launch its inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy program next summer.
a physical therapist helps a woman stretch her core
Husband-wife team to guide School of Kinesiology’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program

The husband-and-wife team of Harsimran Baweja and Niyati Shah will lead the new Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology,
A physical therapist works with an athlete in a lab.
Engaging health care

Students interested in a career in health care will want to attend Auburn University’s Health Care Industry Week lineup of events Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
Last updated: 10/22/2024