ABPTRFE is a seven-member body appointed by APTA's Board of Directors and is the accrediting body for APTA for postprofessional residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy. Accreditation is a process used by APTA to ensure the quality of the education that participants receive in residency and fellowship programs in physical therapy. It is a voluntary, nongovernmental, peer-reviewed process that occurs on a regular basis.

1. Determine the requirements with which a residency or fellowship education program must comply in order to be accredited and amend these requirements, as appropriate.

2. Provide an efficient and credible system for the evaluation, accreditation, and reaccreditation of physical therapy residency and fellowship education programs.

3. Develop and maintain the policy and procedures for the implementation and evaluation of the accreditation process including, but not limited to, the development and/or maintenance of processes for:

• Accrediting residency and fellowship programs.
• Selecting application reviewers.
• Documenting findings of written review and site visit.
• Auditing accredited clinical residency and fellowship programs.
• Reaccrediting clinical residency and fellowship programs.

4. Provide formal recognition of APTA-accredited residency and fellowship programs.

5. Oversee the activities of the Accreditation Services Council and the Program Services Council and evaluate effectiveness of processes and initiatives.

6. Address the demand for accredited residency and fellowship programs by promoting wide regional representation and access to all specialty programs.

7. Foster retention of accredited residency and fellowship programs.

8. Identify new and existing funding sources for residency and fellowship programs.

9. Act upon all grievance issues related to the accreditation of clinical residency and fellowship programs.

10. Appoint members of the Accreditation Services Council and Program Services Council.