Physical Therapy Program Granted Accreditation | PCOM Georgia
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Physical Therapy Program Granted Accreditation


May 19, 2021
Physical therapy students at PCOM Georgia often work in hands-on and group settings to learn how to treat patients.
PCOM Georgia's physical therapy students learn in collaborative classroom settings.
The PCOM DPT program has experienced faculty to help guide students into meaningful health careers.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at PCOM Georgia received initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

PCOM Georgia's physical therapy program emphasizes as “whole person” approach to patient management and engagement with the community.


The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) granted initial accreditation to Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program following its spring 2021 meeting. The accreditation, a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-reviewed process that occurs on a regular basis, is effective through the fall of 2025.

Phillip B. Palmer, PT, PhD, professor and department chair of Physical Therapy at PCOM GeorgiaUnder the leadership of Phillip B. Palmer, PT, PhD, professor and department chair, administrators and faculty members submitted a self-study report to CAPTE before the physical therapy program underwent a site visit at its Suwanee, Georgia, location on the PCOM Georgia campus. The accrediting organization considered both the self-study and visit reports, along with an institutional response, prior to granting accreditation.

Jay S. Feldstein, DO ’81, said, “It’s a credit to Dr. Palmer and his staff for achieving this significant goal for our PT program.”

CAPTE’s mission is to ensure and advance excellence in physical therapy education. In May of 2018, PCOM’s physical therapy program was granted Candidate for Accreditation status by CAPTE. In order to take the licensure exam, physical therapists must have graduated from a CAPTE-accredited program.

Dr. Palmer said, “Getting a new program accredited is only possible with the help of many people, both within and outside the program. Members of the PCOM community, on all campuses and in many non-academic departments, played a significant role in creating a positive environment for the program. The support and encouragement offered by the board and administration of PCOM cannot be overstated.”

According to the CAPTE website, CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level physical therapist programs. The organization currently accredits more than 250 physical therapist education programs in the US and Scotland and conducts approximately 70 site visits annually.

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About PCOM Georgia

Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education with a storied 125-year history dedicated to the healthcare professions. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.

Contact Us

Jamesia Harrison, MS
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Email: jamesiaha@pcom.edu
Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell: 470-572-7558

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