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Member organisation

Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica

Comisión Profesional de Fisioterapia del Colegio de TerapeutasCosta RicaSouth America
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Comisión Profesional de Fisioterapia del Colegio de Terapeutas/Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 2019 and is part of our South America region.

Specialty groups

The Comisión Profesional de Fisioterapia del Colegio de Terapeutas/Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica, or its national special interest groups, are members of the following specialty groups recognised by World Physiotherapy:

Year established

2011

World Physiotherapy member since

2019

Year members reported

2024

Number of physiotherapist members

3,431

Contact details

Key contacts

Costa Rica: a profile of the profession in 2024

mo-pdf-iconData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2024

Professional titles protected by law

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Terapia Fisica

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Fisioterapia

About Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica and the physiotherapy profession in Costa Rica

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

3,940

7.56

Per 10,000 population

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% female

63%

In this country/territory

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

3,431

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% female

74%

In this MO

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Bachelors degree

Equivalent fulltime years

4

Number of programmes

5

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

Please contact the Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica for details of entry level education programmes in Costa Rica

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?

Physiotherapists in Costa Rica are regulated under law 8989. To practice in the country, physiotherapists must be members of the Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica: http://www.colegiodeterapeutas.cr/incorporaciones/

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

Your organisation

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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?

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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

in public services require the referral of a medical specialist

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.colegiodeterapeutas.cr/cursos/

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?

1,256 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

9.17 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

64% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

58% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

5.25 (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?

Yes, Some programmes (Some)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Brazil

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

3,800 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

16.17 (15-20)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

49% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

57% (40-60%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

26.45 (>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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Chile

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

929 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

22.82 (>20)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

46% (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?

20.38 (>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 any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Colombia

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

488 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.24 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

87% (>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?

3.26 (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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Costa Rica

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

3,431 (1000-10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.56 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

74% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

63% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

4.8 (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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

Yes

Dominican Republic

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

102 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.93 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

77% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

80% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

0.88 (<1)

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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Ecuador

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

139 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

3.63 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

60% (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?

5.5 (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?

Yes, All programmes (Yes)

Is any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Yes

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Guatemala

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

108 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.43 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

51% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

65% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1.42 (1-5)

Is registration required to practice?

No

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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Mexico

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

691 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.77 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

67% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

69% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

11.02 (10-15)

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 any kind of direct access permitted?

Yes

Different kinds of direct access permitted

Private only

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Peru

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

116 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.47 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

85% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

80% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

2.18 (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 any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Uruguay

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

343 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

5.46 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

64% (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?

4.38 (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 any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Venezuela

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

200 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.28 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

50% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

68% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1.91 (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 any kind of direct access permitted?

No

Different kinds of direct access permitted

No

Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

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