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Who We Are

Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Values

Who We Are

The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) is a not-for-profit association dedicated to excellence in physical therapist education programs as a whole.  ACAPT's core purpose is to lead physical therapy in the pursuit of academic excellence.

The best minds in academic PT are here.  Our organizational membership includes about 95% of all U.S.-accredited physical therapist programs. We serve and represent the employees of these 256+ PT educational institutions, including:

  • faculty
  • clinical partners
  • academic administrators & leaders 

Faculty, academic administrators and clinical educators at member institutions can sign up for free with ACAPT here.

Sometimes, ACAPT is confused with CAPTE.  Read an explanatory Q&A here.

What We Do

ACAPT develops the entrepreneurial leadership skills of PT academic staff so they can develop tomorrow's physical therapy leaders in health care.

We invite you to volunteer and get involved with ACAPT as we all strive for continuous improvement and innovation in academic physical therapy:

 Check out ACAPT's accomplishments in its 2023 Digital Annual Report.

What We Believe

ACAPT is the principal voice representing academic physical therapy. We champion innovation, inclusion and inquiry.

As critical members of the health care team, physical therapists enjoy high job satisfaction, interest from students, consumer demand and good employment rates. Physical therapy education programs are often among the strongest academic programs. ACAPT celebrates this excellence, and we want to preserve and nurture it.

Our History is Rich and Purposeful

ACAPT was incorporated in 2014 to provide a new, unified voice for academic physical therapists.  Previously, academic institutions were represented through an academic administrators special interest group within the Education Section (now called the Academy of  Education, formerly APTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

 

Read more about our history

Check out the Center for Excellence in Academic Physical Therapy

 

ACAPT welcomes ideas & solutions to help meet the needs of DPT programs. Submit your suggestions for continuing education, professional development, guidelines, tools, best practices and more.

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Stay Informed & Up-To-Date with ACAPT