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Member organisation

American Physical Therapy Association

United StatesNorth America Caribbean
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The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is one of our founding members and is part of our North America Caribbean region. The association’s history dates back to 1921.

Washington was the location for our 13th general meeting in 1995 and our 3rd general meeting took place in New York in 1956.

Specialty groups

APTA, or its national special interest groups, are members of the following specialty groups recognised by World Physiotherapy:

Year established

1921

World Physiotherapy member since

1951

Year members reported

2024

Number of physiotherapist members

65,704

Contact details

Key contacts

United States: a profile of the profession in 2024

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

Professional titles protected by law

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Physical Therapist

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Physical Therapist Assistant

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PT

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PTA

About American Physical Therapy Association and the physiotherapy profession in United States

Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory

240,820

7.19

Per 10,000 population

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% female

66%

In this country/territory

Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)

65,704

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% female

56%

In this MO

Physiotherapy professional entry level education

Minimum qualification required to practice

Professional doctorate

Equivalent fulltime years

3

Number of programmes

306

Entry level physiotherapy education programmes

https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy

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?

The American Physical Therapy Association develops standards, positions and policies but has no legal authority. Licensure is handled at a state level: http://www.apta.org/Licensure/

Practice

Which authority defines scope of practice

One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities

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Standards of practice

The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

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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

Special interest groups recognised by the member organisation

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    Amputee rehabilitation

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    Aquatics

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    Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy

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    Educators in physiotherapy

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    Electrophysical agents

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    Health promotion

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    Information management and technology

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    Intellectual disability

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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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    Animal practice

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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

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    Policy

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events

http://learningcenter.apta.org

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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Bahamas

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.79 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

84% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

74% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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?

Yes

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

No

Barbados

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.52 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

86% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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?

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

Bermuda

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

32 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

9.61 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

88% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

85% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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 World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?

No

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

Canada

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

11,601 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.27 (5-10)

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?

Masters degree

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

1.87 (1-5)

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?

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

Guyana

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

72 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.04 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

83% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

76% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

6.14 (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, 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?

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?

6 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.03 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

100% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1.28 (1-5)

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, 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?

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?

97 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

2.02 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

1.77 (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 World Physiotherapy standard

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

Panama

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

124 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

4.48 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

81% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

90% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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

14.55 (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, 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?

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?

150 (100-1000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.94 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

19% (<20%)

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?

3.12 (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?

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?

10 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.72 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

90% (>80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

77% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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?

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

Suriname

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

40 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

1.35 (1-5)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

75% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

83% (>80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Masters degree

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

8.02 (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, The World Physiotherapy standard

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?

No

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?

54 (<100)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

0.68 (<1)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

70% (60-80%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

68% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Bachelors degree

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, More than one

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

United States

How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?

65,704 (>10000)

How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?

7.19 (5-10)

What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?

56% (40-60%)

What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?

67% (60-80%)

What is the minimum qualification required to practice?

Professional doctorate

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

4.57 (1-5)

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 World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard

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

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