Physical therapy education
Worldwide, physical therapy training ranges from basic work site education in hospitals and outpatient clinics to professional doctoral degree and masters programs.
Presently, the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (Professional body representing Nigerian physiotherapists) and the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board (the Government body that regulates the training and practice of rehabilitation therapy professionals in Nigeria) are making plans to transit the Nigerian entry-level Bachelor's programs to entry-level Doctorate programs.
Typically, the first year comprises largely theoretical ("basic sciences") instruction, while the second includes a focus on human anatomy and physiology.
This three-year diploma course is still running at the Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences (previously Mulago Paramedical Training School).
There are seven affiliated institutes: Peoples University Of Bangladesh was the pioneer in private sector but they stopped all health Science courses due to some unexpected legal problems.
Gono Bishwabidyalay (GONO University) is offering the only clinical Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) and BHPI is offering a non-clinical postgraduate MSc.Pt.Bangladesh Open University launched Master's of Disability Management and Rehabilitation (M.D.M.R) under the school of Science and Technology in 2018.Bangladesh Physical Therapy Association [11] is the only trade organization of Bangladeshi physical therapists.
The BPT curriculum is structured to closely mirror international standards, offering subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pharmacology, and therapeutic exercises, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to practice both independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
Graduates are trained not only in clinical skills but also in critical thinking and patient management, enabling them to address a wide range of physical ailments.
However, due to the absence of a unified National Council overseeing physiotherapy education, there is significant variation in the BPT syllabus across different states in India.
PTs argue that they are not breaching any law prevailing in India as legally only one who has earned a degree in MD/DM or Phd is justified to use and prefix the 'Doctor' title.
IACP (Indian Association of Chartered Physiotherapists) is providing Post graduation Certificates (Cert.NMD, Cert.SPM) and Diplomas in online and offline modes.
The Jamia is in the process of constructing a separate building for the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences with the help of generous grant from the UGC.
Once a student graduates from the PT program, he/she is then required to pass a national licensure exam administered by the Ministry of Examination, Taiwan, for clinical practice.
Several universities also offer graduate programs in physical therapy, rehabilitation, or related disciplines at the master or doctoral level.
In the first year of the program they are introduced to pre-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Human Behaviour & Socialisation & Basic Medical Electronics & Computers.
The students progressively are introduced to supervised clinical practice and the integrated curriculum offers the best learning experiences in addition to extensive in-house elearning programs.
The physiotherapy degree can be undertaken over a four-year period as an undergraduate or two to three years post graduate with the early components being predominantly theoretical including basic anatomy, biology, physics, psychology, kinesiology, goniometry and physiology.
Many physiotherapists may advance their education at these levels in such Clinical Practice Areas as cardiorespiratory, geriatrics, neurosciences, orthopaedics, pediatrics, rheumatology, oncology, sports physiotherapy, and women's health.
In the province of Quebec, physiotherapists are required to complete a master's degree specializing in physiotherapy to meet the eligibility criteria to gain membership with the Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec.
[19] After graduating an accredited program, PTs and[20] PTAs are required to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) before they can obtain a license to practice.
[22] After graduating from an accredited program and becoming licensed, a Doctor of Physical Therapy may continue his or her education by entering a residency and then fellowship.
In Italy, known as "Laurea in Fisioterapia (abilitante alla professione sanitaria di Fisioterapista)", it is a three-year full-time degree taught in the Faculty of Medicine of many Italian Universities.
Internship is such an important part that the number of hours dedicated to practice progressively increases reaching half of the program by the third year.
There are no special requirements to be admitted to the bachelor's degree; students from various backgrounds can access the program, previous passing an 80 question pre selection test.
All courses are approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the UK Health and Care Professions Council - the latter allowing registration and entitlement to use the protected title of Physiotherapist upon successful completion of the degree program.
[28] Residencies may involve community service, research, patient education, teaching opportunities, and the supervision of other health care providers.
Residencies are currently offered in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sports, Women's Health, and Wound Care.
[29] Residencies prepare the Doctor to become a board-certified clinical specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
[28] Residency- and Fellowship-trained physical therapists report practicing more imaging skills (i.e. utilizing evidence-based guidelines) compared to their counterparts.
To gain acceptance to a fellowship a physical therapist must have one or more of the following qualifications 1) Completion of a residency 2) Board Certified Specialist certification 3) Demonstrate clinical skills within a particular speciality area.
