The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) claims exclusivity to the professional names “physical therapy” and “physiotherapy”. It further asserts that the professional titles “physical therapist” and “physiotherapist” and all abbreviations referring to these titles (eg “PT”, “FT”, “physio”)[Note 1] are the sole preserve of persons who hold qualifications approved by WCPT’s member organisations.
The professional title and term used to describe the profession’s practice varies and depends largely on the historical roots of the profession in the country of the WCPT member organisation. It is WCPT policy to use the term “physical therapy” or “physical therapist” to cover all these titles, but they may be replaced by WCPT member organisations in favour of those terms officially used by them and their members without any change being implied.
WCPT believes in it is in the public interest to protect the professional names and titles as part of national legislation/regulation/recognition. 1, 2 This should ensure that qualified physical therapists always have the right to practise as physical therapists. WCPT calls on its member organisations to work with governments to enact legislation/regulation/recognition, where it does not already exist, to protect the public by limiting the use of these titles to appropriately qualified persons.
Glossary
Professional regulation — is designed to protect the public interest by ensuring that physical therapists meet (and continue to meet) the standards or requirements for practice. The approach to regulation and the specific regulatory mechanisms vary by jurisdiction and are often provided by laws, regulations, directives or rules set by the regulatory authority. Professional regulation may also be overseen by the profession itself, this is referred to as “self-regulation”. 2
Regulated profession — a profession that may only be practised by individuals who have been certified by the relevant regulatory authority as meeting the standards or requirements for the practice of that profession. 2
| Approval, review and related policy information | |
|---|---|
| Date adopted: |
First adopted at the 13th General Meeting of WCPT June 1995. Revised and re-adopted at the 16th General Meeting of WCPT June 2007. Revised and approved at the 17th General Meeting of WCPT June 2011. Revised and approved at the 18th General Meeting of WCPT May 2015. |
| Date for review: | 2019 |
| Related WCPT Policies: |
WCPT policy statements:
WCPT guidelines:
|
References
- World Confederation for Physical Therapy. WCPT guideline for the development of a system of legislation/regulation/recognition of physical therapists. London, UK: WCPT; 2011. www.wcpt.org/guidelines/regulation-legislation (Access date 22nd September 2011)
- World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Policy statement: Regulation of the physical therapy profession. London, UK: WCPT; 2017. www.wcpt.org/policy/ps-regulation (Access date 10th March 2017)
[Note 1] This includes any translations of physical therapy/physiotherapy and physical therapist/physiotherapist into languages other than English where they equate to the professional requirements to be recognised as such. For a list of professional titles in the countries of WCPT member organisations refer to the appendix.
© World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2017
Appendix: Professional titles recognised in countries of WCPT member organisations: listed by country
|
Country |
Titles used |
|---|---|
|
Afghanistan |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Argentina |
Licenced kinesiologist physiatric |
|
Licenciado en kinesiologia y fysiatria |
|
|
Australia |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Austria |
Physiotherapeut / Physiotherapeutin |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Bahamas |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Bangladesh |
Physiotherapist |
|
Prefix Dr. and suffix PT |
|
|
Barbados |
Physical therapist |
|
Belgium |
Kinesitherapeut(e) |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Bermuda |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Bolivia |
|
|
Brazil |
Fisioterapia |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Bulgaria
|
Ergotherapist |
|
Kinisiterapist |
|
|
Medical rehabilitation |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Cambodia |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Canada |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiothérapie/ Physiotherapie |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Chile |
Kinesiologist |
|
Kinesiologo |
|
|
Colombia |
|
|
Curacao |
Fysiotherapie |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Czech Republic |
Fyzioterapeut |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Denmark |
Fysioterapeuter |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Ecuador |
|
|
Egypt |
Physical therapy consultant |
|
Physical therapy practitioner |
|
|
Physical therapy specialist |
|
|
Estonia |
Füsioterapeut |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Ethiopia |
Physiotherapist |
|
Fiji |
Physiotherapist |
|
Finland |
Erikoislääkintävoimistelija |
|
Fysioterapeutti |
|
|
Lääkintävoimistelija |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
France |
Masseur - Kinésitherapeute ostéopathe |
|
Masseur - Kinésitherapeute Réeducateur |
|
|
Masseur - Physical therapist |
|
|
Masseur-kinésithérapeute diplômé |
|
|
Ghana |
Physiotherapist |
|
Greece |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapeftis |
|
|
Guyana |
Physiotherapist |
|
Hong Kong |
Physiotherapist |
|
Hungary |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Iceland |
Physical therapist |
|
Sjúkraþjálfari |
|
|
India |
Physiotherapist |
|
Ireland |
Fhisiteripe |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Israel |
Physical therapist |
|
פיזית המטפל |
|
|
Jamaica |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Registered physical therapist |
|
|
Japan |
Physical therapist |
|
理学療法士 |
|
|
Jordan |
Physiotherapist |
|
Physiotherapy technician |
|
|
Kenya |
Physiotherapist |
|
Korea |
Physical therapist |
|
물리 치료 |
|
|
Latvia |
Physiotherapist |
|
Liechtenstein |
dipl. Physiotherapeut FH |
|
dipl. Physiotherapeut HF |
|
|
Physiotherapist with diploma |
|
|
Lithuania |
Kinesitherapist |
|
Kineziterapeutas |
|
|
Luxembourg |
Kinesitherapie/ Kinésithérapie |
|
Masseur-kinésithérapeute diplômé |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Macau |
Fisioterapia |
|
Physical therapist |
|
|
物理治療 |
|
|
Malawi |
Physiotherapist |
|
Malta |
Fizjoterapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Mauritius |
Kinesitherapeut(e) |
|
Physical therapist |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Mexico |
Fisica y Rehabilitación |
|
Fisioterapia |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Terapia Física |
|
|
Montenegro |
Physiotherapist |
|
Namibia |
Physiotherapist |
|
Netherlands |
Fysiotherapeut |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
New Zealand |
Physiotherapist |
|
Nigeria |
Physiotherapist |
|
Norway |
Fysioterapi |
|
Physical therapist |
|
|
Pakistan |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
Paraguay |
Kinesiología |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Peru |
|
|
Philippines |
Registered physical therapist |
|
Poland |
Fizioterapeuta |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Portugal |
Fisioterapeuta |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Romania |
Fiziokineioterapeut |
|
Kineioterapeut |
|
|
Physical therapist |
|
|
Rwanda |
Kinesitherapie/ Kinésithérapie |
|
Physiothérapie/ Physiotherapie |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
العلاج الطبيعي |
|
|
Serbia |
Fizioterapeut |
|
Fizioterapeutski tehnicar |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Visi fizioterapeut |
|
|
Singapore |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Slovakia |
Diplomovany fyzioterapeut |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Slovenia |
Diplomirani fizioterapevt (dipl. fiziot.) |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
South Africa |
Physical therapist |
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Spain |
Physical therapist |
|
Sri Lanka |
Physiotherapist |
|
Suriname |
Physical therapist |
|
Sweden |
Legitimerad sjukgymnast |
|
Registered physical therapist |
|
|
Switzerland |
Fisioterapista |
|
Physiotherapeut / Physiotherapeutin |
|
|
Physiothérapeute |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Syria |
Physical therapist |
|
Titles |
Country used |
|
|
Taiwan |
Physical therapist |
|
|
物理治療 |
||
|
Thailand |
Physical therapist |
|
|
Physiนะ้ำพฟยรหะ |
||
|
นักกายภาพบำบัด |
||
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Turkey |
Fizyoterapist |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
||
|
Uganda |
Physiotherapist |
|
|
Ukraine |
Physical therapist |
|
|
Specialist of physical rehabilitation |
||
|
United Kingdom |
Physical therapist |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
||
|
United States of America |
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) |
|
|
Licenced physical therapist |
||
|
Physical therapist |
||
|
Registered physical therapist |
||
|
Uruguay |
Licenciate in physical therapy |
|
|
Licenciada Fisioterapeuta |
||
|
Technician in physical therapy |
||
|
Venezuela |
|
|
|
Zambia |
Physical therapist |
|
|
Physiotherapist |
||
|
Physiotherapy technologist |
||
|
Zimbabwe |
Physiotherapist |
|
Professional titles recognised in countries of WCPT member organisations: listed by title
|
Titles |
Country using |
|---|---|
|
dipl. Physiotherapeut FH |
Liechtenstein |
|
dipl. Physiotherapeut HF |
Liechtenstein |
|
Diplomirani fizioterapevt (dipl. fiziot.) |
Slovenia |
|
Diplomovany fyzioterapeut |
Slovakia |
|
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) |
United States of America |
|
Ergotherapist |
Bulgaria |
|
Erikoislääkintävoimistelija |
Finland |
|
Fhisiteripe |
Ireland |
|
Fisica y Rehabilitación |
Mexico |
|
Fisioterapeuta |
Portugal |
|
Titles |
Country using |
|
|
Fisioterapia |
Brazil |
|
|
|
Macau |
|
|
|
Mexico |
|
|
Fisioterapista |
Switzerland |
|
|
Fiziokineioterapeut |
Romania |
|
|
Fizioterapeut |
Serbia |
|
|
Fizioterapeuta |
Poland |
|
|
Fizioterapeutski tehnicar |
Serbia |
|
|
Fizjoterapist |
Malta |
|
|
Fizyoterapist |
Turkey |
|
|
Füsioterapeut |
Estonia |
|
|
Fysioterapeuter |
Denmark |
|
|
Fysioterapeutti |
Finland |
|
|
Fysioterapi |
Norway |
|
|
Fysiotherapie |
Curacao |
|
|
Fysiotherapeut |
Netherlands |
|
|
Fyzioterapeut |
Czech Republic |
|
|
Kineioterapeut |
Romania |
|
|
Kinesiología |
Paraguay |
|
|
Kinesiologist |
Chile |
|
|
Kinesiologo |
Chile |
|
|
Kinesitherapeut(e) |
Belgium |
|
|
|
Mauritius |
|
|
Kinesitherapie/ Kinésithérapie |
Luxembourg |
|
|
|
Rwanda |
|
|
Kinesitherapist |
Lithuania |
|
|
Kineziterapeutas |
Lithuania |
|
|
Kinisiterapist |
Bulgaria |
|
|
Lääkintävoimistelija |
Finland |
|
|
Licenciate in physical therapy |
Uruguay |
|
|
Legitimerad sjukgymnast |
Sweden |
|
|
Licenced kinesiologist physiatric |
Argentina |
|
|
Licenced physical therapist |
United States of America |
|
|
Licenciada Fisioterapeuta |
Uruguay |
|
|
Licenciado en kinesiologia y fysiatria |
Argentina |
|
|
Masseur - Kinésitherapeute ostéopathe |
France |
|
|
Masseur - Kinésitherapeute Réeducateur |
France |
|
|
Masseur - Physical therapist |
France |
|
|
Titles |
Country using |
|
|
Masseur-kinésithérapeute diplômé |
France |
|
|
|
Luxembourg |
|
|
Medical rehabilitation |
Bulgaria |
|
|
Physical therapist |
Afghanistan |
|
|
|
Australia |
|
|
|
Bahamas |
|
|
|
Barbados |
|
|
|
Bermuda |
|
|
Physical therapist |
Cambodia |
|
|
|
Canada |
|
|
|
Greece |
|
|
|
Hungary |
|
|
|
Iceland |
|
|
|
Israel |
|
|
|
Jamaica |
|
|
|
Japan |
|
|
|
Korea |
|
|
Physical therapist |
Macau |
|
|
|
Mauritius |
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
Pakistan |
|
|
|
Romania |
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
|
Singapore |
|
|
|
South Africa |
|
|
|
Spain |
|
|
|
Suriname |
|
|
|
Syria |
|
|
|
Taiwan |
|
|
|
Thailand |
|
|
|
Ukraine |
|
|
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
United States of America |
|
|
|
Zambia |
|
|
Physical therapy consultant |
Egypt |
|
|
Physical therapy practitioner |
Egypt |
|
|
Physical therapy specialist |
Egypt |
|
|
Physiotherapeftis |
Greece |
|
|
Titles |
Country using |
|
Physiotherapeut / Physiotherapeutin |
Austria |
|
|
Switzerland |
|
Physiothérapeute |
Switzerland |
|
Physiothérapie/ Physiotherapie |
Canada |
|
Physiothérapie/ Physiotherapie |
Rwanda |
|
Physiotherapist |
Afghanistan |
|
|
Australia |
|
|
Austria |
|
|
Bahamas |
|
|
Bangladesh |
|
|
Belgium |
|
|
Bermuda |
|
|
Brazil |
|
Physiotherapist |
Bulgaria |
|
|
Cambodia |
|
|
Canada |
|
|
Curaçao |
|
|
Czech Republic |
|
|
Denmark |
|
|
Estonia |
|
|
Ethiopia |
|
|
Fiji |
|
|
Finland |
|
|
Ghana |
|
|
Guyana |
|
|
Hong Kong |
|
|
Hungary |
|
|
India |
|
|
Ireland |
|
|
Jamaica |
|
|
Jordan |
|
|
Kenya |
|
|
Latvia |
|
|
Luxembourg |
|
|
Malawi |
|
|
Malta |
|
|
Mauritius |
|
Physiotherapist |
Mexico |
|
Titles |
Country using |
|
|
Montenegro |
|
|
Namibia |
|
|
Netherlands |
|
|
New Zealand |
|
|
Nigeria |
|
|
Pakistan |
|
|
Paraguay |
|
|
Poland |
|
|
Portugal |
|
Physiotherapist |
Rwanda |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
Serbia |
|
|
Singapore |
|
|
Slovakia |
|
|
Slovenia |
|
|
South Africa |
|
|
Sri Lanka |
|
|
Switzerland |
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
|
|
Turkey |
|
|
Uganda |
|
|
United Kingdom |
|
|
Zambia |
|
|
Zimbabwe |
|
Physiotherapist with diploma |
Liechtenstein |
|
Physiotherapy technician |
Jordan |
|
Physiotherapy technologist |
Zambia |
|
Physiนะ้ำพฟยรหะ |
Thailand |
|
Prefix Dr. and suffix PT |
Bangladesh |
|
Registered physical therapist |
Jamaica |
|
|
Philippines |
|
|
Sweden |
|
|
United States of America |
|
Sjúkraþjálfari |
Iceland |
|
Specialist of physical rehabilitation |
Ukraine |
|
Technician in physical therapy |
Uruguay |
|
Terapia Física |
Mexico |
|
Visi fizioterapeut |
Serbia |
|
Titles |
Country using |
|
|
פיזית המטפל |
Israel |
|
|
العلاج الطبيعي |
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
นักกายภาพบำบัด |
Thailand |
|
|
물리 치료 |
Korea |
|
|
物理治療 |
Hong Kong |
|
|
|
Macau |
|
|
|
Taiwan |
|
|
理学療法士 |
Japan |
|
Data provided by WCPT member organisations
- Updated: Tue 18 Apr 2017
