How to become a neurological physiotherapist

How to become a Neurological Physiotherapist

Becoming a neurological physiotherapist involves completing formal physiotherapy education, gaining clinical experience, and often pursuing additional training in neurological 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 clinical placements in various areas, including neurology.

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.

Develop Skills through Practice
Work in settings that treat neurological patients – such as hospitals, rehab centers, or community clinics – to build hands-on experience.

Complete a Clinical Residency in Neurologic Physiotherapy (Optional but Preferred)
The year-long clinical residency in neurologic physiotherapy or physical therapy is designed for physiotherapists wishing to advance their clinical skills in neurology. Residents gain experience in treating patients with a wide range of neurologic conditions and diagnoses, including the following:

• Stroke
• Traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Hydrocephalus
• Vestibular dysfunction

They also participate in physician rounds and observe during specialty clinics in areas like acute care, pediatrics, spasticity, concussion, and electromyography (EMG). Many neurologic residency programs incorporate teaching, research, and community outreach opportunities. Upon completion, residents are prepared for the Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS) certification examination.

Recognized in the US, the NCS is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) credential governed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). It demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill in neurologic physical therapy.

Alternatively, in countries that offer a Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) as a professional degree, students may choose to pursue a specialty Master’s Degree in Neurological Physiotherapy or Neurorehabilitation.

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

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Certification – The Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association (NDTA) administers two certificate courses: the NDTA Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for the Management of Adults with Stroke and Brain Injury, and the NDTA Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for the Management of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Other Neuromuscular Disorders.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

Continue Professional Development
Attend workshops, seminars, and conferences on neurologic rehabilitation. Keep up with evidence-based practices and evolving treatment techniques.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Clinical Residency in Neurologic Physiotherapy and Additional Certifications sections, the following organizations also support the neurologic physiotherapy community:

• Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) – Neurology Division – Offers advanced practice recognition, professional development, and networking for neurologcial physiotherapists
• Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology – Supports UK-based physiotherapists specializing in neurologic rehabilitation
• Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) – Neurology Group – Focuses on professional development, education, and advocacy for neurological physiotherapists
• World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) – An international organization promoting research, education, and clinical practice in neurorehabilitation