Accreditation is a voluntary activity that validates the quality of the university and its programs. When evaluating credentials, employers and universities often look for applicants who earned a degree from an accredited university or program. Prospective students can be assured that an institution or program that meets the rigors of accreditation practices with the highest standards.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences maintains institutional and programmatic accreditation in the following areas:
Institutional Accreditation (Regional Accreditation)
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.
Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
985 Atlantic Avenue, #100
Alameda, CA 94501
510-748-9001
www.wascsenior.org
Programmatic Accreditation
CCNE Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K St., NW, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20001, (202) 887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
CAPTE Accreditation – Doctor of Physical Therapy
The *Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call or email the Chair of the Institute of Physical Therapy at 904-826-0084 x1230 or jliphart@usa.edu.
Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). In addition, all states require licensure to practice. After successful completion of the national exam and receiving state licensure, the individual will be a Physical Therapist (PT). A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the FSBPT examination or attain state licensure.
*Currently accredited programs include:
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Florida (Parent program: St. Augustine, and expansion programs St. Augustine Flex and Miami)
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-Austin, Texas (Parent program Austin and expansion program Austin Flex)
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California (Parent program San Marcos and expansion San Marcos Flex)
Additional information regarding the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences programs accredited by CAPTE is available by contacting:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
American Physical Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
telephone: 703-706-3245
email: accreditation@apta.org
website: www.capteonline.org
Dallas, TX Developing DPT Program Proposed Launch Fall 2020 – Not Currently Admitting Students
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE for its Dallas, TX campus. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1, 2019. 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.
Complaints about the program may be submitted to CAPTE by requesting the Procedures for Handling Complaints about an accredited or developing physical therapy program. This document can be obtained by writing to CAPTE at 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, by calling 703-706-3245, or by visiting www.apta.org.
ACOTE Accreditation – Master of Occupational Therapy & Doctor of Occupational Therapy
The first professional St. Augustine, Florida Master of Occupational Therapy program (MOT) was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, 301-652-2682, www.acoteonline.org, in April 1999 and reaccredited in April 2009. The flex format was added in St. Augustine, Florida in May 2012 with full approval from ACOTE. The California MOT program received accreditation from ACOTE in the fall of 2010. The Austin, Texas, MOT program received accreditation from ACOTE in the fall of 2015. The flex format was approved by ACOTE December 2016 and began in Texas in the fall of 2017. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The Miami, Florida MOT/Flex MOT programs have been granted Candidacy Status pending preaccreditation review by ACOTE and began in the fall of 2017. Programs that have been granted Candidacy Status must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs (OTD) were added to the Austin, Texas and San Marcos, California campuses in spring 2017 and have been granted Preaccreditation Status by ACOTE. The programs must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program (OTD) was added to the St. Augustine, Florida campus in fall 2017 and to the Miami, Florida campus beginning fall 2018. The programs are currently in Candidacy Status pending preaccreditation review by ACOTE. Programs that have been granted Candidacy Status must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program (OTD) in Dallas, TX has applied for accreditation by ACOTE. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
For more information about the occupational therapy accreditation process, contact the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, 301-652-2682 or visit www.acoteonline.org.
Complaints about the program that cannot be resolved after following the University’s procedures must be submitted electronically to the ACOTE Chairperson, c/o the AOTA Accreditation Department. The complaint must be submitted as an attachment to an e-mail addressed to accred@aota.org and must include a signed complaint form, “Complaint Against a Program Subject to ACOTE Accreditation”.
ABPTFRE Accreditation – Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) to offer a Clinical Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency program and an Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship program.
ABPTRFE is recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as the accrediting agency for physical therapy residency and fellowship education programs. The ABPTRFE accreditation process is based on the fundamental principle of peer review that enables physical therapists and non-physical therapists from within higher education to make recommendations essential in assuring quality residency/fellowship programs for all participants. The process is guided by transparent standards that are established collaboratively by member programs and professional peers. Accreditation focuses on assuring programs deliver, and participants complete, quality programs to support continuous improvement that enhances patient care and advances the profession. The ABPTRFE Quality Standards provide programs a framework to demonstrate and communicate their commitment to physical therapists through the achievement of its mission, goals, and outcomes.
For more information, contact:
American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE)
c/o American Physical Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488
E-mail: resfel@apta.org
Phone: 703/706-3152
Fax: 703/706-8186
IACET – International Association for Continuing Education and Training
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences has been accredited as an Accredited Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). In obtaining this accreditation, the university has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of the Accredited Provider status, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.
For more information, contact:
IACET
www.iacet.org
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is recognized by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education for Certified Athletic Trainers.
For more information, contact:
Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer
1415 Harney Street, Suite 200
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
(402) 559-0091
BOC@bocatc.org
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is also approved to operate in a number of states.
*Learn more about the University of St. Augustine’s first professional DPT program outcomes including FSBPT licensure pass rate.
CAA Accreditation – Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is a Candidate for Accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. This is a “pre-accreditation” status with the CAA, awarded to developing or emerging programs for a maximum period of five years.
