Physical Therapist Assistant Program Accreditation
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant 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.
Effective (November, 2nd, 2021), (Bakersfield College's Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Program) has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (661) 395-3540 or email bcpta@bakersfieldcollege.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.
Accreditation decision for Bakersfield College's PTA AS Degree Program will be decided upon at the regularly scheduled Fall 2023 meeting of CAPTE following the on-site visit, which will occur during the penultimate term that the charter class is enrolled, Spring of 2022-Fall of 2023. The Accreditation decision will occur prior to December graduation date in Fall of 2023. In some cases, it may occur within thirty (30) days after the graduation date.
CAPTE Complaint Process
CAPTE has a mechanism to consider formal complaints about physical therapy education programs (PT or PTA) that allege a program is not in compliance with one or more of CAPTE's Evaluative Criteria (for complaints about events occurring before Dec. 31, 2015) or the Standards and Required Elements (for complaints addressing events occurring Jan. 1, 2016, and thereafter) or has violated any of CAPTE's expectations related to academic integrity.
To obtain the materials necessary for submitting a complaint, contact the APTA Accreditation Department at 703-706-3245 or accreditation@apta.org.
Contact Information for Bakersfield College's PTA Program:
- Department Phone #: (661) 395-3540
- Suzanne Oesch, PT, DPT- Faculty Director PTA Program
- bcpta@bakersfieldcollege.edu
More about the Bakersfield College Physical Therapist Assistant Program