The preceptor does not need to sign the affiliation agreement. The person signing must have the authority to sign on behalf of the facility and their employees. For example, at a high school typically signing authority would reside with the principle or superintendent, at a clinic it might be the CEO, etc. For universities, it is usually a president, dean or their designee. There may be a contracts office at the university that handles these types of agreements. Remember if the preceptor is employed by one facility (i.e. a clinic) and is supervising students at another facility (i.e., a high school) then there must be an affiliation agreement or MOU on file for both facilities.

If both sites are under the governance and management by the university then no affiliation agreement is required. If the health center is managed by an outside entity (i.e. outside physician group or clinic), then an affiliation agreement would be necessary.

Standard 3: All sites where students are involved in patient care or observation-only experience (excluding the Program’s sponsoring institution) must have an affiliation agreement or memorandum(s) of understanding that is endorsed by the appropriate administrative authority (i.e. those bearing signature authority) at both the sponsoring institution and site. In the case where the administrative oversight of the preceptor differs from the affiliate site, formal agreements must be obtained from all parties. Please note that ALL sites must have affiliation agreements or MOU’s. Any experience the student completes as part of their education as an AT student MUST have an agreement. Both for credit and non-credit experiences, including internships, in Athletic Training must have agreements.

Substantive change is a significant modification or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited program. Programs who are in mid-accreditation cycle and in good standing with the CAATE who plan to offer the Athletic Training curriculum at a different degree level than currently accredited, may use the Substantive Change document to make such a request. Notification of Substantive Change must be made by May 1st of the year in which the documents will be submitted (due by August 1).

This is NOT a one time offer. Programs wishing to use the Substantive Change process may apply annually before May 1 for submission August 1 of that year. In future years this will be an electronic process, but will follow the same deadlines.

This is NOT a one time offer. Programs wishing to use the Substantive Change process may apply annually before May 1 for submission August 1 of that year. In future years this will be an electronic process, but will follow the same deadlines.

The institution may submit the Substantive Change documentation for change of degree level as soon as the institution has received documentation that the degree may be offered at that level. Depending on the institution, approval may be at the institution level or may need to come from the state education board or other state agency.

The CAATE does have the ability to accept credit cards for the annual fee. All invoices are NET 60 days. If payment is not received within a month after the due date a $200 late fee will be assessed.

Yes, all programs, regardless of their current accreditation status, must pay the application fee when they submit their self-studies. This fee is for the extra service of the Comprehensive Review.

Starting with the 2013 – 2014 cycle programs will submit a flat $5,000 fee with their self study. All expenses for the site visit will be covered from these funds. Programs will no longer be invoiced for expenses after a site visit.

Yes, you may break the self-study appendices into multiple bound documents, as long as you have the different bound documents bound, tabbed and paginated according to the instructions. You may also, and it is recommended, copy your appendices double-sided to reduce the amount of paper; however, you still must follow the directions by having the Appendices tabbed according to the Table of Contents provided, and the entire document must still be paginated. Please note: The first online self studies will be the July 1, 2014 submissions.

The narrative should be paginated with page numbers that are consecutive (i.e. 1-50). The Appendices may be paginated by section and consecutively (i.e. A1-A50, B1-B12), or as one document and consecutively (i.e. 1-250). You must paginate each page regardless if the documents have page numbers from the printed source from which they were taken (i.e. catalog, handbook). Page numbers may be done by hand, as long as they all appear legibly when reproduced. Please note: The first online self studies will be the July 1, 2014 submissions.

The CAATE does have a 50 page maximum length on rejoinders and progress reports; however, the program must respond as directed in the report which may exceed the 50 page limit. The CAATE requests that documentation be presented only once within the document, and then be referenced, if necessary, to respond to another Standard, later in the document. While conciseness and brevity are the goals, the CAATE does understand the need, on some occasions, to exceed the page limit.

Any spiral type binding is appropriate, as long as the document may be able to be laid open on a table like a book. 3-ring binders are not acceptable for any document (self-study, rejoinder, progress report, or audit). Please note: The first online self studies will be the July 1, 2014 submissions.

Avery and other manufacturers make numerical, alphabetical, or blank types of tabbing that are acceptable. Tabs with paper/cardboard inserts are not preferred as the inserts fall out during shipping. Pieces of paper are not considered “tabs”, because they do not extend beyond the edge of the document; tabs must extend beyond the edge of the document to be considered acceptable.

The CAATE does not provide a listing of contact information for the Program Directors; however, the CAATE website does contain a list of all accredited programs with contact information for public use.

The regular “CAATE” logo is reserved exclusively for use by the CAATE, unauthorized use of the CAATE logo is a violation of copyright and trademark law. CAATE logos, designed specifically for institution/program use, are available on the CAATE website; however, the process for the use of those logos must be followed to gain access to the logo. The CAATE logo may not be used until the user obtains written permission from the CAATE. Failure to follow this policy and/or non-approved use of the CAATE logo will result in a fine of up to $500 and administrative probation. The CAATE makes variations of its logo available for specific uses. Programs accredited by the CAATE have default permission to use the following statements or links:

This Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

Link to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

All CAATE logos must be used exactly as they were created, without changes in color, verbiage, typeface or otherwise altering the appearance of the logo(s). The standard CAATE logo is reserved exclusively for use by the CAATE.

All questions must be submitted, in writing or via email, to the CAATE office (caateinfo@caate.net). Questions submitted before the 1st of each month will be addressed on the monthly conference call scheduled for that month. Final official responses will be emailed to the individual or programs submitting the question(s). The CAATE has adopted this process in order to provide the best singular response that represents a consensus of the Commission. Questions must not be directed to individual Commissioners, but to the entire board as stated above.

Changes in Medical Director must be reported to the CAATE Office as per Standard K2.3

Your site visit does not have to be in the same semester as it was during the last site visit cycle. Self-studies are due the July 1st before your next accreditation cycle. See question above for the definition of an accreditation cycle.

Under the CAATE system of accreditation, accreditation is a continuing process. Should a program not submit the self-study at the required time, the ATEP will be placed on probation and ultimately, may have its accreditation removed involuntarily. All self-studies are due July 1st. If a program's accreditation certificate says 2014-15, the self-study is due July 1 of 2014. A window of dates will be determined and the site visit must occur during those dates in the fall of 2014 or spring of 2015. The date of the site visit is determined between the program director and the site visitors (once they are assigned). The first online self studies will be the July 1, 2014. submissions.