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RF-PTCAS, the Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service provided by APTA provides a simplified application process for physical therapist seeking a residency or fellowship program.

RF-PTCAS launched in 2013 and since then, RF-PTCAS has grown to include over 85% of residency and fellowship education programs accredited by or holding candidate for accreditation status with the American Board of Physical Therapist Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

Quick Links and Support

RF-PTCAS, ABPTRFE, and WebAdMIT staff are available to assist you as needed.

RF-PTCAS

RF-PTCAS staff should be contacted at rfptcas@apta.org for help with the following items:

  • Contact updates
  • Deadline date changes
  • Deadline extensions for individual applicants
  • RF-PTCAS policy and procedure questions or suggestions
  • Application content questions or suggestions
  • Feature suggestions or feedback for WebAdMIT
  • Applicant-specific questions
  • General RF-PTCAS questions

ABPTRFE Staff

ABPTRFE staff should be contacted at resfel@apta.org for help with the following items:

  • ABPTRFE directory updates
  • Program name changes
  • Program leadership changes
  • Other substantive changes to programs
  • Questions regarding accreditation

WebAdMIT

The WebAdMIT Support team should be contacted for assistance with all WebAdMIT issues, including:

  • WebAdMIT access and account creation issues
  • Training on specific WebAdMIT functionality or features
  • Assistance with setting up various aspects of WebAdMIT
  • Help with applicant data exports, lists, and reports
  • API setup
  • General WebAdMIT questions

Updates to RF-PTCAS

Each year, RF-PTCAS implements certain updates and enhancements to the content, policies, features, functionality, and integrations with outside platforms found in the application and WebAdMIT. The final list of changes for an upcoming cycle is published and shared with participating programs each year, typically by early-June. A summary of the most recent changes implemented can be found below.

  • No changes were made to RF-PTCAS for the 2021-22 application cycle.

As users of PTCAS, you are encouraged to submit your ideas for changes by visiting our Request a Change In CAS page [link to new request a change in CAS page].

For Prospective Participating Programs

RF-PTCAS is open to all physical therapy residency and fellowship education programs accredited by or holding candidate for accreditation status with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).

Before deciding if RF-PTCAS participation is right for your program, it is important to understand more about how a centralized application service (CAS) works, and the many features and benefits available to participating programs. To familiarize yourself with the features, functions, and processes of a CAS, including the benefits available to programs and their applicants, we recommend completing the 30-minute, self-paced, on-demand course -  Centralized Application Services: Your Admissions Management Solution.

For individuals who will be involved in the CAS implementation and need to learn how WebAdMIT can help improve the admissions process, we also recommend completion of the 45-minute, self-paced, on-demand course – Best Practices in Implementing a Centralized Application Service – inclusive of a toolkit designed to help programs new to CAS with the implementation process.

Get Started

If your program is ready to participate in RF-PTCAS, complete the new program onboarding form return it to APTA RF-PTCAS once completed.

Once this form has been received, you will receive an official welcome packet containing important information on the next steps in the onboarding process, training resources, and access information to begin setting up your program profile.

If you have any questions regarding RF-PTCAS participation, or would like to set up a demo of the RF-PTCAS application platform, please reach out to us at APTA RF-PTCAS.

Additional Resources

ABPTRFE Program Directory

ABPTRFE is recognized as the agency for the accreditation of physical therapist residency and fellowship education programs. Access the directory of programs

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RF-PTCAS Program Deadlines

  • Jan. 15

    RF-PTCAS Enhancement Suggestions Due

    Your chance to provide feedback and suggestions on new content, features, or functions for the next cycle of RF-PTCAS.

  • Feb. 15

    Annual Applicant Data Report Posted

    Annual report with summary data from the previous applicant pool posted by this date. (link coming in Februrary)

  • June 1

    RF-PTCAS Approved Changes Posted

    A list of the approved changes for the upcoming application cycle will be posted by this date.

  • Aug. 1

    CAS Configuration Portal Opens

    CAS Configuration Portal on the Prelaunch website opens for programs to review and submit changes to their application content and deadline dates for the upcoming cycle.

  • Aug. 31

    RF-PTCAS Application Closes and Processing Ceases

    Final date for applicants to submit applications in the current application cycle. RF-PTCAS will stop processing new applications after this date.

  • Sep. 9

    CAS Configurations Due

    Last date for programs to submit their application content in the CAS configuration portal on the prelaunch site in order to have guaranteed inclusion in RF-PTCAS when the new cycle opens.

  • Oct. 1

    RF-PTCAS Application Opens

    The new RF-PTCAS cycle opens. Applicants can begin creating accounts and submitting materials and applications to programs through RF-PTCAS.

  • Oct. 1

    RF-PTCAS Application Opens

    The new RF-PTCAS cycle opens. Applicants can begin creating accounts and submitting materials and applications to programs through RF-PTCAS.

  • Oct. 1

    Applicant Data and Custom Export Layout File Available in WebAdMIT

    All applicant data for the new cycle as well as a file detailing all fields collected in RF-PTCAS and the format in which the data is available for export out of the system is available in the live version of WebAdMIT (not prelaunch).

  • Dec. 31

    Final RF-PTCAS Decisions Due for Previous Cycle

    A final decision must be reported in WebAdMIT for all accepted applicants from the previous application cycle by this date.

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