How to become a pediatric physiotherapist

How to become a Pediatric Physiotherapist

Becoming a pediatric physiotherapist involves completing formal physiotherapy education, gaining clinical experience, and often pursuing additional training in pediatric 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 pediatrics.

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 Pediatrics
Work with children during student placements or in early career roles. Seek positions in children’s hospitals, schools, community health centers, or pediatric rehabilitation units.

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

• Balance and Coordination
• Chronic Pain
• Concussion and Post-Concussion Symptoms
• Feeding and Latching Difficulties for Babies
• Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Physiotherapy for Children
• Gross Motor Development Delay
• Hypermobility
• Neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD, ADD)
• Neurologic and Genetic Conditions
• Oculomotor Dysfunction
• Pain and Sports Injuries
• Pediatric Incontinence, Bedwetting, and Constipation
• Posture/Inner-Core Strengthening
• Sports Physiotherapy
• Toe Walking and Out/In-Toeing
• Torticollis and Plagiocephaly
• Unintegrated Primitive Reflexes

Upon completion of this specialized training, residents are prepared for the Pediatric Clinical Specialist (PCS) certification examination.

Recognized in the US, the PCS 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 pediatric physiotherapy practice, developmental disorders, and musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory conditions in children.

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 Pediatric Physiotherapy or Pediatric Rehabilitation.

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

• Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) Certification – The NDT pediatric credential, administered by the Neurodevelopmental Treatment Association (NDTA), is awarded to physiotherapists who complete its Certificate Course in the Contemporary Practice of NDT for Management of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Other Neuromuscular Disorders.
• Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) Certification – CME is a physical therapy approach for infants suffering abnormal developmental motor evolution caused by a known or unknown non-degenerative syndrome affecting the central nervous system, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, Down syndrome, ataxia, and others. CME Academy’s international training centers instruct therapists in using this dynamic therapy method.
• Sensory Integration Certification – Entities like the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing (US), the Sensory Integration Network (UK and Ireland), and various international providers offer this credential, which is focused on assessment and therapy for children with sensory processing challenges, often linked to autism or dyspraxia.
• 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 children with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pediatric Respiratory Physiotherapy Training – Hospitals, cystic fibrosis foundations, and postgraduate programs often offer training and certifications in airway clearance techniques, breathing exercises, and management of chronic lung disease (e.g., cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia).
• Pediatric Pain and Chronic Condition Management Courses – Continuing education providers worldwide offer training and credentialing in the management of long-term pain, fatigue, and mobility issues in children with chronic illnesses.
• Assistive Technology and Orthotics Training – Rehab engineering societies, pediatric rehab centers, and professional associations globally run courses in assessment, prescription, and training for children using wheelchairs, walkers, braces, and adaptive equipment.

Continue Professional Development
Pediatric 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 child rehabilitation.

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

• Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) – Pediatric Division – Provides resources, professional development, and guidelines for pediatric physiotherapists in Canada
• Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) – A UK-based organization offering resources, training, and networking for pediatric physiotherapists
• Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) – Paediatric Physiotherapy Group – Focuses on professional development, education, and advocacy for pediatric physiotherapists
• International Organisation of Physiotherapists in Paediatrics (IOPTP) – A specialty subgroup of World Physiotherapy established to foster international cooperation, improve pediatric physical therapy standards, advance practice, and encourage research and knowledge exchange in pediatrics