The professional names of physical therapy or physiotherapy, the titles physical therapist or physiotherapist and appropriate abbreviations (for example PT, FT, physio) as such or in any translation, are the sole preserve of persons who hold qualifications approved by national professional associations.
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) claims exclusivity to these titles.
Members of the public wishing to access the services of a physical therapist are entitled to know that recognised qualifications are held and that professional behaviour is governed by ethical codes.
WCPT calls on the governments of Member Organisations to enact legislation, where it does not already exist, to protect the public by limiting the use of these titles to appropriately qualified persons.
Furthermore, WCPT calls on the governments of Member Organisations to refrain from developing generic classifications that deny the specificity of physical therapy by ensuring that qualified physical therapists always have the right to be employed as physical therapists.
