Residency and fellowship programs build on physical therapists' foundational knowledge and facilitate the development of advanced practitioners with enhanced skills in a defined area of practice. Mentoring develops residents and fellows-in-training who enhance the profession. Programs focus on advancing skills and knowledge including, but not limited to teaching, service, scholarship, governance and policy, leadership, management, ethical and legal issues. The comprehensive curriculum integrates these combined skills and knowledge specific to a defined area of practice that is consistent with the program's mission, goals, and outcomes.

ABPTRFE currently accredits non-clinical physical therapist faculty residency programs and higher education leadership fellowship programs.

Accreditation Guidelines

• Processes and Procedures (.pdf)
• Processes and Procedures Crosswalk (.pdf)
• Non-Clinical Program Quality Standards (.pdf)
• Non-Clinical Program Quality Standards Crosswalk (.pdf)

Application Templates

• Application for Candidacy (.pdf)
• Non-Clinical Self-Evaluation Report (.pdf)
• Exhibit 2 (.pdf)
• Exhibit 3 (.xls)

Application Resources

• Exhibits 2-3 Flow Chart (.pdf)
• Exhibit 2: Guidance Instructions and Example (.pdf)
• Exhibit 3: Guidance Instructions and Example (.pdf)
• Non-Clinical Accreditation Report Rubric (.pdf)

Description of Residency Practice

• Faculty (.pdf)

Description of Fellowship Practice (DFP)

The DFP document for Higher Education Leadership will be posted here as it is published.

Last Updated: 9/27/2018
Contact: resfel@apta.org