www.arpta.org

CERTIFIED CLINICAL SPECIALISTS IN ARKANSAS
(As found on the APTA website as of February 2008)

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), a national professional organization representing more than 75,000 members throughout the United States, established the specialist certification program in 1978. Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist builds on a broad base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a particular area of practice. Clinical specialization in physical therapy responds to a specific area of patient need and requires knowledge, skill, and experience exceeding that of the physical therapist at entry to the profession and unique to the specialized area of practice. The specialist certification program was established to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice and to assist consumers and the health care community in identifying these physical therapists.

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) has certified 5,943 individuals who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge and skills in physical therapy specialty areas. Currently, the ABPTS offers board-certification in seven specialty areas: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiologic, Geriatric, Neurologic, Orthopaedic, Pediatric, and Sports physical therapy. The following initials after the "PT" designation denote a physical therapist who is a board-certified clinical specialist.

CCS (Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Certified Specialist)
ECS (Clinical Electrophysiologic Certified Specialist)
GCS (Geriatric Certified Specialist)
NCS (Neurologic Certified Specialist)
OCS (Orthopaedic Certified Specialist)
PCS (Pediatric Certified Specialist)
SCS (Sports Certified Specialist)