Springfield College PT Program Awarded 10-year Accreditation Cycle

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Physical Therapy (PT) program recently was awarded a 10-year accreditation cycle by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the longest accreditation cycle presented by CAPTE.

This recognition is a result of the PT program being in full compliance with national accreditation standards. “This is the best possible outcome from a reaccreditation process,” said program Chair Julia Chevan. “For the faculty and students, it is confirmation of what we already know, that we have an educational program which meets professional standards and which meets its mission of preparing highly qualified therapists for exemplary professional practice in physical therapy. The reaccreditation news enables us to continue our department’s efforts to develop and promote excellence in education, service, and scholarship in physical therapy.”

The PT program has been accredited by CAPTE since 1988. There are two paths to admission to the PT program at Springfield College. The first is entry as a first-year student to the undergraduate pre-Physical Therapy bachelor of science program with direct advancement to the doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The second option is for students who have completed an undergraduate degree to apply as a graduate student into the DPT curriculum.

The DPT degree is a seven-semester course of study that replaced the master of science degree starting in 2005. Most students enroll in a dual-entry, dual-degree program that, over the span of six and a half years, leads to a bachelor of science degree in Health Science and a DPT.

CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs. CAPTE currently accredits more than 200 physical therapist education programs and more than 250 physical therapist assistant education programs across the country.