Listening Time — 36:00
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In this episode, Colleen Ward, PT, DPT, board-certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy, chats with three fellow APTA members about their experiences becoming board-certified clinical specialists. They share how earning certification has transformed their careers and the different paths they took to achieve it. Additionally, they offer advice for anyone considering certification.
Since February 1985, when podcast panelist Meryl Cohen, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA, and her peers, Linda Crane, PT, and Scot Irwin, PT, DPT, became the first physical therapists to achieve advanced specialist certification, this credential has been opening doors for thousands of professionals in the field.
After listening to the episode, visit these resources to learn more:
- APTA Specialist Certification Governed by ABPTS website and its “Become an ABPTS-Certified Specialist” page
- APTA Report: "A Physical Therapy Profile: Wages for the Profession, 2021-22"
- A Brief History: The First Specialist Certification Exams Held
Our Speakers
Meryl Cohen, PT, DPT, MS, FAPTA; board-certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy; associate professor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Miami. Cohen was part of the first group of people to ever achieve board certification in 1985.
Michael Fink, PT, DSc; board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic and sports physical therapy; chair and professor of physical therapy at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania
Robert W. Nithman, PT, DPT, PhD; board-certified clinical specialist in geriatric physical therapy; program dean/director and professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at West Coast University in Los Angeles, California
Colleen Ward, PT, DPT; board-certified clinical specialist in cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy; accreditation specialist with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education