COMPARISON & COMPILATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE EDUCATION OF ANIMAL PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
AUSTRALIA
APA (Australian Physiotherapy Association) www.apa.advsol.com.au
APG (Animal Physiotherapy Group) www.apa.advsol.com.au/join/nsg/animal.cfm
Contact: elizabethw@djhs.org.au (Elizabeth Wilson)
Education at the University of Queensland/NRAVS (Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science) www.uq.edu.au Contact: m.downs@uq.edu.au (Mary Honnery),
Master in Animal Studies (Animal Physiotherapy) is a program of 24 units, and applicants are given credit of 8 units for a recognised physiotherapy qualification. The remaining 16 units are taken over a 2-year period.
It is estimated that study hours involved would be equivalent to around 12 hours per course per week.
- Access to a computer and reliable email/internet is essential as study notes, discussions and assignments are distributed and accessed online.
- Each year 3 residential weeks at Gatton which are primarily practical sessions
- Clinical placements in veterinary hospitals or practices during the second year
Entry Requirements:
- Chartered physiotherapists, currently registered as practising
- PT’s must be able to demonstrate appropriate experiance in their profession
- Prior experience with animals
- Current membership of the APA and APG is recommended
AUSTRIA
Education at the Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien www.vu-wien.ac.at
“Akademisch geprüfte DiplomPhysiotherapeutin für Tiere (PTV)” This further education is a program of six units of 4 days over a 2-year period.
Entry requirement:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist or Veterinarian
Subjects: Functional Anatomy, Anatomy, Biomechanics, Neurology, Manual Therapy, Physical Therapies, Movements, Physiology of pain, Pain managements, Injury Diagnostic, Evaluation of treatment
BELGIUM
BACAP (Belgian Association for Certified Animal Physiotherapists)
Contact: bartmenten@skynet.be (Menten Bart), Ellen.Martens@hetwaterhof.com (Ellen Martens)
Education at the University of Gent www.ugent.be
Duration 2 years
Entry requirement:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist or Veterinarian
Subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Professional rules, Physical Therapies, Manual Therapies, Sport injuries and sport forms, Case studies, Behaviour and pain
CANADA
CPA (Candian Physiotherapy Association) www.physiotherapy.ca
CHAP (Canadian Horse and Animal Physical Rehabilitation) www.animalptcanada.com
Contact: chap@animalptcanada.com , physio@fourleg.com (Laurie Edge-Hughes)
Education through CHAP
- Introductory Canine Rehabilitation Therapy
A three-day course will introduce you to the field of small animal rehabilitation
Entry Requirements:
- Chartered Physiotherapist
- Advanced Canine Rehabilitation for Physical Therapist
A four-day practical course is intended to build upon the Introduction Course
Entry Requirements:
- Chartered Physiotherapist
- Proof of attendance for Introduction Course
- Diploma in Canine Physical Rehabilitation Therapy (dip-CPRT)
200 hour Canine program
Entry Requirements:
- Required to take both the introductory and advanced canine rehabilitation courses
- Examination
- Case Study
- 40 hours of Veterinary clinical experience
- Animal Husbandary and Handling Skills
For the moment no Equine program because the equine lecturer is lost to England!
FINLAND
Suomen Fysioterapeutit, www.fysioterapia.net /
Suomen Eläinfysioterapeutit Ry, www.suomelainfysioterapeutit.fi
Contact: hanna.tuominen@samk.fi
To become a member in the Finnish Animal PT association you have to be member of Finnish Association of Physiotherapists (FAP)
Education at Vocational High School, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, 30 p. www.samk.fi/english /
Entry requirements:
- When applying you have to have following education:
A degree Programme in Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Health Care (210 ECTS credits)
Education duration 30 p (credits) one year
- Experience with animals
- Chartered Physiotherapist with 2 years of professional experience in Human medicine or Veterinarian
- PT’s has to be registered in The tasks of the Nation Authority for Medicolegal Affairs
Subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Bimechanics, Veterinary medicine subjects, Disorders, Basics in Animal Physiotherapy, Treatment and practical skills
GERMANY
ZVK (Zentralverband der Physiotherapeuten/Krankengymnasten) www.zvk.org
VTPF (Verein für Tierphysiotherapie) www.tierphysiotherapie.de
Further education for Chartered Human Physiotherapists in cooperation with the Netherlands at Cursuscentrum Dierverzorgung Barneveld – see below
ENGLAND
CSP (Chartered Society of Physiotherapists) www.csp.org.uk
ACPAT (The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy) www.acpat.org
Contact: secretaty@acpat.org
Education through ACPAT and at Royal Veterinary College (RVC) www.rvc.ac.uk
ACPAT:
Skill courses 6 weekends/year
Royal Veterinary College RVC:
MSc/Post Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy
Duration 18 months – one weekend/month
Entry Requirement:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist and with 2 years of professional experience in Human medicine
- Member in CSP and ACPAT
- Experience in animals
After education:
- Member in ACPAT, upgraded to Category A-member
- CPD-courses 25 hours/year
IRELAND
ISCP (Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists) www.iscp.ie
Contact: roisincrosse@eircom.net (Roisin Crosse)
Education - see Great Britain
- trying to get recognition within ISCP as a clinical interest group
ITALY
AIFI (Associazione Italiana Fisioterapisti) www.aifi.net
S.I.F.V. (La Scuola Italiana di Fisioterapia Veterinaria) www.idioscuri.com
Education at La Scuola Italiana di Fisioterapia Veterinaria (S.I.F.V.) at University of Parma/Perugia
Further education activity for specialisation and/or improvement, and not as a basic formative course or as a real Specialisation in Veterinary Medicine
Entry requirement:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist and Veterinarians to gain new and valuable knowledge and insight in physiotherapy
NETHERLANDS
KNGF (Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap Fysiotherapie) www.kngf.nl
NVFD (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Fysiotherapie bij Dieren) www.NVFD.nl
Contact: may.romer@tiscali.net
Education at Cursuscentrum Dierverzorging Barneveld (CDB) www.cursuscentrum.nl
Contact: tunna.morrien@cursuscentrum.nl (Tunna Morrien)
- Duration 1,5 year; a regulation in Netherlands says that the student must have followed 175 hours of teaching and must have seen 36 treatments with a Chartered Animal PT and are not allowed to work with animals without this.
- Examination of the course with two theoretical and one practical exam, practical training for the dog and horse and a written case report
Entry Requirements:
- Degree in Human Physiotherapy
- One year of relevant professional experience as a human physiotherapist
SCHWEIZ
SPV (Schweizer Physiotherapie Verband) www.fisio.org
SVTPT (Schweizerischen Verbandes für Tierphysiotherapie) www.svtpt.ch
Contact: stebler.brigitte@bluewin.ch (Brigitte Stebler), info@svtpt.ch
Education at Highschool - Animal Physiotherapist with Federal Diploma of Higher Vocational Education and Training (VET) given by SVTPT
- Chartered Physiotherapists and Veterinarians study together
- 2 years (800 hours)
- Dog and Horse together
- Berne and Zürich mixed
Entry requirements:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist or Veterinarian
- 3 years of experience in the field of human physiotherapy or veterinarian
- Experience in animals
Subjects:
Anatomy, Biomechanics, Physiology, Neurology, Pathology, Assessment, Treatments and practical skills, Active rehabilitation, Case studies, Marketing and business management for self employed (Different Modules)
Examination:
Theory; case study horse/Dog and written work about an animal physiotherapy subject
SOUTH AFRICA
SASP (South African Society of Physiotherapy) www.physiosa.org.za
APGSA (Animal Physiotherapy Group of South Africa) www.physiosa.org.za/aboutus/wfrmAnimaltherapy.aspx
Contact: Julia@animalrehab.co.za (Julia Hewitson)
At present they don’t have an accredited post graduate qualification in Animal Therapy, but PT’s are required to be chartered and to have a minimum of two years professional experience in the human field before treating animals.
APGSA is currently putting together a course to become Level 2-member (=minimum 80 hours in total and with a minimum 30 hours being clinical instruction), this will be accredited by the SASP. APGSA holds annual conferences and courses with veterinary input.
SPAIN
AEFI (….) www.aefi.net
Commisió de Fisioteràpia del Collegi de Fisioteràpeutes de Catalunya
Contact: veterinaria@fisioterapeutes.cat
(Contact: aramonboix@fisioterapeutes.org (Toni Ramon))
Education at Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, www.uab.es
www.eug.es/newweb/gimbernat/postinfo.asp ?curs=198&any_academic=200708
Entry requirement:
- Chartered Physiotherapeut or veterinarian
Subjects:
Anatomy, Manual treatments, Biomechanics, Behaviour and Nutrition, Electrotherapy, Muscular pathology, Pathology in Equine back, Massage and mobilisation, Chiropractic, Neurology, Odontology
SWEDEN
LSR (Legitimerade Sjukgymnasters Riksförbund) www.lsr.se
LSVET (Legitimerade sjukgymnaster inom Veterinärmedicin) www.lsvet.se
Education at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU www.slu.se, 20 p
- Duration 2 years; 20 points – 5 points/term
Entry requirement:
- Chartered Human Physiotherapist
- Two years of relevant professional experience in the human field
- Experiences with animal: dog or horse
Subjects: Anatomy, Ethics, Laws and professional rules, Physiology, Pharmacology, Veterinary diseases/disorders, Methods of examination and treatment
USA
APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) www.apta.org
ARSIG (Animal Rehabilitation Special Interest Group) www.orthopt.org/sig_apt_officers.php
Contact: rehab@forpawsrehab.com (Amie Lamoreaux-Hesbach)
Education:
- Courses through their Annual Combined Sections Meeting (usually in February).
The ARSIG will be releasing an independent study course in canine and equine anatomy this winter (2007-2008). Working for to be able to offer continuing further education but no definite plans for the moment. Continued progress with a three-year Strategic Plan including a Practice Analysis. Active legislative efforts through the State Liaison network.
Recommends further education at the University of Tennesse/Northeast Seminars and Canine Rehabilitation Institute (and Animal Rehabilitation Institute) – but not exclusively for physiotherapists.
