Program Overview

ACCREDITATION

Graduation from a physical therapist 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. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website.

Hawaiʻi Pacific University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedure (22.3.12) 53 progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

COMPLAINTS TO THE PROGRAM

Any individual may file a complaint regarding aspects of the DPT Program. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Program Director, Annie Burke Doe (aburkedoe@hpu.edu). The Program Director has the discretionary authority to gather additional information to take appropriate action or involve other university officials if necessary. If the complaint involves the Program Director, it should be submitted in writing to the HPU Provost.

COMPLAINTS TO THE ACCREDITING BODY

Any individual who would like to file a complaint with CAPTE regarding what appears to be the DPT Program’s inability to meet an evaluative criterion may do so by following the directions provided on the CAPTE website (http://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/ ) or may call the Department of Accreditation of APTA at 703-706-3245.

COMPLAINTS OUTSIDE OF DUE PROCESS

Any individual may file a complaint regarding aspects of the DPT Program. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Program Director, Annie Burke Doe (aburkedoe@hpu.edu). The Program Director has the discretionary authority to gather additional information to take appropriate action or involve other university officials if necessary. If the complaint involves the Program Director, it should be submitted in writing to the Program Director. The Program Director has the discretionary authority to gather additional information to take appropriate action or involve other university officials if necessary. If the complaint involves the Program Director, it should be submitted in writing to the HPU Provost. 

PROTECTION FOR WHISTLEBLOWING

No University faculty or staff member may interfere with the good faith reporting of suspected or actual wrongful conduct. No individual who makes such a good faith report shall be subject to unlawful retaliation, including harassment or adverse employment consequences because that individual has made a good faith report.

The DPT Las Vegas Student Handbook will be coming soon!