The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) is committed to a physical therapy profession underpinned by recognised and valued systems regulating the profession. These should focus on ensuring safe and competent care/services for all members of society.
Physical therapy is an internationally recognised health profession which is practised only by appropriately authorised and qualified physical therapists and, where required by state or national legislation, who are registered or licensed. The terms registered/regulation and licensed/licensure are used synonymously.
Regulation provides the right to practise physical therapy to the appropriately qualified individuals under the appropriate legislative framework. The purpose of regulation is to protect the public from incompetent, unqualified or unethical practitioners.
Responsibility for professional regulation varies by country. It may be a government responsibility or a professional responsibility under government legislation or the responsibility of an independent regulatory authority. Individual registering authorities develop criteria for entry to physical therapy practice that are specific to the needs of their particular jurisdiction. They also may set continuing competency standards and establish and maintain a process to deal with complaints against members.
A credentialing process for the evaluation of educational and/or professional qualifications is an integral part of establishing the eligibility of a physical therapist to practise.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity or mutual recognition means that one country recognises the physical therapy credentials of another. Although this type of recognition facilitates professional mobility, it can only exist when two or more registering authorities agree that their qualifications are substantially equivalent and that there are enough similarities in professional practice to ensure protection of the public.
International occupational mobility for physical therapists should ensure that public safety is maintained.
The concept of reciprocity between registering authorities is not new. National and international trade agreements and the global economy provide new incentives to encourage registering authorities to consider such agreements. However, while mutual recognition may be highly desirable between or among some countries, it will be considered a disadvantage to others.
WCPT:
- considers that mutual recognition of professional qualifications is a matter of the registering authorities and professional bodies of the countries concerned
- accepts that, while barriers to practice are legitimate and necessary in order to protect the public from practitioners who have inadequate preparation for the type of practice in a given country, restrictions which serve only to protect national or local professional interests are wholly unacceptable. It notes with concern that some regulatory requirements and credentialing procedures act, or can appear to act, as barriers to worldwide professional mobility
- accepts that regulatory authorities may wish to retain the right to require applicants to demonstrate understanding of local laws, health regulations, rules and standards of professional conduct
- believes that an efficient, effective, fair and appropriate regulatory system is the prerequisite for both the individual and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications
- urges all Member Organisations to encourage legislative and regulatory bodies to incorporate the principles listed below into the establishment, administration and monitoring procedures of their registration process
Principles for a registration process
Requirements for registration and eligibility to practice within a country should:
- be the same for all applicants regardless of nationality, race, creed, politics, gender or social status
- be based upon fair, objective and transparent criteria related to professional education, experience and/or examination
- not be more burdensome than is necessary to ensure the safety of the public
- not be used for the sole purpose of restricting the supply of physical therapists in the country concerned
- be communicated in plain language
