As a physiotherapist or a physical therapist in New Jersey, the professional con opts to specialize in one or more specialty throughout their professional career. Adding specialty certifications demonstrates their expertise in their area of passion, help them enhance their credentials, as well as open doors to new possibilities, some even through the Internet.
To specialize, individuals first need to become a physiotherapist and practice for at least two thousand hours in their area. After that, they can apply for specialty certification from APTA or the American PT Association. In some instances, individuals need to take classes or an examination; in short, proving their previous experience is all that’s needed.
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What is PT specialization?
According to ABPTS, opting to pursue specializations help therapists build on their base of professional education, as well as experience, to deepen their skills and knowledge related to specialized areas of practice. More than twenty-seven thousand professional physiotherapists in the country are certified by the ABPTS as specialists. Individuals who choose to have more specialized PTs are able to hone their skill sets in more than one area of expertise, as well as work toward becoming a leader and mentors in that area.
Requirements to get a board-certification eligibility
Every specialized physiotherapist has their own qualifications for getting certifications. But the following qualifications need to be met by all potential candidates:
- Get licensure to practice PT in New Jersey
- Pay the application review fee of five hundred dollars for APTA members or eight hundred dollars for non-members
- Submit separate applications for every specialist certification, professional wishes to get
- Pass clinical specialty exams (fees are eight hundred dollars for APTA members and a thousand dollars for non-APTA members)
Check out https://www.guidelinecentral.com/guidelines/APTA/ for more details about APTA.
Specialties
Currently, the ABPTS recognizes at least nine areas of specialty.
CCS or Cardiovascular and pulmonary clinical specialist
This thing was established by the American Physical Therapy Association in 1981. It was the first board-certified physical therapy specialization. Pulmonary and cardiovascular specialists are equipped to help people heal and manage different lung and heart conditions.
For instance, they help people recover from open-heart surgery or heart attacks. They also help individuals manage respiratory diseases like COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. To become a specialist in this area, individuals need to meet the following qualifications:
- Have a current ACLS or Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification by the AHA
- Applicants need to submit evidence of participation in clinical data analysis projects related to the pulmonary and cardiovascular specialty area in the past ten years
- Complete the prerequisite amount of client care in the chosen specialty through either two thousand working hours or APTA-accredited residencies
Geriatric Clinical Specialist
With the aging population in the country, specializing in this area is becoming increasingly important. PTs who specialize in this area are experts in helping individuals with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as progressive neuro diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. To earn the specialization in this area, potential applicants need to meet the minimum American Physical Therapy Association qualification, which includes:
- Two thousand working hours of direct client care in geriatrics within the past ten years
- Successful completion of an American Physical Therapy Association-accredited geriatric residency in the past ten years
Ortho clinical specialist or OCS
Orthopedics has been the most popular PT specialty in the country, with more than fifteen thousand certified professionals currently practicing in the United States. These experts treat injuries, as well as adverse conditions of the joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones. They also see individuals with musculoskeletal problems like arthritis or people recovering from surgery.
How to become an ortho expert?
The requirements to become an orthopedic professional includes the following:
- Two thousand hours of direct client care in ortho within the past ten years
- Successful completion of an American Physical Therapy Association-accredited ortho residency within the past ten years
Neuro Clinical specialist or NCS
Physiotherapists in New Jersey who pursue NCS treat individuals with various neuro disorders, impairments, and injuries. These professionals usually work in a clinical environment like rehabilitation centers or hospitals. PT looking to get a specialization in this area needs to complete these care prerequisites:
- Two thousand hours of direct client care in neurology in the past ten years
- Successful completion of American Physical Therapy Association-accredited neuro residency in the past ten years
Wound management expert
This area of specialty just became a board-certified specialty last year. Since it is still under development, the application requirements are still in progress. According to the governing body, it takes a multidisciplinary focus to treat both deep and superficial wounds with an emphasis on the connection between body systems. How experts treat a system will have a huge impact on other systems.
