AMERICAN BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALITIES:

ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH

CERTIFICATION

The Path to Clinical Excellence

Clinical Excellence: Necessities

KnowledgeClinical

Reasoning

Movement

Virtues

Philosophy of PT

Practice

MultidimensionalPatient-centered

Collaborative with patient-

Reflective Practice

Caring, Commitment

Ethical Practice

Primary focus; Centered on

function

Jensen GM et al (2000) Phys Ther 80(1):28 – 43.

Clinical Excellence: The Common Path

Entry level graduation Years of experience Continuing education

Accountability Competency

Post –professional residency Specialization Post-professional degrees

OBJECTIVESUpon completion of this presentation, you'll be able to:

Understand the Specialty Certification process Understand the ABPTS certification and maintenance of

specialty certification program Describe the process for certification and maintenance of

specialty certification Describe the minimum eligibility requirements for

certification and recertification for specialization List the current areas of Areas of Specialty Practice Describe the role of clinical residencies in the certification

process Identify top motivations to pursue ABPTS Specialty

certification

What is Clinical Specialty Certification?

Specialization is a process for physical therapist Established to provide formal recognition for physical

therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice

Professional education and development Clinical Expertise in specific areas of practice

Clinical specialization responds to a specific area of patient need

Assist consumers and the health care community in identifying physical therapists who are specialists in a unique area of practice

Physical Therapy Specialist Certification

Recognizing Recognizing Clinical Clinical ExcellenceExcellence

What does Clinical Specialization Require?

Broad based foundation of physical therapy education and clinical practice

Combined with… Depth and breadth of

knowledge in specialty area

KnowledgeKnowledge

Advanced clinical expertise, skills, and experience unique to a specialized practice area

Expertise in clinical reasoning applied to specialty practice area

What does Clinical Specialization Require?

KnowledgeKnowledge

How does our profession recognize advanced knowledge & clinical expertise?

Clinicians who have specialized area of practice and seek professional recognition and advancement

Engage in rigorous process for Board Specialty Certification Application criteria and standards Board examination Maintenance of specialty certification

Process overseen by American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Specialty Councils

Purposes of Board Certification

Promote highest possible level of physical therapy care

Promote ongoing development of science and art underlying each specialty practice

Purposes of Board Certification

Recognize specialists through a reliable and valid method for certification of specialty practitioners

Identify for the consumers and the health care community physical therapists who are specialists in a unique area of practice

Important Elements of Board Certification

VoluntaryUnrestrictiveCoordinated

Areas of Specialty Practice Recognized through Board Certification

1. Cardiovascular & Pulmonary2. Clinical Electrophysiologic 3. Geriatrics4. Orthopaedics5. Pediatrics6. Neurology7. Sports8. Women’s Health

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Clinical Specialization Certification

Current license to practice physical therapy in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands

Practice eligibility requirement is 2,000 hours minimum of direct patient care in the specialty area, 25% (500) of which must have occurred in the last 3 years.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Direct patient care must include activities in each of

the elements of patient/client management applicable to the specialty area and included in the Description of Specialty Practice

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Practice elements of patient/client management as defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice Examination Evaluation Diagnosis Prognosis Intervention

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Other requirements specific to the specialty such as:Emergency care certificationACLS certificationPatient reportsCase reflections

Other Options to Meet the Eligibility Requirements for Specialty Certification

Clinical Residency A planned program of post-professional clinical

and didactic education that is designed to advance significantly the physical therapist's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice

Specialty councils may allow completion of an APTA-credentialed clinical residency to replace all or a portion of the practice eligibility requirements

AssessmentBoard Examination

The Specialty Councils of ABPTS develop the specialist certification examinations

Specialists must pass a rigorous examination that tests the application of advanced knowledge and clinical skills In conjunction with the

National Board of Medical Examiners

Criterion referenced exam

Another exam!!!

Assessment of Specialty Practice & Expertise

Patient Care Teaching Administration Consultation Communication Interpretation of Research

Components of the Examination

How are advanced clinical knowledge and skills determined for Board Certification?

Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) Describes the

advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities for clinical practice in the specialty area

Reliable and valid process for assessing expertise domain and current standards of specialty practice

Description of Specialty Practice (DSP)

Based on data from an extensive practice analysis research studyConducted by Specialty

Councils and ABPTS Document from which

the certification exam is developed

Professional Development Path Toward Clinical Specialization

Clinical experience in specialty area

Seek mentor Board certified specialist

Professional development Knowledge and skills Continuing Education Post professional clinical

residency Post professional

education

How to Prepare for the Board Certification?

Resources Description of Specialty Practice Resources available from APTA sections

Recommended textbooks

Reading lists

Advanced Clinical Practice Courses

Study Groups

***ABPTS does not approve or review material or course content

Specialist Certification Application Process

Application APTA Professional Development office

Deadline: July of the preceding yearTo sit for the 2012 exam, applications must be

postmarked by July 31, 2011 Each application undergoes a review to evaluate

eligibility of the applicant to sit for board examination

Specialty Certification Fees

Certification is valid for ten years with no maintenance fees

APTA member Non-member

Applicant Review $500 $845

Examination $800 $1,525

Total $1,300 $2,370

When is the certification exam administered?

Exams are offered once per year for a two-week exam period

Candidates may sit for the exam between February-March

●2011– February 26–March 12, 2011●2012-

Examination Format

Computerized examinations, administered at Prometric, Inc. testing centers

FORMAT: Multiple choice questions including case scenarios, videos, pictures

Recognition of Certified Clinical Specialists

Recognized at Opening Ceremony of APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM)

Recognized by sections and chapters Inclusion in online Directory of Certified

Specialists Only individuals who have successfully

completed the ABPTS certification process may use the term “Board-Certified Clinical Specialist”

Board-Certified Clinical Specialist- Certified Specialist Initials

CCS - Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Certified Specialist

ECS - Electrophysiologic Certified Specialist GCS - Geriatric Certified Specialist NCS - Neurologic Certified Specialist OCS - Orthopaedic Certified Specialist PCS - Pediatric Certified Specialist SCS - Sports Certified Specialist WCS - Women’s Health Certified Specialist

Board-Certified Clinical Specialists

Who Are They?

Total Numbers of Certified Specialists by Year

0100200300400500600700

1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009

Total 2010- 10,348 individuals

Total Numbers of Certified Specialists by Area

Wmen's 82 Electro 146

Cardio 148 Neuro 841

Sports 854 Peds 1011

Geri 1109 Ortho 6157

10%

1.5% 1.5%

11%

8%

8%

59%

1%

AgeAge - Certified Clinical Specialists

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Under 30

Age 30-39

Age 40-49

50 and over

GenderGender - Certified Clinical Specialists

54%

46%

Female Male

Top 3 Work Settings:Certified Clinical Specialists

Private PT OfficeHealth system or hospital-based

outpatient facility or clinic Academic Institution

Top 4 Positions held by Certified Clinical Specialists

Supervisor/Director of PT Staff or Senior PT Sole Owner/Partner PT PracticeAcademic Faculty

Why do physical therapists become Board Certified Clinical Specialists?

Top Motivations to Pursue ABPTS Certification Proof of expertise in

specialty area Personal challenge or

achievement Professional career

goal Earn a credential that

reflects advanced practice to patients, physicians, & payers

Source: Survey of certified specialists (2007)

What is the impact of the board certification process on the specialists?

Specialists report that board certification has had a positive impact on . . . Sense of personal achievement Self-confidence & professional growthPatient care, including better outcomes Increased credibility with patients & referral

sourcesRecognition in clinical, academic and

community settings

Sources: Survey of certified specialists (2007)

How has board specialty certification influenced specialists careers?

Opened doors for professional growth Consultations Invited Presentations New job opportunities Leadership & service Teaching opportunities Research collaboration Networking

Do employers support the certification process?

Employer Support of ABPTS Certification 48% of employers pay at least some of the costs

associated with obtaining clinical specialization. Of these employers, 64% indicate that they

subsidize all the costs of obtaining specialist certification

Value expertise of specialist High patient care standards Serve as mentors for others Provide team leadership

Source: Survey of candidates (2007)

Value of ABPTS Certificationto Certified Specialists

79% report that certification is a indicator of clinical competence

90% report that certification is an indicator of depth and breadth of knowledge in an area of specialty practice

High rate (68%) of specialist choose to recertify

Source: Survey of certified specialists (2007)

Is there a Renewal Process for the Specialty Certification ?

Yes!! What is the process?

Maintenance of Specialty Certification

Currency of clinical practice and expertise in the specialty

Currency of advanced knowledge and skills in the specialty

Maintenance of Specialty Certification Process

Initial Certification is valid for 10 years.

To maintain the credential, a specialist must meet the requirements of maintenance of certification before his or her certificate expires

ABPTS has developed process for assessing currency and recertification standards

Ensures to the public the validity of advanced skills and expertise of the specialist

Purpose of Maintenance of Specialty Certification

To verify current competence as an advanced practitioner in the specialty area

Evaluation of professional development and clinical experience

To encourage ongoing education and professional growth

Maintenance of Specialty Certification Requirements

Direct patient care hours in specialty (2000 hr)

Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)

OR Current written examination

FUTURE MODEL Maintenance of Specialty Competency

Continued Competency Process in development

Professional Development Portfolio

Documentation of professional development activities and advanced clinical practice related to specialty practice since initial certification

Examples:√ Continuing Education courses√ Clinical Supervision√ College/University courses√ Teaching continuing education or college courses√ Research presentations (platform or poster)√ Presentations to professional groups, classes, or in-services√ Presentations to community or client-based groups√ Author or editor of book chapters, journal articles, grant

proposals√ Committee membership in professional organization√ Consultation

Board Certified Clinical Specialists

Professionals with clinical expertise Advancing our profession Making a difference in lives of our

patients

CCS, ECS, GCS, NCS, OCS, PCS, SCS, WCS

For more information contact

APTA

Residency/Fellowship & Specialist Certification Department

1111 North Fairfax Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

800/999-2782, ext 8520

http://www.apta.org/specialist_certification

Literature about Specialization or Specialists

Bryan J, Blake A. How do other health care professionals view specialist certification? PT Magazine. 2004;12(9):54-57.

Bryan J, Gill-Body K, Blake A. How employers view specialist certification. PT Magazine. 2003;11(1):50-51.

Thompson M. The role of higher education in the career paths

of board-certified clinical specialists in geriatric physical

therapy: implications for professional and post professional education. J Phys Ther Educ. 2001;15(2):10-16.

Literature about Specialization or Specialists

Hart DL, Dobrzykowski EZ. Influence of orthopaedic clinical specialist certification on clinical outcomes

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000;30(4):183-193 Milidonis MK, Godges JJ, Jensen GM. Nature of clinical

practice for specialists in orthopaedic physical therapy.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1999;29(4):240-247 Ellison J, Becker M, Nelson AJ. Attitudes of physical

therapists who possess sports specialist certification.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1997;25(6):400-406

Literature about Specialization or Specialists

Smith LC. The decision to specialize. 2001;9(6):52-59 Edmonds MM. What if? PT Magazine. 1999;7(4):44-49 Wynn KE. Why recertify? PT Magazine. 1996;4(11):68-70 Williams DO. Answering the bell: PTs & school sports.

PT Magazine. 1996;4(12):36-39 Woods EN. What’s so special about specialist certification?

PT Magazine. 1994;2(2):46-51 Ferrier MPB. One stage in professional evolution.

Clinical Management. 1991;11(2):66-70