Online Physical Therapy Certification Information

Physical therapy certification is usually handled by states, and may be in the form of either a license or certificate. Neither of which are available via online options. Education for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants, however, can be found online.

Online Physical Therapy Certification Information

There is no widely-recognized professional or trade certification for physical therapists. Normally, physical therapy certification and licensing are handled by each state, and each has its own unique requirements. Most require a practical and/or written test, usually offered at a testing center for proctoring purposes. Physical therapist assistants may also require state testing or certification, and most states require that physical therapist assistants graduate from an accredited education program. Test preparation and practice tests are available online for physical therapists, for those interested in getting a step ahead.

Online Physical Therapy Education Options

Online Education Options for Physical Therapists

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), practice requirements for physical therapy in the United States vary by state, but they usually include graduating from an accredited physical therapy education program and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Full accreditation for such education programs is granted only to graduate-level programs by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the American Physical Therapy Association's accrediting body.
Therefore, students who wish to study physical therapy must first have an undergraduate-level degree, then they must attend a master's or doctoral degree program in physical therapy, of which only very few are available online. For practicing physical therapists with master's degrees who wish to earn their doctorate while working, there are several online degree programs available, which are usually called transitional degrees in physical therapy.

Online Education Options for Physical Therapist Assistants

Physical therapist assistants, by contrast, have many options for online education. There are several accredited physical therapist assistant programs at colleges throughout the country that offer online-only or hybrid education options. These degrees often result in either a certificate of completion or an associate's degree.