Specialisation in Physiotherapy - Conceptual framework
Physiotherapists' specialization aims to improve the quality standards of physical therapy practice and to promote continuous professional evolution.
The following are considered essential guidelines of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) on this matter, namely the following assumptions:
- Physiotherapy specialisation are areas of study and practice in a specific area, within the scope of practice recognized as physical therapy, which allows physical therapists to acquire and demonstrate additional in-depth clinical knowledge and skills, in relation to those necessary for access to the profession and professional title.
- There should be a fully documented formal process for specialization, acknowledging the skills, especially clinical.
- Specialization shouldn’t be considered a practice limitation. The field of activity recognized as physical therapy will remain open to all appropriately qualified physical therapists.
- A specialist physical therapist is expected to practice and/or teach in his clinical specialization area of practice, and also to contribute to education and evaluation of professional practice, with a view to improve the services provided. They are also expected to conduct research projects and contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge in the respective area.
In essence, three substantial elements should be considered in specialization process:
- Possession of an advanced graduate course, with academic recognition;
- The demonstration of competences (skills) and proven experience in the area of specialisation;
- The development of skills in the area of research (critical analysis of published research to support a practice based on scientific evidence, with a published contribution to the development of knowledge in the area of specialisation).
The Board of the Order of Physiotherapists believes that the profile of the specialist clearly fits the descriptors of the master's degree, and that this is a potential, but not the only, route in the formal process of recognising specialist status.
The granting of specialist status assumes that his holder regularly demonstrates that he continues to deserve this status, through a formal process of renewing his clinical knowledge and skills.
It is considered prudent to recognise only a small number of fields of specialization, in line with international practice or countries of reference, if possible. Whenever there’s no justification for an autonomous field of specialisation, an alternative skills certification system should be created.
Creation of the Physiotherapy Professional Specialities Board in Portugal
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 list of professional specialities in Physiotherapy.
Drawing up the proposal for this framework is part of the 2022 activity plan and continues the work already begun by the Installation Commission.
Achieving the objective of creating the Specialities requires a series of internal stages and will necessarily culminate in a period of public discussion of the project before its final approval.
The working documents will progressively be made available to the members of the Order in a separate tab on the Order's website. reserved area.