The Academic Council is a subgroup of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and was created by the APTA board of directors in August 2010. The purpose of the Academic Council is to advance the enterprise of academic physical therapy by promoting the highest standards of excellence. For the purposes of the council and its activities, academic physical therapy includes all aspects of physical therapist education, including clinical education, and post-professional education. Since August, accomplishments include:

• Identification of members who are representatives from Institutions
• Adoption of standing rules for the Council nominations and election process
• Election of a Council board of directors and nominating committee
• Development of a Council strategic plan, expected in February 2011

The Council intends to take a leadership role in establishing the direction of physical therapist education and have the responsibility and accountability to duly reflect the interests and needs of the academic and clinical physical therapist educational community. To fulfill this responsibility, the Council intends to interact with groups inside and outside of APTA on behalf of the physical therapist academic community. At the APTA House of Delegates meeting in June 2012, the Council intends to recommend that the Council transition to a component of APTA.