How to become a geriatric physiotherapist

How to become a Geriatric Physiotherapist

Becoming a geriatric physiotherapist involves completing formal physiotherapy education, gaining clinical experience, and often pursuing additional training in elderly care. Here’s the typical pathway:

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree (Pre-Physiotherapy Studies)
In many countries, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in a related field, such as kinesiology, exercise physiology, biology, or health science, to qualify for entry into a physiotherapy program. Some universities offer direct-entry physical therapy degrees that combine undergraduate and professional training.

Regardless of the specific undergrad route selected, coursework should provide foundational knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation principles.

Complete a Professional Physiotherapy Program
Obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Programs are comprised of advanced coursework in anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, rehabilitation techniques, and clinical skills, as well as supervised clinical rotations in various specialties, including geriatric medicine.

Countries that generally offer a Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) as a professional degree, rather than a Doctor of Physical Therapy, include Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as many countries in Europe.

Obtain Licensure or Registration
You must pass a licensing exam to practise:

• US – National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The NPTE is only one part of the evaluation process used by licensing authorities to assess your competence. Contact your jurisdiction to find out what additional requirements there are, such as taking a jurisprudence exam which tests your state’s laws and rules.
• Canada – To become licensed as a physiotherapist, all provincial regulatory colleges, except in Quebec, require candidates to first pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE). The written component of the PCE is administered by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR). Graduates of accredited Canadian programs are automatically eligible to write the PCE.
• UK – Register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to be officially licensed to practise and use the protected title ‘physiotherapist.’
• Other countries have their own regulatory bodies.

Gain Clinical Experience in Geriatrics
Seek positions working with elderly people in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, or community clinics to build expertise in age-related conditions and mobility challenges.

Complete a Clinical Residency or Fellowship in Geriatric Physical Therapy or Geriatric Rehabilitation (Optional but Preferred)
These 12-to-13-month-long postgraduate programs are designed for physiotherapists wishing to advance their clinical skills in the field. Residents/fellows gain experience in treating elderly patients with a wide range of conditions and diagnoses.

Sample learning units include:

Acute Care

• Physiology of Aging
• Cognitive Conditions (dementia, delirium, and depression)
• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Neurological
• Cardiovascular
• Pulmonary
• Integumentary

Wellness and Chronic Conditions

• Interpreting and Using Research in Clinical Practice
• Wound Care and Edema Management
• Assistive Technology and Environmental Adaptations
• Health Promotion and Wellness
• Exercise Prescription
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Frailty and Sarcopenia
• Home Health
• Palliative and Hospice

Outpatient

• Musculoskeletal
• Pain Management
• Posture and Osteoporosis
• Gait and Mobility
• Balance and Falls
• Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
• Diabetes
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Vestibular
• Incontinence

Residency Experiences

• Acute Care/ICU
• Outpatient
• Community Living Center
• Home-based Primary Care
• Specialty Clinics
• Wellness Programs

Upon completion of this specialized training, residents/fellows are prepared for the Geriatric Clinical Specialist (GCS) certification examination.

Recognized in the US, the GCS is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) credential governed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). It demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill related to the care of older adults, including common geriatric conditions (like arthritis, stroke, and Parkinson’s), pathologies, environmental and social factors, cognitive issues, and comorbidities such as balance problems and falls.

Alternatively, in countries that offer a Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) as a professional degree, students may choose to pursue a specialty Master of Physical Therapy in Geriatrics.

Pursue Additional Certifications
In addition to the GCS certification, there are other advanced credentials that geriatric physiotherapists can pursue to demonstrate specialized expertise in geriatric care. Among the most prominent are:

• Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) Certification – This certification involves intensive training in manual therapy techniques for the musculoskeletal system, focusing on orthopedic conditions. COMTs have a deeper understanding of diagnosing and treating complex musculoskeletal conditions and a more remarkable ability to provide effective exercise programs for their patients.
• Advanced Manual Therapist (ACOMT) Certification – ACOMT training is a demanding program designed to provide therapists with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to treat complex musculoskeletal conditions. The certification is recognized as the highest level of manual therapy certification in the United States. Advanced manual therapy techniques can greatly improve patient outcomes, including joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, muscle energy techniques, and myofascial release. Furthermore, ACOMT gives clinicians an advanced understanding of the latest pain science research.
• Dry Needling (DN) Certification – With modern-day advancements, physical therapy has continually progressed, and dry needling (DN) is one of the new specializations making waves in the industry. It has quickly become one of the most sought-after specializations for physical therapists. This technique involves the insertion of thin needles into muscle knots or trigger points to release tension and pain.
• Pelvic Health (PH) Certification – This certification program provides a comprehensive understanding of pelvic floor anatomy, treatment planning, and proper collaboration with healthcare providers. Specialized knowledge and training in pelvic floor anatomy are necessary when diagnosing and treating symptoms of pelvic pain, genital and colorectal conditions, pregnancy, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and much more. The PH certification provides the latest clinical reasoning and research based on assessment and evidence-based techniques. These can range from bladder retraining, internal pelvic floor muscle evaluation, exercise therapy, and proactive education about lifestyle changes.
• AIB-VR (American Institute of Balance – Vestibular Rehabilitation) Certification – This credential is awarded to professionals who have completed AIB's training program in vestibular rehabilitation. Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy program to improve vestibular disorder symptoms and impairments. This technique is useful in helping patients with balance and dizziness problems to improve their level of function and reduce their quality-of-life limitations. One of the ways vestibular rehabilitation achieves this is by helping the patient's brain compensate for changes in the vestibular system, which a variety of conditions, such as head injury, concussion, or degenerative disorders, can cause.
• Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Certification – The Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association (NDTA) administers the NDTA Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for the Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury.
• Bobath Concept Certification – Offered by the International Bobath Instructors Training Association (IBITA), the Bobath concept, a specific form of NDT, is a problem-solving approach used in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement, tone, and functional impairments due to a lesion of the central nervous system. It is named after Berta Bobath, a physiotherapist, and her husband Karl, a psychiatrist/neuropsychiatrist, who proposed the approach for treating patients affected with central nervous system anomalies.
• LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) Certification – Offered by LSVT Global, this certification signifies that a physical, occupational, or speech therapist has completed specialized training in the LSVT BIG or LSVT LOUD treatment programs. These programs are designed to improve the voice, speech, and movement of individuals with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. LSVT certification demonstrates a therapist's expertise in applying these evidence-based methods to help patients achieve bigger, faster, and more functional movements.
• Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) – This certification is awarded by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The CCRP exam evaluates concepts and processes required to complete tasks in patient assessment, nutrition management, weight management, blood pressure management, blood lipid management, diabetes management, tobacco cessation, psychosocial management, physical activity counseling, and exercise training.
• Certificate in Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Also administered by the AACVPR, the pulmonary rehabilitation certificate course consists of a series of 12 modules: pulmonary rehabilitation, pathophysiology and assessment of COPD, assessment and management of patients other than COPD patients, pharmacologic interventions, supplemental oxygen administration, exercise assessment and training in pulmonary rehabilitation, tobacco cessation, nutrition and pulmonary disease, psychological assessment and intervention in pulmonary rehabilitation, collaborative self-management, outcomes measurement in pulmonary rehabilitation.
• Critical Care or ICU Physiotherapy Certifications – Various programs offer certifications in critical care physiotherapy, focusing on management of ventilated patients, early mobilization, and ICU-specific cardiorespiratory care.
• ATRI Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification – Offered by the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute (ATRI), this credential certifies therapists’ competency in the use of water-based therapy to improve strength, mobility, and coordination in patients with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.
• Assistive Technology and Orthotics Training – Rehab engineering societies, geriatric rehab centers, and professional associations globally run courses in assessment, prescription, and training for patients using wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and adaptive equipment.

Continue Professional Development
Geriatric physiotherapy is constantly evolving, so ongoing learning through workshops, conferences, and advanced certifications is essential to stay updated on best practices, new techniques, and research in geriatric rehabilitation.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Clinical Residency or Fellowship in Geriatric Physical Therapy or Geriatric Rehabilitation and Additional Certifications sections, the following organizations also support the geriatric physiotherapy community:

• Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) – Seniors’ Health Division – Provides resources, professional development, and guidelines for geriatric physiotherapists in Canada
• AGILE (originally known as the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Geriatric Medicine) – A UK-based organization offering resources, training, and networking for geriatric physiotherapists
• Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) – Gerontology Group – Focuses on professional development, education, and advocacy for geriatric physiotherapists
• International Association of Physiotherapists working with Older People (IPTOP) – A specialty subgroup of the World Physiotherapy established to foster international cooperation, improve geriatric physical therapy standards, advance practice, and encourage research and knowledge exchange in geriatrics