Physical therapy education varies greatly from country to country. Worldwide, physical therapy training ranges from basic work site education in hospitals and outpatient clinics to professional doctoral degree programs.
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In Australia, a few different programs are available at both undergraduate and post graduate level. 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. In the latter half of the degree students partake in practical components focusing on musculoskeletal physiotherapy, neuromuscular physiotherapy, paediatric physiotherapy, geriatric physiotherapy, cardiothoracic physiotherapy, and women's health. The program generally progresses with an increasingly clinical focus and usually the final year involves practical placements at clinics, and research. Australian programs offer either the B.Physio, B.App.Sc.Physio, B.Sc.Physio, M.Physio, or D.Physio degrees. Australian physiotherapy education is seen as one of the highest quality in the world. Bachelor programs education in Australia is regarded producing the same level as doctorate programs in the USA.
In Bangladesh, the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) course is provided by the Medicine Faculty of University of Dhaka. There are four affiliated institutes, the Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI)- the Academic Institute of CRP, the National Institute of Traumatology Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation,Peoples Institute of Health Sciences(PIHS) State college of Health sciences and Institute of health Technology the which provide five years of professional education including a one-year mandatory internship. Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association (www.bpa-bd.org) is only internationally recognized professional body. The Bangladesh Physiotherapy Association has received international recognition from WCPT (2007) in Vancouver.
In Canada, entry-level physiotherapy education is offered at 14 universities. All of these university programs are at the Master's level, meaning that applicants must have already completed an undergraduate degree prior to applying. Many universities also offer graduate programs in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, or related disciplines at the masters or doctoral level. 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. For more information go to http://www.physiotherapyeducation.ca/
The undergraduate programme (BPT) of physiotherapy runs for 4 and half years including 6 months of mandatory and usually rotatory clinical internship. The masters programme (MPT-neurology, cardio-respiratory, orthopaedics, paediatrics, community health, sports) usually is of 2 years but some universities (MUHS) do offer a 3 years of education and subsequent doctoral PhD programmes. Entry eligibility differ as some require clearance of entrance exams while others are based on +2 levels merit list. GB
In Iran, the Physical therapy degree is offered in bachelor level which usually takes 4 years. Some medical students after studying 2 to 3 years of medicine, may switch to Physiotherapy which in this case they only need to study one more year.
In most of Iraq there is no good definition of Physical therapy and so anyone can call themselves that. In the Northern part of the country are three technical Institutes that provide a two-year diploma in Physical therapy (Hawler, Duhuk and Sulaimaniyah). There is one degree course (B.Sc.) in the College of Medical and Health technology-Baghdad, a 4 year period after high school. However, it appears they have been working with the same curriculum for many years and this curriculum is theoretical. Currently (2011) there are NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) training Physical Therapists all over Iraq. The WCPT (WORLD CONFEDERATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY) will have the latest information.
In the Republic of Ireland, Physiotherapy is available as an undergraduate course in four universities,, Trinity College, University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons and University of Limerick. Courses are four years in length with clinical practice in the final two years. Students are required to complete 1000 hours of clinical practice before graduation.
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. The course is an intensive mix of class time and mandatory internship right from the first year. 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. This test is implemented to all those courses known as "numero chiuso" or close access to limit the number of participants. Depending on the Faculty and course between 30 to 400 positions are available each year. To be selected one has not only pass the examination but finish in the top positions required to enter. For all para-medical degrees each Institution can select its own test which it held simultaneously in all Universities, whereas for Medicine the test are administered by the Ministry of Education.
Importance is given to the initial exam and a "close number" is paramount. This maneuver is intended to control the job market, hence providing secure occupation to those who finish.
Yet between 2010 and 2011 the public funds to national health care were cut drastically, resulting in a national wide job loss and impossibility for newly formed students to be hired, contemporary to a large portion of the population in need of medical care yet unable to pay for the private service, which is regulated with minimum fees by imposition of law, therefore not allowing that portion of unemployed physiotherapists to lower their own fees so to offer their services and provide that portion of the population with the needed assistance.
In Kuwait, Physical therapy B.Sc. degrees can be obtained after graduating from Kuwait University (4-year program). Students learn to assess patients and document their progress in their second year of study and start going on to hospitals to have their practical learning beginning at the start of their third year. After graduating further training in hospitals is available. There are no formal post-graduation programs.
In Malta, Physical Therapy B.Sc. (honours) is available as a course which can be obtained after finishing a four-year course at the Institute of Health Care of the University of Malta. This course involves all aspects of Physiotherapy. Students have an intensive three-year theoretical course after whom s/he spends the last year doing clinical placements (in total = four years). Students learn how to assess and treat patients. To be able to secure a license to practice as a physiotherapist, one must be able to pass some practical exams which involves both assessment and treatment. In the fourth year, students are also expected to complete a physiotherapy research project, which fulfills the requirements of an Honours degree.
In New Zealand, there are currently two schools of physiotherapy offering four-year undergraduate programs. Many New Zealand physiotherapists work in the private health care system as musculoskeletal physiotherapists and the curriculum reflects the need to prepare graduates for autonomous practice. Students follow an educational program similar to Australia with an emphasis on biomechanics, kinesiology and exercise. Postgraduate study typically involves three years of subject specific learning. The New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists Incorporated (NZSP) is the professional body that physiotherapists may optionally be a member of in New Zealand.
In Nigeria, Physiotherapy training is a 5 year Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhysio) or Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (BMR) degree programmes.[1] A 1-year clinical intership program under the supervision of senior and experienced clinician physiotherapists is required upon graduation from an accredited University before the new graduate can be licenced to practice as a physiotherapist. The first training program in Nigeria was started at the University of Ibadan in 1966, followed by the University of Lagos in 1971. A training program was also started at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1978, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1987, Bayero University, Kano in 1989, University of Maiduguri,Maiduguri in 2003. Other training programs are also available at University of Maiduguri and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi. Advanced Masters and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Physiotherapy (MSc Physio and PhD) are available at the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. 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 Bachelors programs to entry level Doctorate programs.[2][3]
In Pakistan there are 15 colleges offering B.Sc. Physiotherapy and 4 colleges offering DPT. 3 universities are offering t-DPT and 2 are offering Msc PT while 1 university is offering MPHIL in Physiotherapy.Physiotherapists have a good scope in government and private hospitals and they are awarded 17 grade pay scale.In this way Pakistan has become the third country offering DPT in the world.
In South Africa the degree {B.PhysT, B.Sc.Physio or B.Physio,Ph.D. in (Physio)} consists of four years of general practice training, involving all aspects of Physiotherapy. Typically, the first year is made up of theoretical introduction. Gradually, time spent in supervised practice increases until the fourth year, in which the student generally spends about 80% in practice. In the fourth year, students are also expected to complete Physiotherapy research projects, which fulfills the requirements of an Honours degree. Professional practice can only be entered into after a state governed, compulsory year of community service is completed by the student after graduation.
All physiotherapist are First line practitioners (i.e. a health professional who can autonomously diagnose and treat), can refer patients to medical practitioner specialists and Imaging (e.g. for X-Ray, MRI, ultrasound and prescribe Certain medication and blood test relevant to their scope of practice) and issue a certificate of illness.
Are required to be trained in Advanced Life support for emergencies in their departments and private practices/surgery.
In the general public and to some medical practitioners and other health professionals physiotherapist are regarded as doctors, the statutory body (HPCSA rules and regulation are not clear on whether physiotherapist can use the courtesy title Dr, but Medical Practitioners though not qualified as such they do use the courtesy title Dr. most people feels that HPCSA is biased to medical and Dental professionals, they feel that is not Constitutional)
All practising physiotherapists in South Africa are required by law to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa,[4] the registering body for physiotherapists being the Professional Board for Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Biokinetics.[5]
In Spain a physiotherapy student is required to complete 3 years of training after having passed a university entrance exam. After completing a physiotherapy program, another exam can be taken to work for the public health system of an autonomous community, or a graduate can work for private hospitals, clinics, etc. There are 43 universities with physiotherapy faculties in Spain. Since 2009 physiotherapy had become a 4-year career. Physiotherapists who have finished their 3 years of training can also take one more year.
In Sri Lanka, Physiotherapy is available as a Diploma course for two years in School of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy, which is affiliated to the National Hospital of Colombo from 1957. After the six months of classroom training students are sent to hospitals for clinical practice. During the 1980s foreign students from Australia, Belgium have studied at the Physiotherapy School. From the year 2006 Allied health sciences faculty of University of Peradeniya and Medical faculty of University of Colombo[Visit http://www.cmb.ac.lk/academic/medicine/ext_pages/ahsu_web/index.html OR "Physio-MFC" ON FACEBOOK] have started the undergraduate course for four years.2011 is the remarkable year in srilankan physiotherapy field.first ever physiotherapy graduate batch is to pass-out in this year.they are from both university of colombo and university of peradeniya.at the moment BSc.physiotherapy degree program has been a one of the most favourite course among srilankan students.it is necessary to get more than 1.8 Z-score marks to be selected to this course.
In Taiwan, Physical Therapy is available as a four-year undergraduate course in 14 universities. There are also three junior colleges to provide a five-year program. Clinical practice is required in the final year of the both programs mentioned above. 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, R.O.C. Many universities also offer graduate programs in physical therapy, rehabilitation, or related disciplines at the masters or doctoral level.
In Turkey, the Physiotherapy (BPT) education is provided by physiotherapy schools in universities (Hacettepe University, Dokuz Eylül University, Istanbul University, Baskent University, Pamukkale University, Dumlupınar University, Süleyman Demirel University, Bezmi Alem University, Acıbadem University, Medipol University,Yeni Yuzyil University) after high school education. Education takes four years or five years with prep classes. M.Sc. and Ph.D. education is given by institutes of medical sciences.
In the United Arab Emirates the Bachelor Of Physiotherapy (BPT) consists of a four-year undergraduate degree program. 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 also get hands-on experiences in cadaveric dissections while learning Human Anatomy during the first year of the program. 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 course offers Case Based Learning experiences and focuses on Evidence Based Practices. The program culminates with a six month internship ending with a research project work.
Entry-Level physiotherapy education in the United Kingdom includes both a 3-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physiotherapy and/or an accelerated 2-year post graduate Master of Science (MSc) in Physiotherapy (Pre-reg). Part time 4-year BSc in Physiotherapy programmes are open to physiotherapy assistants and technical instructors and involves studying for two days a week while working the remaining three.
In order to qualify, students are required to complete 1000 hours of clinically based learning in a variety of clinical settings: this typically takes place in the final two years; some courses also have clinical placement in the first year. 35 universities and tertiary level institutions train physiotherapists in the UK. Upon completion of an accredited course, graduating entry-level physiotherapists are eligible to join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and attain professional registry with the Health Professions Council enabling graduates to work as chartered physiotherapists.
In the United States, training in physical therapy culminates in a doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree. A few programs still offer a Masters degree. (MSPT, MPT) There are still many physical therapists currently practicing in the US who were trained with a BSPT degree. Physical therapist education includes clinical internships. All states also require physical therapists to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination before they can practice.[6] Each state regulates licenses for physical therapists independently. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were 215 accredited physical therapist programs in 2009–of those 15 offered the Master of Physical Therapy, and 200 offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Most programs are in transition to a DPT program.[7] In the United States, there are approximately 233 accredited two-year programs for Physical Therapist Assistants.