CAPTE: On-site Reviewer Training
                   MODULE 5 – ON-SITE 
                           INTERVIEWS
              This module will discuss some of the specific issues related to one of the most 
              important activities of the reviewers - the interviews conducted during the on-site 
              visit. Basic points are provided here. The face-to-face training you will attend will 
              focus on the interview in more depth.
                       Objectives
    1. Explain the purpose of the on-site interviews.
    2. Describe the preparation, process and structure for the on-site interviews.
    3. Identify the general rules for interviewing techniques.
    4. Explain the special considerations for interviews with different constituents.
                                    Purpose of Interviews
       1 Verify information provided in the Self-study Report              On-site interviews facilitate writing a Visit Report that will 
                                                                           compliment the Self- study Report and provide CAPTE 
       2 Clarify information in the Self-study Report                      with a sense of the quality of the program. This need for 
                                                                           face-to-face review is the justification for having an on-
       3 Identify new issues not seen through the Self-study               site visit. Utilizing the Person’s Interviewed Form, the 
          Report                                                           program provides a list at the start of the visit with the 
                                                                           names of those who are scheduled to meet with the 
      4 Add the ‘human’ dimension to the process                           team. It is the responsibility of the team to update this list 
                                                                           as needed. After the visit, this form is emailed with the 
      5 Provide data for the Visit Report that address the quality of      Visit Report. The Accreditation staff will insert this form 
          the program                                                      into your report so that there is an official record of who 
                                                                           the team met with.
              Balancing On-site Reviewer Roles
                                                                 The reviewers have many roles during their visit. The 
    •On-site Reviewers are:                                      best approach to managing all of them and their 
                                                                 potential conflicts is to always behave in the courteous 
      – Fact finders                                             fashion of a welcomed guest. By maintaining this 
      – The most visible representatives of CAPTE to the         approach, even the most difficult topics can be 
        institution                                              approached in an even-handed and non-judgmental 
                                                                 manner. It is important to keep in mind that your job will 
      – Consultants
                                                                 be to report on what you find and not to evaluate 
      – Guests of the institution                                compliance with the Standards and Required Elements.
                          Preparing for Interviews
      •Focus questions on the Required Elements              By preparing for the interviews the team can identify 
      •Plan questions for interviews based on                strategies to successfully verify and clarify even the most 
                                                             difficult issues. It is very important to keep all questions 
         – Concerns arising from reading the Self-study      within the purview of the Required Elements. Other 
           Report                                            topics, no matter how interesting to the reviewers or 
         – Thorough discussion by team about issues of       participants MUST be deferred until the consultative 
           concern                                           session. A thorough review of the Self-study Report by 
                                                             each team member will facilitate preparing for interviews.
         – Identification of who can best verify or clarify the 
           Self-study Report