Standards and Guidelines
for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Kinesiotherapy
Standards initially adopted in 1998 by the
- American Kinesiotherapy Association
- American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits programs upon the recommendations of the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for Kinesiotherapy (CoA-KT).
These accreditation Standards are the minimum standards of quality used in accrediting programs that prepare individuals to enter the kinesiotherapy profession. The extent to which a program complies with the standards determines its accreditation status; the accreditation Standards, therefore, constitute the minimum requirements to which an accredited program is held accountable.
Standards are printed in regular typeface in outline form. Guidelines are printed in italic typeface in narrative form.
Sections I and III of these accreditation Standards are common to all educational programs accredited by CAAHEP. Section II contains a description of the profession and the specific requirements for preparing kinesiotherapists.
Preamble
Objective
The American Kinesiotherapy Association, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and CAAHEP cooperate to establish, maintain, and promote appropriate standards of quality for educational programs in kinesiotherapy and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet or exceed the minimum standards outlined in these accreditation Standards. Lists of accredited programs are published for the information of students, employers, educational institutions and agencies, and the public.
These standards are to be used for the development, evaluation, and self-analysis of kinesiotherapy programs. On-site review teams assist in the evaluation of a program's relative compliance with the accreditation Standards.
Section I: General Requirements for Accreditation
A. Sponsorship
1. The sponsoring institution and affiliates, if any, must be accredited by recognized agencies or meet equivalent standards.
2. Sponsoring institutions must be authorized under applicable law or other acceptable authority to provide a program of postsecondary education.
3. In programs in which academic and clinical didactic and supervised practice are provided by two or more institutions, responsibilities for program administration, instruction, supervision, and other functions of the sponsoring institutions and of each affiliate must be clearly documented as a formal affiliation agreement or memorandum of understanding.
Evidence of agreement between large or complex institutions is usually in the form of a formal, written affiliation agreement. The specifics of the agreement are at the discretion of the involved institution(s), but assurances in the areas of liability, students' rights and responsibilities, and the opportunity for periodic review of the agreement are desirable elements. It is a program's duty to assure students of adequate direct access to patients. Affiliated organizations should have a strong understanding of and concern for the delivery of kinesiotherapy services (therapeutic exercise and education) and develop educational experiences which produce kinesiotherapists who are capable of performing in the manner described in the Description of the Profession.
4. Accredited educational programs may be established in:
a. Senior colleges and universities
b. Schools of allied health
c. Proprietary schools
d. Other institutions or consortia that meet comparable standards for education in kinesiotherapy.
A consortium is an entity of two or more institutions formally established for the purpose of , and for assuming the responsibilities of, program sponsorship.
5. The sponsoring institution assumes primary responsibility for student admission, curriculum planning, selection of course content, coordination of classroom teaching and supervised clinical practice, appointment of faculty, receiving and processing of applications for admission, and granting of the certificate or degree documenting satisfactory completion of the educational program. The sponsoring institution shall also be responsible for providing assurance that the practice activities assigned to students in a clinical setting are appropriate to the program. The sponsoring institution that establishes a branch campus must demonstrate compliance with all accreditation requirements.
B. Resources
1. Personnel
a. Administrative Personnel
The program must have adequate leadership and management. These officials shall possess the necessary qualifications to perform the functions identified in documented job descriptions.
In accordance with institutional policies and practices, these officials possess the qualifications and assume the responsibilities described below.
(1) Program Director or Equivalent
(a) Responsibilities
The director of the educational program shall be responsible for the organization, administration, continuous review, planning, development, and general effectiveness of the program.
(b) Qualifications or Equivalent
The program director must meet all requirements specified by the sponsoring institutions, possess the requisite knowledge and skills to administer the operation of the overall program, and be certified as a Registered Kinesiotherapist or have equivalent qualifications.
(2) Medical Director, Medical Advisor, or Equivalent
(a) Responsibilities
The Medical Director or advisor of the program shall provide competent direction and/or guidance to ensure that the medical components of the curriculum, both didactic and supervised clinical practice, meet current acceptable performance standards.
(b) Qualifications
The Medical Director/Advisor is a licensed physician experienced and proficient in the use of therapeutic exercise and education.
The Medical Director/Advisor should assist in establishing and reviewing program goals, developing curriculum, and establishing outcome assessments. The Medical Director/Advisor is encouraged to participate in instruction. The Medical Director/ Advisor should be board certified in a related medical specialty.
b. Faculty and/or Instructional Staff
(1) Responsibilities
In each location where a student is assigned for didactic or supervised practice instruction there must be a qualified individual designated to provide that supervision and related frequent assessments of the student's progress in achieving acceptable program requirements.
(2) Qualifications
The instructors must be knowledgeable in course content and effective in teaching their assigned subjects.
(3) Number
There shall be sufficient faculty to provide students with adequate attention, instruction, and supervised practice to acquire the knowledge and competence needed for entry to the occupation.
c. Clerical and Support Staff
Adequate clerical and other support staff shall be available to support the goals and standards of the program.
d. Professional Development
Programs shall encourage program staff and faculty to pursue continuing professional growth to assure that program faculty and officials can fulfill their responsibilities.
When office-based preceptorial experiences are included as part of the curriculum, criteria for the selection of preceptors include evidence of interest in teaching, ability to teach, understanding of and commitment to the use of registered kinesiotherapists, and the availability of physical space for the student to interview and assess patients. The preceptor, in advance of the student's arrival, informs others of the nature of the student's learning experience while on site. Clinical instructors are registered kinesiotherapists.
2. Financial Resources
Financial resources to operate an educational program shall be ensured to fulfill obligations to matriculating and enrolled students.
3. Physical Resources
a. Facilities
Adequate classrooms, laboratories, clinical and other facilities, and administrative offices shall be provided for students, program staff, and faculty.
Affiliation agreements are documented, reviewed annually, and formalized to assure the availability of resources needed for the provision of effective education.
b. Equipment and Supplies
Appropriate and sufficient equipment, supplies, and storage space shall be provided for student use and for teaching the didactic and supervised clinical practice components of the curriculum. Instructional aids, such as clinical specimens, documents or related materials, reference materials, equipment, and demonstration aids, must be provided when required by the types of learning experiences delineated for either the didactic or supervised clinical education components of the curriculum.
c. Learning Resources
(1) Library
Students shall have ready access in time and location to an adequate supply of current books, journals, periodicals, electronic resources and technology, and other reference materials related to the curriculum.
(2) Instructional Aids
Clinical subjects, specimens, records and related reference materials, computer hardware and software, and audio and visual resources shall be available in sufficient number and quality to enhance student learning.
C. Students
1. Admission Policies and Procedures
Admission of students, including advanced placement, shall be made in accordance with clearly defined and published practices of the institution. Any specific academic and technical standards required for admission to the program shall also be clearly defined, published, and readily accessible to prospective students and the public.
If the program admits any students on the basis of ability to benefit, then it must employ appropriate methods, such as a pre-admission test or evaluation, for determining that such students are in fact capable of benefiting from the training or education offered. Policies regarding advanced placement, transfer of credit, and credit for experimental learning shall be readily accessible to prospective students. Requirements for previous education or work experience shall also be provided and readily accessible.
2. Evaluation of Students
Criteria for successful completion of each segment of the curriculum and for graduation shall be given in advance to each student. Evaluation methods shall include content related to the objectives and competencies described in the curriculum for both didactic and supervised clinical education components. They shall be employed frequently enough to provide students and program officials with timely indications of the students' progress and academic standing and to serve as a reliable indicator of the effectiveness of course design and instruction.
3. Health
The program officials shall establish a procedure for determining that the applicants' or students' health will permit them to meet the written technical standards of the program. Students must be informed of and have access to health care services provided to other students of the institution.
4. Guidance
Guidance shall be available to assist students in understanding course content and in observing program policies and practices and to provide counseling or referral for problems that may interfere with the students' progress through the program.
D. Operational Policies
1. Fair Practices
a. Announcements and advertising must accurately reflect the program offered.
b. Student and faculty recruitment and student admission and faculty employment practices shall be nondiscriminatory and in accord with federal mandates.
c. The program or sponsoring institution in its publications describing the program shall specify the number of credit or clock hours required for completion of the program.
d. The program or sponsoring institution shall establish a curriculum that meets the stated educational goals and objectives of the program and tuition and fees shall be commensurate with the subject matter taught.
e. Academic credit and costs to the student shall be accurately stated, published, and made known to all applicants.
f. The program or sponsoring institution in its publications describing the program shall publish an academic calendar and make it available to applicants and students.
g. The program or sponsoring institution shall have a defined and published policy and procedure for processing student and faculty grievances.
h. Policies and processes for student withdrawal and for refunds of tuition and fees shall be published and made known to all applicants.
i. Policies and processes by which students may perform service work while enrolled in the program must be published and made known to all concerned in order to avoid practices in which students are substituted for regular staff. Students may not take the responsibility or the place of qualified staff. However, after demonstrating proficiency, students may be permitted to undertake certain defined activities with appropriate supervision and direction. Students may be employed in the field of study outside regular educational hours, provided the work does not interfere with regular academic responsibilities. The work must be non-compulsory, paid, and subject to standard employee policies.
j. The health and safety of patients, students, and faculty associated with the educational activities of the students must be adequately safeguarded.
k. A program admitting students on the basis of ability to benefit must publicize its objectives, assessment measures, and means of evaluating ability to benefit.
2. Student records
Satisfactory records shall be maintained for student admission, attendance, and evaluation.
Grades and credits for courses shall be recorded on the student transcript and permanently maintained by the sponsoring institution in a safe and accessible location.
Student transcripts are permanently retained to provide documentation often required by other educational programs, certifying agencies, state professional regulatory boards, and employers.
3. Student Default Rates and Title IV Responsibilities
The program or sponsoring institution that participates in Title IV (or other Federal programs) shall have a default management plan and comply with prevailing governmental guidelines with respect to its Title IV responsibilities.
4.
The program or sponsoring institution that has responsibilities under Title IV (or other Federal programs) shall comply with any results of financial or compliance audits, program review, and such other information as may be provided by the Secretary of Education to CAAHEP.
E. Program Evaluation
The program must have a continuing system for reviewing the effectiveness of the educational program, especially as measured by student achievement, and must prepare timely self-study reports to aid the staff, the sponsoring institution, and the accrediting agencies in assessing program qualities and needs.
1. Outcomes
Program shall routinely secure sufficient qualitative and quantitative information regarding the program graduates to demonstrate an on-going evaluation of outcomes consistent with the graduate competencies specified by the educational program. Sources of data shall include, where appropriate, consideration of course completion, state licensing examination, and job placement rates.
The manner in which the program seeks to comply with this standard may vary. There should be timely efforts to document the qualitative and quantitative data and related analysis. The sources of data may include but not be limited to surveys of graduates and employers on such matters as employment settings, type and scope of practice, salary, job satisfaction, subsequent education, skill development addressed sufficiently and inadequately by the program, interviews with program graduates and employers of graduates, and data on the evaluation of student performance on the national registration examination and other nationally recognized standardized tests.
2. Results of Ongoing Program Evaluation
The results of ongoing evaluation must be appropriately reflected in the curriculum and other dimensions of the program. In particular, the program must systematically use the information obtained in its evaluation to foster student achievement with respect to the certificate or degree offered.
Program evaluation is a continuing systematic process with internal and external curriculum validation in consultation with employers, faculty, preceptors, students, and graduates, with follow-up studies of their employment and national examination performance. Otherdimensions of the program merit consideration as well, such as the admission criteria and process, the curriculum design, and the purpose and productivity of an advisory committee.
Section II: Specific Requirements for Education in the Profession
A. Description of the Profession
The kinesiotherapist is academically and clinically prepared to provide rehabilitation exercise and education under the prescription of a licensed physician in an appropriate setting. Kinesiotherapists are accountable to the referring physician for the actions of themselves and those of their subordinates. The academic and clinical basis of kinesiotherapy is founded on the two fundamental modalities of exercise and education. Kinesiotherapists are qualified to implement exercise programs designed to reverse or minimize debilitation and enhance the functional capacity of medically stable patients in a wellness, sub-acute, or extended care setting.
The role of the kinesiotherapist demands intelligence, judgment, honesty, interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to the patient's welfare are standard attributes.
At a minimum, a kinesiotherapist is educated in areas of basic exercise science and clinical applications of rehabilitation exercise. Training is received in orthopedic, neurologic, psychiatric, pediatric, cardiovascular-pulmonary, geriatric, and wellness practice settings. Services provided by the kinesiotherapist include but are not limited to:
1. Evaluation
The kinesiotherapist obtains detailed information from a patient and his/her clinical record in any age group regarding the specific history of the injury/disability that resulted in the physician referral for treatment, followed by an appropriate physical assessment pertaining to the injury/disability. The kinesiotherapist then records the data, develops an appropriate treatment plan, and communicates with the referring physician regarding the proposed treatment.
2. Therapeutic Intervention
The kinesiotherapist administers fundamental therapeutic exercise or activity to accomplish the stated goals of the treatment plan, relying on fundamental procedures such as those outlined in the Kinesiotherapy Scope of Practice and Standards of Practice. The treatment plan may include appropriate patient and caregiver education and/or social integration and awareness activities.
Treatment is monitored and revised according to patients' needs, with regular reports provided to the referring physician to ensure that the treatment plan and goals are appropriate for the rehabilitation and safety of the patient, staff, exercise equipment, and facility.
B. Curriculum
1. Description of the Program
a. Faculty and students shall be provided with a clear description of the program and its content, including learning goals, course objectives, supervised clinical practice assignments, and competencies required for graduation.
b. Based on its mission and available resources, the sponsor shall determine and specify the learning concentration(s) to be offered. The program shall balance the didactic and clinical education components to ensure that competencies are achieved.