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Member organisation

Physiotherapists' Association of Brazil

Associação de Fisioterapeutas do BrasilBrazilSouth America
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The Physiotherapists' Association of Brazil (AFB) was created in 2005 at the Brazilian Congress of Physiotherapy in São Paulo and became a member of World Physiotherapy in 2007. AFB is part of our South America region. 

Subgroups

The Physiotherapists' Association of Brazil, or its national special interest groups, are members of the following subgroups recognised by World Physiotherapy:

Year established

2005

World Physiotherapy member since

2007

Year members reported

2022

Number of physiotherapist members

3,800

Contact details

Key contacts

Brazil: a profile of the profession in 2022

mo-pdf-iconDownload profilemo-pdf-iconData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2022

Professional titles protected by law

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Bacharel em Fisioterapia

About Physiotherapists' Association of Brazil and the physiotherapy profession in Brazil

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

250,000 (estimated)

11.68

Per 10,000 population

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% female

60%

In this country/territory

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

3,800

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% female

57%

In this MO

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Bachelors degree

Equivalent fulltime years

4

Number of programmes

1078

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

Please contact the Physiotherapists' Association of Brazil for details of entry level education programmes in Brazil

Regulation

* = Continuing Professional Development

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Registration required to practice

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CPD* required for re-registration

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CPD* required for membership

What is required to practice in the country/territory?

There are 18 regional regulatory bodies (https://www.coffito.gov.br/nsite/?page_id=51) and a central federal organisation, Federal Council for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (COFFITO), to regulate and supervise the profession. More information: https://www.coffito.gov.br/nsite/?page_id=5416

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

Ministry of Health or another government department

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Standards of practice

The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

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Education for autonomous practice

All programmes

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Legislation supports private practice

Physiotherapists are permitted to

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    Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners

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    Assess patients/clients

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    Make a diagnosis

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    Offer preventative advice/services

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    Refer to other specialists/services

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    Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)

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    Provide telehealth services

Direct access

*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional

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Direct access* permitted?

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Will this be reimbursed?

In part

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in the public system?

Limitations

What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?

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    Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)

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    Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)

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    Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)

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    Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)

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    Other

Some private health insurance only authorize treatment when requested by a doctor

Special interest groups recognised by the member organisation

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    Aquatics

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    Acupuncture

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    Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy

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    Educators in physiotherapy

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    Electrophysical agents

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    Mental health

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    Orthopaedics/manual therapy

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    Older people

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    Oncology/palliative care and HIV

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    Pain management

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    Paediatrics

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    Sports physiotherapy

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    Womens health

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    Management/administration

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    Neurology

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    Occupational health and ergonomics

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    Private practitioners

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events

http://www.afb.org.br

Profile of the profession in this region

A global profile of the profession is also available.

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Accessible version of data

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Argentina

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

1,238 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

8.73 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

61% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

5.24 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

Private only

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Brazil

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

3,800 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

11.68 (10-15)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

58% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

25.19 (>20)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Chile

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

1,007 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

19.7 (15-20)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

43% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

55% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

20.3 (>20)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Colombia

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

320 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.33 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

87% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

87% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

3.32 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, Some programmes (Some)

Is direct access permitted?

Private only

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Costa Rica

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

3,270 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.24 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

74% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

84% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

4.86 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Member organisation

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is direct access permitted?

Private only

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Ecuador

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

101 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

3.35 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

58% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

70% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

3.35 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Mexico

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

571 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.75 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

69% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

70% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

9.44 (5-10)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, More than one

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, Some programmes (Some)

Is direct access permitted?

Private only

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Peru

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

138 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.46 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

85% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

2.7 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Uruguay

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

399 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

4.5 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

72% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

72% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

4.3 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is direct access permitted?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Venezuela

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

159 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.17 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

53% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

48% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Diploma

How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?

1.39 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

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