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Member organisation

Puerto Rican Association of Physiotherapy

Associación Puertorriqueña de FisioterapiaPuerto RicoNorth America Caribbean
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The Puerto Rican Association of Physiotherapy (APTF) has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 1988 and is part of our North America Caribbean region.

Previously a chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, the decision was made in 1975 to create a local organisation for physiotherapists in Puerto Rico, and APTF was established a year later.

Year established

1976

World Physiotherapy member since

1988

Year members reported

2019

Number of physiotherapist members

115

Contact details

Key contacts

Puerto Rico: a profile of the profession in 2019

mo-pdf-iconDownload profilemo-pdf-iconData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2019

Professional titles protected by law

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Terapista Físico/Fisioterapeuta; Asistente del Terapista Físico

About Puerto Rican Association of Physiotherapy and the physiotherapy profession in Puerto Rico

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

4,612

14.43

Per 10,000 population

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% female

66%

In this region

66%

Globally

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

115

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% female

66%

In MOs in this region

58%

In MOs globally

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Professional doctorate

Equivalent fulltime years

4

Number of programmes

1

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

Please contact the Puerto Rican Association of Physiotherapy for details of entry level education programmes in Puerto Rico

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

The system of regulation in the country/territory

The Puerto Rico Physical Therapy Examination Board of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

Ministry of Health or another government department

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Standards of practice

More than one

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Education for autonomous practice

All programmes

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Legislation to prevent 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)

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?

n/a

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Can people self refer to physiotherapists in the public system?

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Limitations

Special interest groups recognised by the member organisation

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    Private practitioners

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events

http://apfpr.com/convencion-anual.html

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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Barbados

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

1-5

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

>80%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

>80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Diploma

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

0

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Partnership

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, more than one

Is direct access permitted?

No

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Bermuda

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

5-10

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

40-60%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

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

0

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Partnership

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, the WCPT member organisation specific standard

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Canada

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

>10000

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

5-10

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

40-60%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

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

1-5

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Independent

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

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

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Guyana

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

<1

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

60-80%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

5-10

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Government

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, the WCPT standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Haiti

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

<1

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

60-80%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

<1

Is registration required to practice?

No

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Not defined

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Jamaica

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

1-5

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

<20%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1-5

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Other

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, the WCPT standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

No

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Panama

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

100-1000

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

1-5

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

<20%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1-5

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

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

Is direct access permitted?

No

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Puerto Rico

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

100-1000

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

10-15

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Professional doctorate

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

1-5

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Government

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, more than one

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

No

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

No

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

St Lucia

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

<1

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

>80%

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

0

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Independent

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

No

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

Suriname

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

1-5

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

60-80%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

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

5-10

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Government

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, the WCPT standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

No

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

No

Trinidad and Tobago

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

<100

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

<1

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

40-60%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

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

0

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Independent

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

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

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

United States

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

>10000

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population

5-10

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

20-40%

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

60-80%

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Professional doctorate

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

1-5

Is registration required to practice?

Yes

Which authority defines scope of practice?

Independent

Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?

Yes, the WCPT member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

Yes

Is direct access permitted?

Yes

Can people self-refer to physiotherapists in private practice?

Yes

Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?

Yes

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

No

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