The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Alexandria, Va, has awarded specialist certification to 1,001 physical therapists this year, says a statement from the organization.
Since 1985, 9,409 physical therapists have achieved board certification. Those who were recognized recently completed the requirements to become board-certified specialists in one or more of the following specialty areas: cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, sports, and women’s health physical therapy.
To obtain board certification, candidates must submit evidence of required clinical practice in a specialty area and they must successfully complete a rigorous written examination, demonstrating specialized knowledge and advanced clinical proficiency in a specialty area of physical therapist practice.
The APTA House of Delegates established specialist certification as a mechanism to formally recognize physical therapists who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge and skills. Since the program’s inception in 1985 there has been a steady and substantial increase in the number of physical therapists who pursue specialist certification each year.
ABPTS was established by APTA as the governing body that awards certification to physical therapists who meet approved requirements. ABPTS oversees the physical therapy clinical specialist certification and recertification program and awards certificates to physical therapists meeting approved requirements.
[Source: APTA]
