The specialist certification program was established in 1978 by the American Physical Therapy Association.  The purpose of the program is to identify physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge and experience.  The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) coordinates and oversees the specialist certification process. 

 

• Review the eligibility and application information on the ABPTS website, by visiting www.apta.org and clicking “Professional Development.”
• If you question whether you are ready to take the exam, it may help to take APTA’s Self Assessment Exam (link to APTA Store).  You can also review the GCS Resource List created by the Section on Geriatrics below. 
• Download and complete the exam application from the ABPTS website.  Applications are usually due in July, and applicants get notification about whether their application is accepted in the fall.
• If you are approved to sit for the exam, you will receive a letter in early December with instructions to schedule a time to take the exam at a local testing center, during a two-week period early in the following year (usually Feb/March). 
• Take the exam.  Pass/Fail notification usually arrives early June, and all newly certified specialists will be recognized at the following Combined Sections Meeting (held each year in February).   

The Section on Geriatrics resource list is free to everyone as a public service, but we sincerely hope that everyone considering the GCS exam will join the Section!  You’ll get our peer-reviewed journal, access to a GCS Mentor, and all other benefits of Section Membership .  Also, by supporting us you are supporting our mission, “To further our members’ ability to advocate and provide best practice physical therapy for optimal aging.”

Download the GCS Resource List

 

APTA Specialist Certification Department
E-mail: spec-cert@apta.org
Phone: 800/999-2782 ext. 8520

 

A Geriatric Clinical Residency is a unique opportunity for you to develop skills and take courses in a mentored environment, to significantly advance your provision of geriatric PT.  There are currently two credentialed Geriatric Clinical Residency in the country:

• St. Catherine's Rehabilitation Hospital Residency in Geriatric Physical Therapy
• University of Delaware Clinical Residency

For APTA’s list of credentialed clinical residencies, click here

Grant Available to Clinical Residency or Fellowship Programs from the Section on Geriatrics

• The Section on Geriatrics is proud to support Clinical Residency or Fellowship Programs as they work through APTA’s credentialing process.

• The Section will fund up to two applications per year, up to $1500.00 each.

• Grant monies will be awarded on a “first come, first serve” basis, with an annual grant application deadline of December 31st. Grant applicants must be a Section on Geriatrics member.

• Application Form.

List of  References on  Residency  Development - The following is a list of published research in geriatric residency development (as of March 2006).  It is comprised primarily of medical research, but can be of use to those developing residency and/or fellowship curricula for geriatric physical therapy. Click Here

APTA's resources on Clinical Residencies