Virtual Exhibit Booth

General Information

The APTA Academy of Education, one of the oldest sections of the American Physical Therapy Association, is committed to advancing physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and physical therapy students in their roles as educators in academic, clinical and community settings. The APTA Academy of Education supports excellence in physical therapy education and education research to better meeting the needs of patients, families and communities through strategic communication among our members and across professional communities, through continuing professional development and enhanced education research, and through collaborative action within our Association.

The APTA Academy of Education is dedicated to the development of each new generation of physical therapy practitioners, a dynamic cadre of academic educators, and a store of knowledge useful to consumers for enhancing their own musculoskeletal health.

Membership

Interested in Membership?

We welcome you to join us!  With more than 3,500 current members, APTA Academy of Education is one of the largest specialty sections of APTA and is committed to meeting the needs of all persons concerned with the progress, growth and development of education in physical therapy. Membership rates for the Academy.

Learn More & Become a Member

Upcoming Events

2024 Registration is Full.

This event is to help new faculty in the physical therapy field facilitate professional growth of developing faculty members and cultivate a network of academic colleagues among workshop participants and facilitators.

Join Waitlist

The primary goal of the annual ELC conference is to foster excitement, education, and invigorating discussions among all stakeholders invested in physical therapy education. 

Learn More

ELC Call for Submissions: Opening Soon!

The submission site opens Wednesday, March 6 - The submission site closes Friday, April 19, 2024

Find out more information on the ELC 2024 Website


Fellowship in Higher Education Leadership (FHEL) 

FHEL, now managed by the APTA Academy of Education, provides current and aspiring directors in physical therapy education programs with the skills and resources they need to be innovative, influential, and visionary leaders who can function within a rapidly evolving, politico-sociocultural environment.

The award-winning fellowship was first accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) in 2012 and reaccredited in 2017 through 2027. With over 160 alumni, the FHEL welcomed its 13th cohort for 2024-2025.

Applications and nominations for the 52-week fellowship program will open in October. Accepted candidates will begin the fellowship in July and take part in three trimesters of coursework, a mentorship program, and a leadership project.

The APTA Academy of Education looks forward to helping current and aspiring leaders in FHEL achieve their professional goals and advancing the physical therapy education community.

Applications for the FHEL 2024-2025 cohort are now open! Applications close Friday, March 1, 2024. 

Special Interest Groups (SIG)

Members of the Academy formed seven areas of focused interest. Each special interest group (SIG) has its own governance, activities, and annual programming. The SIGs are each supported in part by funds from the APTA Academy of Education and are included in Academy of Education dues.

If you are an APTA Academy of Education member and would like to join a SIG, select it from the drop-down menu for SIGs found in your profile in your Member Compass. 

Become an Academy Member

View all SIG information

Phi Tau Alpha Honor Society

The Phi Tau Alpha Honor Society recognizes physical therapist assistant students who have not only demonstrated high academic standards, but have embodied the core values of the physical therapy profession. Students meeting the requirements outlined below should contact their program faculty to determine the next steps for applying for possible induction into the honor society.

Due dates for applications each year are as follows: March 1, June 1, October 1

Nominations to the honor society are only open to students in programs in which at least one member of the faculty is a current member of the Academy of Education.

Applicants must complete and provide proof of ALL items on Applicant Checklist, including:

  • GPA - 3.5 minimum for all applicants (This GPA calculation is limited to PTA coursework ONLY)
  • Recommendation Form:
    • Students must have two Recommendation Forms submitted to be considered for the PTA Honor Society. To be considered for the Honor Society, all ratings should be in the "Exemplary" or "Superior" categories. All recommendation forms must be from a PTA Program Stakeholder, including clinical or academic stakeholders. Examples include:
      • Clinical Instructor during a full-time clinical experience
      • Clinical partner who held primary responsibility for assessing the student applicant
      • Full time or part time faculty
      • Adjunct instructor
      • Lab assistant or adjunct clinical proctor
      • PTA club advisor
      • PTA program Advisory Committee Member
  • Institutions will determine when students can apply for the PTA honor society at their individual institutions. It is recommended that this be after a full-time clinical experience to allow for clinical partners to participate in the recommendation process.
  • Applicants will retrieve all required forms from the APTA Academy of Education website and then will submit all required forms to their institutional selection committee.
  • Each institution will be responsible for nominating, reviewing, selecting, and honoring inductees. To nominate students to the honor society, at least one faculty member of the institution must be a current member of the APTA Academy of Education.
    • Institutions shall either create a specific internal committee, or utilize a current selection committee, to receive and review all applications for the PTA National Honor Society. Institutions are encouraged to utilize the PTA Honor Society applicant checklist in their selection process to ensure consistency of selecting candidates.
    • Each institution is responsible for screening and ensuring that all applicants have completed all items in each category of the application checklist.
    • Each institution may notify the inductees in whatever manner deemed appropriate.
  • The faculty member (holding a current membership to the APTA Academy of Education) will submit the names of the students to be inducted into the APTA Academy of Education PTA Honor Society. To do this, please complete a submission form for each student who the faculty member determines meets the minimum requirements. To coincide with graduations, due dates for applications each year are as follows:
    • March 1
    • June 1
    • October 1
  • The APTA Academy of Education will send out certificates of membership to the Honor Society and lapel pins to each institution for distribution to student honorees.
  • Graduation honor cords can be purchased for student members to wear at their respective graduation ceremonies.  Cords may be purchased from any site, but should be teal and gold colors combined into one cord.

Academy of Education Sessions at CSM 2024

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Friday, February 16, 2024

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Follow us on Social Media