Accreditation in the Health Professions

Summary Accreditation by an independent authority confirms that an educational programme has met the standards required for entry into a health profession. The concept of accreditation is introduced, and the expectations of the world body in physiotherapy identified. National physiotherapy standards are necessary before an accreditation process can be instituted. The expectations of a good practice accreditation model are developed through consideration of graduate learning outcomes, accreditation requirements and processes, the accreditation authority, its panel members and their activities and the accreditation decision. The article concludes with an emphasis on the Australian requirements for physiotherapy programme accreditation. Level of evidence: Not applicable