The Geriatric Certified Specialist (GCS) Exam is a highly respected certification process for physical therapists who are committed to providing the best evidenced-based care to elders. Preparation for taking the Geriatric Certified Specialist Exam requires a commitment of time, energy and focus to the entire process. This is a difficult exam and should be taken seriously. This is designed to help you in your preparation process. Reviewing and using the resources on this list does not guarantee passing the exam, however a thorough understanding of physical therapy practices for geriatric clients will improve critical thinking and patient care for those who embrace this knowledge.

Specialist Exams reflect the ability to critically think while applying evidenced-based care to elderly persons. Thus, the questions are not rote memory. Rather, one must understand the principles of care and apply those principles to the case studies presented. The case studies represent complex cases that may be seen in treatment settings. Remember, Geriatric Certified Specialists treat in a wide variety of settings including acute hospital, rehabilitation units, home care, private practice, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living units, etc. The clients treated may be age 65 to 105+. Clients may be healthy with an acute incident or may be chronically ill with multiple comorbidities that affect function, treatment, and outcome. One must understand these large variables when preparing for the exam.

Specialist Exams are administered by the Specialist Certification Department of the APTA.  Please contact them with all questions regarding the exam: 800/999-2782 x8520, spec-cert@apta.org. 

 

To begin your application process:

1. Request all application materials from American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) by visiting the APTA web site at www.apta.org, clicking on “Professional Resources,” and then “ABPTS.” Review requirements thoroughly.
2. Review the practice questions provided and consider how best to study for questions that are worded in multiple choice style where many of the choices will be true and you must determine the most true or the most correct response.
3. Ensure that you have enough clinical hours in the specialty to sit for the exam.

Suggestions for Preparing for the GCS Exam

1. Evaluate the time you will need to prepare for the certification exam. Six months is most likely the minimum one should consider though everyone learns at different paces; this is a recommendation only.
2. Schedule a set number of hours each day or week to specifically study evidenced-based literature and recommended texts.
3. Evaluate and treat as many elderly patient/clients with varying diagnoses in your setting.
4. Visit and observe in as many treatment settings as possible to have first-hand knowledge of the types of patients/clients and diagnoses treated by physical therapists.
5. Find a mentor. Someone who is currently a GCS who is willing to share knowledge, materials, and time with you.
6. Become a member of the Section on Geriatrics to begin to receive the peer-reviewed Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy and other resources that are produced by the Section.
7. Check on the website www.geriatricspt.org to review old issues of the Journal as well as be directed to the body of evidenced-based research currently available from APTA.
8. Investigate and enroll in the current offerings of online courses available at the Section’s web site www.geriatricspt.org
9. Consider enrolling in an APTA approved Geriatric Clinical Residency Program.
10. Review the Clinical Resource Library available at the Section’s website that provides a vast set of links, current resources, and research specifically related to geriatric physical therapy.
11. Purchase and study as many Home Study courses produced by the Section on Geriatrics as you are able. These courses give a breadth and depth of a variety of settings and diagnoses in which GCS’ currently work.
12. Attend the APTA Combined Sections Meetings to become immersed in the field attending courses, studying posters, visiting the booth, talking to authors and authorities in the field, and receive first-hand experience with the many therapists who have successfully attained certification.
13. Though the certification exam is heavily weighted in clinical practice, there may be questions related to health care policy, public health knowledge, management principles, etc. It is best to keep a broad perspective in these areas as this represents national viewpoints and not individual carrier or fiscal intermediary policies. Therefore, we suggest the best resource for policy learning and understanding Medicare implications is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). There are multiple self-paced, self-learning modules available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/ Since Medicaid is different state to state, questions will not be reflective of issues related to this type of public programming.
14. Carefully choose continuing education courses. Though many advertise as geriatric courses, one must make sure that the techniques and learning presented actually represent evidence-based care versus novel concepts and or unproven, complementary-type treatment approaches. Caveat emptor!
15. Enmesh yourself in the large body of peer-reviewed knowledge available. Included in this body of knowledge are excellent texts written by members of the Section on Geriatrics. The authors who have written many excellent works include Carole B. Lewis, Jennifer Bottomley, Tim Kauffman, Andrew A. Guccinone, & Luther Kloth. Seminal works include:
    • Aging: The Health Care Challenge by Carole B. Lewis
    • Geriatric Orthopaedics: Rehabilitative Management of Common Problems by Trudy S. Goldstein
    • Geriatric Physical Therapy: A Clinical Approach by Carole B. Lewis & Jennifer M. Bottomley
    • Geriatric Physical Therapy, Second Edition edited by A.A. Guccione
    • Geriatric Rehabilitation Manual by Tim Kauffman
    • Orthopedic assessment and Treatment of the Geriatric Patient by Carole B. Lewis and Karen A. Knortz
    • Pharmacology in Rehabilitation by Charles D. Ciccone
    • Wound Healing Alternatives in Management by J.M. McCulloch, L.C. Kloth, & J.A. Feedar
    • Improving Mobility in Older Persons: A Manual for Geriatric Specialists (An Aspen Series) by Carole B. Lewis
    • Health Promotion and Exercise for Older Adults: An Instructor’s guide (An Aspen Series) by Carole B. Lewis
    • Self-Assessment Tools for Physical Therapists: Geriatric APTA Publication
    • Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy: An Evidence-based Approach by William E. DeTurk & Lawrence P. Cahalin

     

APTA and Section on Geriatrics Resources Available

You'll want to begin with the Description of Advanced Clinical Practice (DACP). The DACP represents a description of current advanced physical therapy practice in various areas of study and serves as the basis for the specialist certification exam. It comes with a self-assessment tool that helps to determine your readiness to take the exam. The DACP and self-assessment are provided when you apply to take the exam. If you have not yet applied and wish to purchase them ahead of time, they can be ordered through the APTA Service Center at 800/999-2782 ext 3395, or by visiting the APTA Store.

The Section on Geriatrics has a Home Study Series course called FOCUS 2006.  While we are not allowed to create a “GCS preparation” course, we do believe that this course will be helpful to you.  It's a series of 6 modules on different topics. For additional information please scroll to the top of this page and click on “Education.”

The Section also has a series of Online courses on Geriatrics topics. Though not intended as a study course, they may be helpful as you prepare. For a complete list of online courses, please visit the APTA web site at http://www.apta.org/Education/Continuing_Education/Online_AV_Courses

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Geriatric Certified Specialist.  We hope that these suggestions are helpful as you prepare for taking the GCS exam.