Accreditation

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved and authorized Tarleton State University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. The program is pending approval by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).   

CAPTE Statement
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. 

Tarleton State 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 November 1, 2025.  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 progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation. 

Definition of Candidate for Accreditation: Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status, awarded prior to enrollment of students in the professional phase of the program, which indicates that the physical therapy education program is making satisfactory progress toward and likely to attain full accreditation. All credits and degrees earned and issued by a program holding candidacy are considered to be from an accredited program. 

CAPTE the accreditation agency has placed our program in a review cycle that will allow us to accept the first cohort of students in summer 2026. We look forward to adding this program to our degree inventory. We will update our website as we have new information available. 

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, Dawn James (djames@tarleton.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 Dean of the School of Health & Clinical Professions. 

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, Dawn James (djames@tarleton.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 Dean of the School of Health & Clinical Professions. 

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.