Credentialed
clinical
instructor
PROGR AM
T
his voluntary program is designed for people interested in or involved with clinical education, including clinical instructors (CIs), center coordinators of clinical education (CCCEs), academic coordinators/directors of clinical education (ACCEs/DCEs) and academic faculty, and is recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a Clinical Instructor Education and Credentialing Program (CIECP).The program is divided into two
distinct parts:
1. CI Education Program via an interactive didactic course format that is appropriate to all clinical educators, and 2. Assessment Center (credentialing) of curricula outcomes through six simulated situations available only to Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants. These components are used together to first provide, and then assess, the knowledge and skill identified as essential for CIs. Only Credentialed Clinical Trainers recognized by APTA can conduct CIECPs.The CIECP addresses issues of:
• The relationship and partnership between the academic program and the clinical site and roles of the ACCE/DCE, CCCE, CI, and student, • Planning and preparing for students during their clinical education experiences, • Developing and facilitating learning experiences in practice tailored to meet specific student needs, • Developing skills in and supporting ongoing learning through formative and summative evaluations, • Identifying legal, regulatory, and ADA implications for clinical educators, including issues presented by HIPAA and Medicare, and • Identifying and managing exceptional students and students with problems in clinical education. Outcomes of the CIECP are measured through an Assessment Center (credentialing) for physical therapy providers. Participants apply information from the CIECP in six simulated situations. Upon receiving a passing score in each station in the Assessment Center, candidates will receive a Credentialed CI certificate from the APTA.BENEFITS OF
COMPLETING THE CI
EDUCATION PROGR AM
• Enhanced knowledge and skills in the provisions of physical therapy education. • Opportunity to participate in a unique learning experience. • Opportunity for Physical Therapist and Physical Therapists Assistants to participate in a performance-based assessment process. • Assurance that the CIECP meets standards of reliability and validity. • Career development opportunity within clinical education. • Opportunity to network with other clinical educators of varied backgrounds and experiences. • Individualized credential that recognizes personal and professional achievement regardless of setting. • Enhanced skill in supervision and conflict management. • Have an understanding of and experience with the management of exceptional students and students with problems. • U.S. and Canadian Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants earn continuing education units (15 contact hours/1.5 CEUs) and a Clinical Instructor Credential. Non–physical therapy providers earn continuing education units (12 contact hours/1.2 CEUs).PROGR AM
CONFIGUR ATION
T
he CIECP is designed to accommodate the needs of the learner. As a result, a candidate may choose from two different formats:1) for the novice clinical educator, with little or no experience in supervising students, and the experienced clinical educator who has supervised students and participated in clinical education, the full 2-day CIECP; and 2) only for the experienced clinical educator, completion of the Assessment Center only. The second option is available only where offered by the Credentialed Clinical Trainer.
PROGR AM
CONFIGUR ATION
The Novice Clinical Educator
Any physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and any licensed, registered, or certified clinical educator, regardless of experience supervising students in the clinical setting, lapse in time between opportunities for providing student supervision, or previous CI training, is eligible for the CIECP. Requirements include: • Current license as a physical therapist. • Current license/registration/certification as a physical therapist assistant where available. • Current license/registration/certification as a clinical educator (non-physical therapy provider). • Minimum of 1 year of clinical experience or comparable experience. • Clinical competence in providing physical therapy services or respective discipline in accordance with state laws and regulations, as authorized and attested to by the individual’s direct supervisor. • Completion of the Participant Dossier attesting to clinical competence within the respective discipline in accordance with state laws and regulations as authorized by the individual’s direct supervisor.
ELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA
The Experienced Clinical Educator
Assessment Center-Only Option
(Available for Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistants only)
Experienced clinical educators who meet all of the criteria below may consider applying for the Assessment Center only, where available. The decision to offer only the Assessment Center is the prerogative of the Credentialed Clinical Trainer. To be eligible the PT or PTA must: • Meet all of the criteria to be eligible for the CIECP as a novice clinical educator. • Be familiar with the Guidelines for Clinical Instructors and APTA’s Core Values. • Be able to apply the principles of teaching and learning in the instructional process. • Be able to define student readiness and plan and conduct relevant learning experiences. • Be able to conduct and document formative and summative evaluation of student performance, including the use of the APTA Clinical Performance Instrument. • Be able to adjust supervisory approach based on students’ needs. • Apply legal, regulatory, and legislative issues related to clinical education. • Have an understanding of and experience with the management of exceptional students and students with problems.
Program registration fees vary with sponsor and APTA membership status. Included as part of the registration is APTA’s fee of : • $70 for APTA members • $140 for nonmembers • $140 for Canadian PT’s and PTA’s*
(See International Partners Program below)
• $180 for non-physical therapy providers
*International Partners Program
APTA now offers an International Partners Program for $50 that entitles a Canadian physical therapist/physiotherapist or physical therapist assistant to be able to access all of the APTA member information on APTA’s website as well as reduced costs on conferences, courses, and more. If an ACCE or CI joins the International Partners Program, they will pay the APTA member fee of $70 plus the same additional costs required by the host/sponsor site. Fee covers the cost of the CI Education manual, CI Credential and CEU Certificates (15 contact hours/1.5 CEUs), and registry in APTA’ database of credentialed CIs. Any additional cost required by the host/sponsor site covers costs associated with food, room rental, speaker travel and honoraria, audiovisual equipment, and copying. Check with
the Credentialed Clinical Trainer regarding group discount for taking the CIECP.
HOW TO
CO-SPONSOR A CI
EDUCATION PROGR AM
Co-sponsoring with APTA is an automatic process associated with the selection of a person(s) to teach the program.
• The first step whether you are representing a consortium, an academic institution, clinical facility, or practice is to select a Credentialed Clinical Trainer via the APTA Web site at www.apta.org, under Education, or by calling APTA at 703/706-8528. • The Credentialed Clinical Trainer will ensure that you receive all of the necessary paperwork and forms for completion and that you are informed of all policies and deadlines in order to provide this program.
HOW TO
CO-SPONSOR A CI
EDUCATION PROGR AM
www.apta.org
Your address for success
Be sure to visit APTA’s Web site for more details about the Credentialed Clinical Instructor Program.
Also check out the following opportunities for Professional Development: • Continuing Education
• Clinical Residency & Fellowship • Specialist Certification
• Transition DPT Programs
• Post Professional Graduate Programs • PTA Recognition Program
1111 North Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1488
