Residency Fellowship Specialist Certification

Residency & Fellowship1,2
According to APTA, licensed physical therapists may enroll in a residency or fellowship program to enhance their knowledge, practice and experience.

About Clinical Residency

According APTA, Clinical Residency “is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists that is designed to significantly advance the physical therapist resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry.”

About Clinical Fellowship

According APTA, Clinical Fellowship “is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise, prior to commencing the program, in a learning experience in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists.)”

Clinical Residency vs. Fellowship Programs

• According APTA, Clinical Residency: “A clinical residency is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists that is designed to significantly advance the physical therapist resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry.”
• According APTA, Clinical Fellowship: “A clinical fellowship is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise, prior to commencing the program, in a learning experience in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists.)”

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties3,4,5,6

Physical therapists can maintain their knowledge and stay current in their area of expertise through 18 special-interest sections offered by the APTA. In addition, it connects them with others sharing their specific interests. These sections include Acute Care, Aquatic Physical Therapy, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management, Education, Federal Physical Therapy, Geriatrics, Hand Rehabilitation, Health Policy and Administration, Home Health, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopaedic, Pediatrics, Private Practice, Research, Sports Physical Therapy, and Women's Health. Of these 18 sections, 8 of them offer specializations guided by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Those specializations are board-certified currently which include the following areas:

1. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
2. Clinical Electrophysiology
3. Geriatrics
4. Neurology
5. Orthopedics
6. Pediatrics
7. Sports
8. Women's Health

References:

1. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
2. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
3. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
4. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
5. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
6. Presentation: Enhancing Professional Development Through Certification (.ppt)

If you need assistance, please contact

Abdulrahman Alsubiheen PT, MS, DSc©

King Saud University
College of Applied Medical Sciences
Rehabilitation Sciences Department-Physical Therapy
Doctor of Science (DSc ©) in physical Therapy at Loma Linda University.
alsubiheen@yahoo.com