CE for Therapy has compiled a comprehensive database of 100’s of Providers of Continuing Ed that offer Physical Therapy CEUs. Link to Comprehensive Continuing Education Provider Directory The Provider Directory offers literally 1000’s of PT Continuing Education Opportunities, Techniques, Methods, Certifications, Specializations and Topics. We hope that you find relevant information in the following post that contains definitions and descriptions of the various measurements of continuing education accreditation and certifications for Physical Therapists.
Continuing Education Accreditation
CEU – Continuing Education Unit
The term “CEU” is in the public domain, and it is used by many organizations for their continuing education or professional training hours. According to the International Association for Continuing Education and Training website Link to IACET, the Continuing Education Unit or CEU was created and defined in 1970 after IACET and the U.S. Department of Education task force studied the measurement of non-credit continuing education activities. The continuing education unit (CEU) was designed to: Provide a standard unit (10 contact hours) of measurement for continuing education accreditation and training; Quantify continuing education accreditation and training (CE/T) activities; and Accommodate for the diversity of providers, activities, and purposes in adult education.
CCU – Continuing Competence Unit
ProCert system, that is offered by The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The ProCert system awards whole-number Continuing Competence Units (CCUs) values that reflect compliance with 14 Standards for Continuing Competence Activities that the FSBPT has developed for continuing education accreditation. Unfortunately, earlier this year (2019) the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) decided to discontinue the aPTitude system. As of September 9, 2019 no new vendor account registrations will be approved, and individual users of the system will continue to have access to the aPTitude website through December 31, 2019. There will be no further access after that date.
CME – Continuing Medical Education
CME is the abbreviation for Continuing Medical Education and consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession. Aspiring physicians spend four years in medical school and three to five years in residency training. For the rest of their careers, physicians rely on accredited CME as one of the support systems that helps them drive improvements in practice and optimize the care, health, and wellness of patients. CME is accredited by The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Link to ACCME
CAPTE – The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) Link to CAPTE
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education s the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs.
Regional and National Institutional Accrediting Agencies
The following regional and national accrediting agencies are recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education Link to DOE as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training offered by the institutions of higher education or higher education programs they accredit.
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
Council on Occupational Education
Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Higher Learning Commission
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
New England Commission of Higher Education
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
WASC Senior Colleges and University Commission
The DOE provides a Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs contains information reported to the U.S. Department of Education directly by recognized accrediting agencies and state approval agencies that have been asked to provide information for each institution and/or program accredited by that agency. Link to Database
ABPTS – American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
ABPTS coordinates and oversees the specialist certification process, is the governing body for certification and recertification of clinical specialists. This board is composed of eleven individuals: board-certified physical therapists from the eight different board certification specialty areas; one physical therapist member of the APTA Board of Directors; one individual with expertise in test development, evaluation, and education; and one nonphysical therapist representing the public. the Current Individual Specialist Certifications are Cardiovascular & Pulmonary , Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics , Neurology , Oncology, Orthopaedics , Pediatrics, Sports, and Women’s Health.
Continuing Education Accreditation – Credentialing and Certification
The Institute for Credentialing Excellence, or ICE, Link to ICE is a professional membership association that provides education, networking, and other resources for organizations and individuals who work in and serve the credentialing industry. ICE is a leading developer of standards for both certification and certificate programs and it is both a provider of and a clearing house for information on trends in certification, test development and delivery, assessment-based certificate programs, and other information relevant to the credentialing community.
ICE created the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) in 1987. The NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, which were created in the mid-1970s, were the first standards developed by the credentialing industry for professional certification programs. The NCCA Standards were developed to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. They highlight the essential elements of a high-quality program.
Certificate of Attendance:
A certificate of attendance, as defined by ICE is awarded to a participant who has attended classes, courses, conferences, or other kinds of educational events either online or in person, where they have not been required to demonstrate that they have met the learning objectives through a test or any other form of assessment. The certificate indicates that the participant was present or may have participated during the delivery of the education but has not been required to demonstrate the achievement of defined learning outcomes.
Assessment-Based Certificate
An assessment-based certificate, as defined by ICE where the focus is on providing training and education, is awarded following the completion of a non-degree education program that assists participants in acquiring specific knowledge, skills, and/or competencies associated with intended learning outcomes. The achievement of the learning outcomes is measured by a recognized method of assessment that has a predetermined standard of success.
Certification:
The focus of certification as defined by ICE, is on the independent assessment of individuals against predetermined standards of knowledge, skills, and/or competencies rather than demonstrating achievement of specific learning outcomes associated with a particular training and education program. Professional or personal certification is a voluntary process, with those who are successful in the process being awarded a time-limited credential.
