Public Notice Statement - Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science Published April 19, 2019 Community College of the Air Force, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL The Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program at the Community College of the Air Force is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The program's current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see: http://www.capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/RecentActions/PublicDisclosureNotices/ Issue: On 26 April 2017, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) placed the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program on Probationary Accreditation status. This action followed a voluntary request by the Air University Commander to have accreditation withdrawn due to Air University’s inability to resolve compliance issues that would require significant changes to Air Force-level policies not possible to be made within CAPTE’s timeline. What is Probationary Accreditation status? Probationary Accreditation is an accredited status, but it does signal compliance issues in the program that are significant enough to jeopardize the quality of the program. CAPTE has reached this decision after a thorough review of materials provided by Air University for voluntary withdrawal. Why is the Program on Probationary Accreditation status? The decision of Probationary Accreditation and withdrawal were based on the program's inability to demonstrate compliance with a significant number of the Standards and Required Elements. Significant among CAPTE's concerns were: Licensure pass rates Unlicensed Physical Therapist/ Physical Therapist Assistant faculty Contemporary expertise of core and associated faculty Minimum of 520 clinical education hours What does this mean to the student enrolled in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant degree program? This Air University voluntary action involves only CAPTE specialized accreditation for credentialing purposes. The CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program remains accredited, and in good standing, by Air University’s regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Because Probationary Accreditation is an accredited status, students enrolled in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program before 1 May 2018 (30 April 2018 or earlier) and graduate before 1 May 2019 (30 April 2019 or earlier) will graduate in a CAPTE-accredited program. Students enrolled in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program after 30 April 2018 (1 May 2018 and beyond) or graduate after 30 April 2019 (1 May 2019 and beyond) will not graduate in a CAPTE accredited program. What does this mean to the 4J0X2 Airman’s ability to pursue CAPTE Physical Therapist Assistant certification? One of the eligibility requirements for the CAPTE Therapist Assistant certification requires the applicant to hold a CAPTE-accredited degree. Students who graduate in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program before 1 May 2018 earn a CAPTE-accredited degree and remain eligible to pursue CAPTE certification. In addition, the Probationary Accreditation status provides a 12-month continuation (teach-out) to graduate in a CAPTE-accredited program for students who enroll in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program before 1 May 2018. Note that students who enroll before 1 May 2018 must graduate in the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program before 1 May 2019 to remain eligible for the CAPTE certification opportunity. Effective 1 May 2018, CCAF was able to sign the CAPTE certification application documents only for Airmen who graduated from the CCAF Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree program during its period of holding CAPTE specialized accreditation.