BENCHMARK PT CAREERS MANUAL

To become certified, the clinician must complete a four-part series of continuing-education courses along with both written and hands-on practical examinations.ĬMT: Certified Manual Therapist specialization requires the completion of several continuing-education courses and written and hands-on practical examinations.ĭA: Direct Access – in most cases you will be referred to physical therapy by your physician.

It is open to health professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree.Ĭert MDT: Certified in Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy aka McKenzie treatment, this teaches a systematic approach to evaluation, examination, classification and treatment of spine disorders. SCS: Sports Certified Specialist, who has passed a board-certified specialty exam in sports that must be renewed every 10 years.ĬSCS: The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist test focuses on proper exercise techniques, including strength and aerobic conditioning. This certification must be renewed every 10 years to maintain. OCS: Orthopedic Certified Specialist, who has passed a board-certified specialty examination in orthopedics. Many of the courses culminate in examinations and the earning of credentials that tell consumers that the clinician has undergone specialized training.īut what, specifically, do those initials and abbreviations mean? Some explanations: Physical therapy clinicians have access to continuing-education courses. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THESE INITIALS AFTER MY THERAPIST’S NAME? With the increasing need to provide high-quality care to patients, there are now 177 accredited residencies and 34 accredited fellowships. In 2005 there were nine APTA-credentialed residency programs. Examples of fellowships include spine, manual therapy and upper extremity. A clinician who has already been recognized as a specialist and now wants to focus on a sub-specialty completes a fellowship. Similar to residencies, fellowships are a planned experience that combines not only didactic education but also mentoring by a specialized clinician. Residencies are offered in the following specialties: The American Physical Therapy Association recognizes 14 specialties.

Like the path a physician takes, a residency is a planned experience that includes both didactic material and mentoring by a specialized therapist. Upon graduation, licensed PTs may pursue a residency in order to achieve a board-certified specialization. This mixture aims to prepare students to be competent practitioners upon graduation to meet the growing needs of patients. The degree is a combination of instruction and clinical education, performed under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. All programs were forced to comply with this change and new students will enroll in a doctorate level program. First a bachelors and then a masters and now, current graduating therapists receive a doctorate in physical therapy. The degree for practicing physical therapist has undergone some changes in the past 20 years. In the past few years the profession of physical therapy has undergone a number of changes in the areas of education, specialization and practice. By: Kati Mol, Columbia SC Center WHERE THE PROFESSION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY IS GOING

Benchmark pt careers