The Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at PCOM Georgia was recently reaffirmed for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This new accreditation is valid for 10 years, through the fall of 2035.
CAPTE is the only accrediting agency in the United States for Doctorate of Physical Therapy programs, and individuals must graduate from an accredited program to be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for licensure. CAPTE ensures programs' curricula, faculty credentials and clinical education experiences meet the national standards. This is to guarantee that graduates of a program will be able to provide safe and effective services to the community upon graduation.
PCOM's program excelled in the areas of student outcomes, faculty expertise and overall curriculum in this recent CAPTE review. The reaccreditation process considers multiple elements such as program documentation, on-site evaluations, student and other stakeholders' input, and an extensive self-assessment by the program.
This milestone achievement comes at a pivotal moment for the program, spearheaded by the leadership of Shelley DiCecco, PT, PhD, CLT-LANA, CI-CS, who was recently appointed department chair after serving in the interim role since November 2024.
“Throughout the past several months, Dr. DiCecco has guided the team through the rigorous CAPTE accreditation process with diligence and integrity,” said Brian Mann, EdD, MS, PA-C, dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences. “We are grateful for her continued leadership and dedication to our students, our programs and the entire College community.”
“Earning this reaccreditation is a testament to the collective dedication of our faculty, students and staff, whose contributions were essential throughout this rigorous process,” DiCecco said. “Having this recognition from CAPTE validates our efforts and motivates us to continue our work preparing compassionate, highly skilled practitioners who deliver patient-centered care.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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Joy Williford
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
