All practicing physical therapists are required by law to complete an accredited physical therapy program and become licensed in their state. Some professions may advertise that they practice “physical therapy” or “physiotherapy” without being licensed in their respective state.
After completing a bachelor’s, master’s, or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, a physical therapist must pass a licensing test to meet the minimum standards to practice.
Board Certification Beyond Licensure
Beyond licensure, physical therapists can become board certified in a specific field. This is not required, and it demands more than 2,000 hours in the chosen field plus a rigorous test demonstrating competence in that specialty.
Board certification can be compared with becoming a fiduciary in financial planning: it demonstrates expertise in a health-care niche with the client’s or patient’s best interest in mind.
At Florida Physio, Dr. Leighton completed the requirements for board certification in orthopedics—the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, or OCS.
What It Means for Patients
Research has shown that board-certified physical therapists help patients achieve goals and outcomes faster with less money spent.
A 2005 study by Childs and colleagues concluded that physical therapists board certified in orthopedic physical therapy demonstrated superior knowledge in managing musculoskeletal dysfunction compared with general physical therapists, general physicians, and physician specialists other than orthopedists.
Board-certified specialists are recognized for clinical excellence, expert clinical reasoning, and current knowledge of research. Patients can find one through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
