Order functions
The primary roles are:
a) Regulate the access and practice of the profession;
b) Defend general interests of patients from services provided by members, enforcing citizens right's to health;
c) Represent and defend general interests of the profession, in national territory, ensuring its social function, dignity and prestige;
d) Exclusively assign physiotherapist professional title and professional certificate to its members;
e) Protect the professional title, including handling complaints about illegal practice of the profession, and becoming a part in criminal proceedings;
f) Certify the specialization qualification of a physiotherapist who meets the requirements set by the specialists’ member’s board;
g) Create and keep the professional registration of members updated;
h) Ensure compliance with ethics and professional deontology rules;
i) Use disciplinary power over its members;
j) Awards or honorary titles;
k) Offer services related to professional practice to members, accurate information, professional training and technical and legal support;
l) Collaborate with Public entities in pursuit of public interests related to the profession of physiotherapy;
m) Participate in legislation proposals regarding the profession;
n) Participation in official accreditation processes and evaluation of academic education that give access to the profession;
o) Recognize professional qualifications obtained outside Portugal, according to the Portuguese and European Union laws or international conventions;
p) Provide advice regarding scientific and technical matters, requested by any entity, national or foreign, public or private, when there is public interest for the profession;
q) Support the development of physiotherapy science and education;
r) Any other role committed by law.
According to Law no. 122/2019, of 30 September, which can be consulted at here, The Order of Physiotherapists regulates the profession, defends physiotherapy and protects citizens from unqualified practice.
The Order has a Jurisdictional Council that examines complaints against physiotherapists and has the power to act against bad practices and unqualified practice, intervening directly and/or indirectly in the event of such proven situations.
No, the Portuguese Parliament or the Government, is the Portuguese legislative organization, it´s responsible for creating laws. The Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas can regulate all relevant aspects of the profession.
One of the duties of the Order, as set out in Article 4 of its statutes, is to StatutesThe purpose of this programme is to "confer the title of specialist on physiotherapists who fulfil the requirements laid down by the competent bodies".
Pursuant to article 26 j) of the Statute of the Order of Physiotherapists, it is the Order's Board of Directors' responsibility to propose to the General Council the creation of a framework of professional specialities in Physiotherapy. The preparation of a proposal, to be submitted to the General Council and for subsequent public consultation, is included in the 2023 Activities Plan.
Member services / support
In accordance with Article 4 of the Statutes of the Order of Physiotherapists, point 1(d) and (f), the Order awards the professional title of Physiotherapist and the respective professional licence.
Once the specialities have been defined, it will also award the title of specialist to Physiotherapists who meet the requirements set by the competent bodies.
Without prejudice to promoting the socio-economic conditions of its members, according to Law 122/2019, of 30 September, article 4, paragraph 2, "The Order is prevented from exercising or participating in activities of a trade union nature or which relate to the regulation of the economic or professional relations of its members.", and therefore does not intervene in matters of a labour and/or trade union nature.
No. All issues related to career progression, salary aspects, or others, are not duties of Portuguese Professional Orders, without prejudice to studying the underlying issues, that may be advocated by the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas.
Physiotherapy, as a healthcare service is exempt from VAT. This will not happen if a physiotherapist has any other activity where the VAT is applied.
There may also be cases where some devices connected to physiotherapy may be subject to VAT, regardless of their rate.
Yes. The cost of issuing a duplicate ballot paper is included in the Regulations Dues and Fees.
The Order of Physiotherapists is developing a job vacancy exchange, which will be available to all members in the reserved area. The project is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Registration
In accordance with Article 3 of the Registration Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists:
"1- You can enrol in the OF:
a) Have a graduate academic degree in physiotherapy, completed after a program of study of no less than four curricular years, by a Portuguese higher education institution;
b) Have a foreign academic degree in physiotherapy, with equivalence to the program of study mentioned on the previous paragraph;
c) Are a national certified practitioner from EU Member States or European Economic Area whose qualifications have been obtained outside Portugal, pursuant to Article 67 of the Statute of the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas.
2 - You can also register if you:
a) Are a Physiotherapist who, in accordance with Statutes and applicable legal provisions, is a certified practitioner;
b) Holders of a physiotherapist's professional card, issued under the terms of Decree-Law no. 320/99, of 11 August."
3 - The enrolment of third-country nationals whose qualifications were obtained outside Portugal and to whom the provisions of paragraph 1(c) apply also depends on the guarantee of reciprocal treatment, under the terms of an international convention, including a convention signed between the OF and the counterpart authority of the country of origin of the person concerned.
4 - The following can also register as members:
a) Professional societies of physiotherapy, including the branches of associative organizations of physiotherapists, created under the law of another country, pursuant to article 68 of the Statute of the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas;
b) Permanent representations in national territory of associative organizations of physiotherapists, constituted under the law of another State, pursuant to article 69 of the Statute of the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas.
5 - Registration to practice physiotherapy may be refused if:
a) You don’t have higher academic training pursuant to points a) to c) of paragraph 1, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 4, of article 1;
b) The person concerned has been punished with an interdiction or suspension of practice provided by law, or a criminal, administrative or disciplinary infraction.
6 - The recognition required for purposes of point c) of paragraph 1, must be requested by the interested parties.
7- Enrolment in the OF can be made in any of the specialities recognised under the terms defined in the Specialities Regulations, after they have been created."
Physiotherapists can register with the Portuguese Bar Association exclusively at website of the Order of Physiotherapists, without having to go to the head office for this purpose.
https://ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt/inscricao-na-ordem-dos-fisioterapeutas/
Yes, even if you are registered with the ACSS or have a valid APFisio membership, you will need to register with the Order of Physiotherapists.
Registration with the Order is compulsory and is a necessary condition for the use of the professional title of Physiotherapist and access to professional practice.
If you enrol, you will have to pay the registration fee. Registration with the Order is a mandatory condition for practising law. The fees for this process are defined by regulation, and there are no exemptions. Registration with the Bar will be relevant for proving your professional qualifications when looking for a job.
If you are unemployed and therefore not practising, you can choose to delay registration until you are actually practising your profession, in whatever form, namely liberally. However, you must provide proof of this situation by sending the Order a statement with the corresponding supporting document.
The decision to register in the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas and to maintain or suspend this registration is an individual decision, and a right of the person who has the qualifications/ requirements to do so.
However, only those registered can use the professional title of Physiotherapist and legally practice the profession.
The Statute of the Order of Physiotherapists, approved by Law no. 122/2019 of 30 September, as well as its articles of association, make it possible to register as a member of the Order at any time.
This is the principle applicable to anyone wishing to start their own business, such as young graduates or professionals from other countries travelling to Portugal.
However, with the creation of the Order of Physiotherapists, previous registration with the ACSS is no longer a sufficient condition for the legal exercise of the profession of Physiotherapist, and registration with the Order is now required. Since 13 May 2021, the conditions for registration with the Order have been met, and this is a legal condition for practising the profession.
Registration with the Bar is compulsory and a legal condition for practising the profession. Employers are obliged to require their employees to be registered with the Bar, so you should co-operate with your employer so that you don't both fall foul of the law. If you are a self-employed professional, practising your profession without being registered with the Bar also constitutes a situation of non-compliance.
Any of the following up to date documents may be accepted for inclusion:
- Pay slip showing your work address (you can hide the amounts)
- Declaration from your employer stating your work address.
- Declaration of opening of business at the Tax Office
- Green receipt with address
- Declaration of the IEFP in the applicable cases.
Yes. A company that employs physiotherapists must ensure that all its professionals are legally qualified to do so, and must demand that all physiotherapists present a valid professional card issued by the Order of Physiotherapists. The company has an ancillary responsibility to ensure that the physiotherapists it employs are registered.
If you have not yet received your professional licence, it may be sufficient to present a provisional declaration issued by the Order of Physiotherapists.
The data provided by Physiotherapists will be covered by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which you can consult here. here.
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), all data provided will be treated in strict confidence and will not be provided to any external organisation. They will be stored in the institutional system under the responsibility of the Data Protection Officer of the Order of Physiotherapists.
Yes. All Physiotherapists who carry out acts specific to the professional practice of Physiotherapy must register with the Order of Physiotherapists.
No. Your enrolment number is assigned automatically when you submit your application. In turn, your registration number will be assigned after your file has been analysed by the Secretariat, the Technical Admissions Committee and the Board of the Bar Association, and after you have paid the final registration fee of €100.
The identity card number is assigned by an automatic process once the administrative admission process has been completed and the provisional identity card has been issued.
The ballot number will not coincide with the submission number, as the processes may have different rates of analysis and deliberation, and some may even have a negative decision and not be issued with the corresponding ballot.
The admission process begins with submitting the application on the platform, and has the following steps:
- Confirmation of submission and assignment of a sequential process identification number;
- Confirmation of payment of the registration fee - start of the process analysis time;
- The Secretariat of the Technical Admissions Commission (CTA) begins to analyse the conformity of the file. The file may need to be amended or completed. In this case, the applicant is notified and the analysis time is suspended until the situation is resolved by the applicant.
- Confirmation by the CTA Secretariat that the file is ready to be analysed by the CTA. The file is assigned to a member of the CTA to start drawing up the opinion.
- The CTA analyses the case in detail and submits a reasoned proposal for a decision on whether or not to accept the applicant's registration.
- The Order analyses the CTA's proposal and takes a decision in accordance (or not) with the CTA's proposal.
- The applicant is informed of admission to the Order and asked to pay the enrolment fee.
Upon confirmation of payment of the registration fee, a provisional card is issued certifying admission to the Order. In this process, the sequential number of the respective card is assigned.
The Order decided internally to recommend to the Order's services that the period between confirmation of payment of the registration fee (€50) and the decision on whether or not to accept the registration should not exceed 30 consecutive days.
This time limit does not, of course, include the periods during which time is stopped for the applicant to update or submit additional data, when requested by the Secretariat of the Order.
You can follow the progress of your process by logging back into the Order's website, in the same place and with the same identification sequence using the digital mobile key that you used when submitting the application for registration.
When you enter your case, you will immediately be shown the stage it is at.
The CV makes it possible to document "relevant professional experience", which is a requirement of the application form, particularly in the case of mobile professionals from other countries.
Although Registration Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists does not explicitly indicate the need to submit a CV, its submission facilitates the process of examining applications.
The level of detail of the description of this professional experience will, at this stage, be at the applicant's discretion, and on their honour. Please note that this field will subsequently be available for updating, at any time and on your own initiative, in your personal area, accessible via the Order of Physiotherapists website.
The date of completion of the course, in particular the course that gave you access to professional practice, which appears on your diploma or qualification certificate, is relevant for the overall calculation of your length of professional practice (seniority).
This should not be confused with the date of issue of the diploma or certificate itself, which is usually issued at a later date.
If a duplicate diploma is issued, this difference will naturally be even greater.
The date you should put on the form is the date of completion of the initial course.
The date of completion of the course, in particular the course that gave you access to professional practice, which appears on your diploma or qualification certificate, is relevant to the overall calculation of your time in professional practice (seniority). If your initial course did not confer an academic degree, but you subsequently obtained a Bachelor's degree, the date you should put on the form is the date of completion of the initial course.
Example: For a course from 1985 that was formally equalised in 1999, the date on the form must be 1985.
You must, however, submit both documents: the one of the initial training and the one of the formal recognition of the academic degree. As there is only one field in the form for submitting these two documents, you should make a joint copy, in a single PDF.
Yes, the first cycle of the bi-tapical Licentiate's Degree, which corresponds to the Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy, was, at the time, sufficient qualification to exercise the profession of Physiotherapist, and registration to obtain the respective professional card. You only need to present the certificate proving this qualification.
Bearing in mind that the first cycle of the bachelor's degree in Physiotherapy was, at the time, the sufficient qualification to exercise the profession of Physiotherapist, and register to obtain the respective professional card, this will be the reference qualification for statistical purposes.
On that basis, the date of completion of the Bachelor's degree will be the one we will use to count your professional seniority.
If you have not requested this certificate of completion of the Baccalaureate, you must submit a declaration of honour, with the respective date of completion.
To make it easier, here is an example of the text your declaration should contain: "I, (name), declare on my honour that I have completed a Bachelor's Degree at XXXXXX Institution with a completion date of XXXXX". The declaration must be signed in accordance with the identification document.
In defence of the consumers/users of physiotherapy services, the Order, as a public body, must guarantee that its members meet the legal requirements necessary to exercise the activity, without restrictions, both in terms of professional qualifications and in terms of disciplinary/criminal matters.
No. You must use the digital mobile key.
In this case, access the platform and click on the "manual login" button.
To proceed, you must have a PDF copy of your lifetime ID with you to submit to the platform.
Following this submission, the Order's Secretariat will analyse your request and send you an email reply in due course.
In this case, access the platform and click on the "manual login" button.
To proceed, you must have a PDF copy of your ID document with you to submit on the platform.
Following this submission, the Order's Secretariat will analyse your request and send you an email reply in due course.
How your application is forwarded will depend on the country where you obtained your qualifications and whether or not you are already registered with the ACSS.
If your qualifications were obtained in Portugal, the ACSS no longer has jurisdiction to recognise them for professional practice. It is now the Order of Physiotherapists, so your application can be accepted and you will be given access to fill in the online form.
If your qualifications were obtained outside Portugal, but you are already registered with the ACSS, your application may be accepted and you will also be given access to fill in the online form.
If your qualifications were obtained outside Portugal, but in one of the countries of the European Union, you should apply for the European Professional Card at https://europa.eu/youreurope/
If your qualifications were obtained in a third country, your application may be accepted, and you will also be given access to fill in the online form, but you must first obtain specific recognition of your qualifications (Degree in Physiotherapy) at a Portuguese Higher Education Institution.
You only have to register with the Order if you want to work as a physiotherapist in Portugal. This presupposes, in principle, the possession of a Portuguese tax identification number (NIF) and an address associated with that NIF.
It is compulsory to have a professional address in our country. This address is essential for allocation to a regional office and for sending official correspondence from the Order.
The professional address can be the "family home"/domicile, duly certified, if you do not have a link with an institution that can issue you with the corresponding declaration.
If the applicant doesn't have a Portuguese NIF, they can practise in Portugal and keep their tax situation regularised in another country. However, they must always have a professional address in Portugal, in accordance with paragraph 2.
Yes, as long as you respect certain conditions.
Registration and subsequent payment of membership fees are only compulsory if you wish to practise your profession in Portugal, even if you remain resident abroad.
However, in order to register and practise your profession in Portugal, you must have a professional address in the country. This address is essential for allocation to a regional office and for sending official correspondence from the Order.
You must provide one of the usual proofs of address.
If you don't have a regular address in Portugal, you can indicate the address of a relative or someone to whom you entrust the responsibility of forwarding the mail (namely the address allocated to obtaining the national NIF).
Proof may be made by means of a declaration of honour from the person holding the address, in which case one of the person's usual proofs of residence confirming the address must be attached.
Although you live abroad, you must have a professional address of reference in order to practise physiotherapy in Portugal. If you have a Portuguese TIN, you must present the address associated with that TIN (family home), indicating the number of the tax office to which your TIN corresponds. If you are not practising in Portugal, you can only register for the purposes of being recognised to practise in the actual country/member state of practice.
To practise physiotherapy in Portugal, you must have a professional domicile of reference.
If you have a Portuguese NIF, you must present the address associated with that NIF, indicating the number of the tax office to which your NIF corresponds.
If you do not have an autonomous professional domicile in the member state where you actually work, you must indicate your residence as if it were your domicile, if the legislation of that country does not prohibit this.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union, you must have a legal residence permit in Portugal and give the address associated with that permit as a reference.
In all cases, the issue of a professional licence will depend on proof of Portuguese professional domicile.
No. As the qualification is obtained in Portugal, the ACSS no longer has jurisdiction to recognise them for professional practice, but the Order of Physiotherapists does.
As of 15 December 2021, the Bar Association also became the Competent Authority for the purposes of the Directive 2005/36/ECTherefore, all the necessary declarations will be issued by the Order.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the Registration Rules:
"Membership in the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas is cancelled for members who:
- a) Are subject to the disciplinary measure of expulsion;
- b) Voluntarily cease their professional activity and so inform the Board of Directors."
Your registration may lapse if it is not completed within 180 days, as stipulated in Article 4(7) of the Registration Regulations. In this case, if you wish to register again, a new process and payment will be required.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the Registration Rules:
"Members are suspended from the OF if:
- a) Are subject to the disciplinary suspension measure;
- b) Require it when they want to temporarily interrupt the practice of Physiotherapy, as long as they liquidate outstanding fees, if any;
- c) Are in a situation of incompatibility with the professional practice of physiotherapy, "
Membership fees
With the award of the provisional professional card. If the final payment of the 100€ registration fee is made in the first fortnight of the month, the obligation to pay membership fees begins that same month. If it is made in the second fortnight, the obligation to pay membership fees begins the following month.
The value of membership fees is defined in the Dues and Fees Regulations in forceThe monthly fee is €12.00 (twelve euros). It can be changed annually when the budget for the following year is drawn up. 3. How often do I have to pay the membership fees?
There are three intervals for paying membership fees: monthly, half-yearly and annually.
Yes. If you choose to pay every six months, you get a discount of 5% on the January-June and July-December blocks. If you choose annual payment, the discount will be 10%. These discounts do not apply to outstanding amounts.
No. As membership fees are paid according to the calendar year, the monthly option is always available, the half-yearly option is available from 1 January to 31 July and the annual option is available from 1 to 31 January.
Yes, you can. Simply choose the new periodicity you want the next time you pay your dues.
The means available are: Multibanco Reference, MB Way, Credit Card and Direct Debit. It should be noted that only Direct Debit and MB Way are available for the monthly dues payment option.
Yes, you can. Simply choose the new payment method you want the next time you pay your membership fees.
Access your "Reserved Area":
- Choose the "Dues" option. You will be shown the last membership fee paid and the amount to be paid;
- Click on "Pay Dues";
- Choose the Payment Frequency. Please note that depending on the month you are in, not all may be available;
- Choose your Payment Method: Direct Debit, ATM Reference, MB Way or Credit Card;
- Enter the details for issuing the invoice;
- Confirm and proceed
Yes. The information system has a set of alerts that notify you by e-mail.
Late payment of membership fees may result in interest being charged on the amount owed, calculated at the supplementary legal rate. The interest rate for late payment is set by the Treasury and Public Debt Management Agency - IGCP, E. P. E. and published in the Diário da República. E. and published in the Official Gazette.
From the 1st day of the second month in arrears. If, for example, the last quota paid was in May, interest on arrears will be charged from 1 July.
No, because the amount of the membership fee is determined by the budget approved for the following year. Therefore, membership fees are paid according to the calendar year.
Yes. As part of the 2023 Activities Plan, the Order of Physiotherapists is applying a 50% reduction in membership fees for the first six months for new graduates who register within four months of completing their degree.
The obligation to pay membership fees ceases only in the event of suspension or cancellation of membership, whether voluntary or coercive.
Yes, you can. When you pay your membership fees in your reserved area, under "Billing details", choose one of the following options: Own; Own sole proprietorship; Employer where you work as a physiotherapist.
You can, as long as you do so within the same month in which the invoice to be changed was generated. To do this, you must make the request in your reserved area, under "Support" and "Support Request".
Your invoice will be sent to your inbox and will be available in your reserved area.
Yes, you can. Physiotherapists who work as employees must declare the amount of membership fees paid in Box 4C of Annex A of the IRS Form 3, with the expense code 422 (Membership Fees of Professional Bodies).
Physiotherapists who are self-employed and fall under the simplified regime do not need to declare; if they have organised accounts, they should inform their Certified Accountant.
The Physiotherapist who still practice or intends to keep his professional card, must pay fees. If you do not intend to maintain the qualification to practice, you can suspend your registration with the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas.