What is the NCCE?

The ACAPT National Consortium of Clinical Educators (NCCE) is a group comprised of clinical education (CE) faculty (academic and clinical educators) affiliated with entry-level programs who are institutional members of American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT). 

Our members are provided a forum in which to express professional interest and have responsibilities for the assessment and implementation of clinical education for physical therapists (PT).

NCCE clinical education roles include: Directors of Clinical Education (DCE), Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education (ACCEs), Clinical Faculty - e.g. Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCE) and Clinical Instructors (CI), Clinical Education Coordinators (CEC), and Clinical Administrators/Managers (CAM).

What do we do?

The NCCE focuses on grassroot efforts by serving as a voice for the CE community through fostering partnerships between the academic institutions and the clinical community.

How are we organized?

The NCCE has a governing board consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Academic and Clinical Directors-At-Large.

What is the communication structure?

The Directors-At-Large serve as regional liaisons to relay communications between NCCE/ACAPT and the NCCE membership. You can see the Directors-At-Large individual regions here.

As a means to promote succinct electronic communication, there is a central email address for the NCCE which is ncce@acapt.org. 

What are the differences/similarities between the Clinical Education-Special Interest Group (CE- SIG) and the NCCE?

The NCCE is a part of ACAPT which is an organization comprised of PT education programs, whereas the CE-SIG is a part of the Academy of Education (formerly APTE or the Education Section).

The NCCE focuses on the institutional (Academic + Clinical) interests whereas CE-SIG focuses on the individual clinical education interests and includes PTA. (Since ACAPT currently serves the interests of PT programs, membership in the NCCE follows the bylaws of ACAPT and membership, and is limited to PT program representative.)

Both communities work together collaboratively and have a greater goal to improve clinical education for all parties.

Do I have to be a member to attend NCCE meetings?

No. General meetings are open to everyone, but to have voting rights or run for office, you must be a part of a NCCE Academic & Clinical Institutional Pair.

Business meetings are currently held during the annual Educational Leadership Conference (ELC).

Frequently asked questions about NCCE membership

What are the benefits to membership?

Being a part of the NCCE gives more opportunities to collaborate/network with other academic programs and clinical sites across the country. As a NCCE member, you will:

• Receive regular communications on national and regional CE emergent topics.
• Have opportunities to give voice and participate on national taskforces and workgroups.
• Have the opportunity to influence how clinical education will be delivered currently and in the future.

What are the rights and privileges to membership?

The NCCE allows equal clinician and academic voice through the institutional pair to best serve the clinical education community. Membership pairs have one vote in business meetings. They are asked to attend the annual NCCE Business Meeting which occurs at ELC each fall.

What is the cost of membership?

Academic members must work for an ACAPT member institution, which has annual dues at the program level. There is no additional cost to join NCCE.

How do I become a member?

For clinicians, please reach out to your local academic institution and express your interest in being their clinical partner. For academicians, please identify a clinical partner and then register your institutional pair.

What considerations could be used in establishing an institutional (academic-clinical) pair?

There are many factors to take into account when selecting a clinical/academic partner, including:

• Current roles,
• Stakeholder needs,
• Time commitments,
• Employment obligations,
• Current partnerships,
• Leadership roles, and
• National initiatives.
  
  
• It is important that both partners have a broad knowledge of clinical education and a passion for active involvement in the NCCE with ability to attend the NCCE business meetings (either in person or virtually).
• It may be helpful to consult with your program director/clinic manager, peers at your institution, or colleagues in your region/consortia to maximize representation and ensure a good institutional pairing.
• The NCCE NCCE Academic-Clinical Institutional Pair document provides more information on the role expectations that can further assist in this selection process.

What if one member of the institutional pair needs to change?

If changing an individual as part of your institutional pair email the NCCE secretary at ncce@acapt.org and acapt@acapt.org with the following information: individual’s name, affiliation name and email address.