What's Offered by Physical Therapy Continuing Education Classes?

Taking physical therapy continuing education classes are an important and ongoing part of the profession.

Who's A Physical Therapist?

A physical therapist is a professional who helps those with who suffer disabilities caused by injury or disease stay fit and healthy. They work with their patients to help them learn how to use their own bodies to regain strength, balance and coordination.

Professionals in this field are required to be licensed in their state of practice after graduating from an accredited physical therapist program. They will also be required to attend a certain number of hours of physical therapy continuing education classes in order to keep their license.

Many physical therapists work closely with doctors, implementing treatment plans to bring patients to a level of full functioning as much as possible after illness or injury. This means they must have an understanding of biomechanics, neuroanatomy and human growth and development.

Importantly, they must also be able to communicate with not only doctors, but patients and their families and have the capability to advise them on their treatment.

Why Take Physical Therapy Continuing Education Classes?

Physical therapy continuing education classes are a necessary part of training and development. Not only do they help to continue in professional development, the classes help them to keep up with changing rules and guidelines of the state as well as issues pertaining to insurance guidelines and regulations. A career in any branch of the medical field dealing directly with the health of another human being naturally requires ongoing learning.

Physical therapy continuing education courses are offered by reputable and accredited institutions.

What are some of the topics covered in continuing education classes?

* Vestibular Rehabilitation: as in therapies for dizziness and imbalance

* Managed Care: focus on quality and accessibility of practitioners

* Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation: physical strengthening exercises for injured shoulders

* HIPPA: regulation compliance and certification

* Stress Management: stress reduction techniques, including for the workplace

Getting And Maintaining Your License

For persons who practice physical therapy, continuing education classes are usually provided by the hospital, clinic or practice in which they are employed, often as lectures or seminars.

However, it's easy to find online sources for physical therapy continuing education classes that are conducted by accredited and reputable schools, hospitals and other institutes. These flexible online classes are designed so that state requirements can be met.

Credits obtained through lectures, seminars and online courses are measured in credit hours which are then reported to the state by the continuing education provider and documented under the licensee's name. Many states now also allow for physical therapists to renew their licenses online.