Specialty Certifications

[UCLAbruin08]

This has always been something I've wondered but never gotten to ask. Does getting certifications such as a CSCS or ATC occur while you're at PT school, or do you get them at a different time?

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[PTtoBe]

I'm pretty sure it's something you can pursue after you graduate.

At the same time I've heard PT students often decide what they want to specialize in while in school (geriatrics, orthopedics, pediatrics, etc.), but I don't think this results in a certification...I think it's more just finding direction. I could certainly be mistaken though.

 

[CLGUY]

As far as I know, CSCS certification is available to anyone who is at least a senior in college and has a current CPR/AED certification. You just have to pass an exam. You must have successfully completed a CAATE accredited athletic training program and passed a rigorous certification exam to become an ATC. (Much like completing a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program and passing the NPTE).
Neither of the certifications you mentioned are attained through PT school, however like PTtoBe stated, post-graduate specialist certifications are available.

 

[MinnDasota]

CSCS is pretty much open to anyone and can be taken pretty much at any time towards the end of undergrad. ATC is a degree where you have to go to school for whether in undergrad or grad (masters). From what I have seen, it is a full time degree. In the past, there was an internship route for the ATC but they don't offer it anymore. Thus, PT school and ATC are separate and if you take the ATC after PT school, you will most likely have to take a break from PT or at the most work part time. I think there are PT schools that offer an ATC/PT curriculum though. These are rare though.

 

[Vinti112]

What types of post-graduate specialist certifications are available during PT school?
Any examples? Could these be attained with the normal curriculum?

 

[Coach Hoski]

Those aren't really specialty certifications, you might be thinking of something more like OMPT (orthopedic manual pt certification), orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS), clinical electrophysiology and cardiology, geriatrics, and other certifications. Those are usually year-long academic certificate programs at a CAPTE accredited university that are obtained after graduating from a PT school.
As mentioned above, an athletic training license is an entirely separate program that is obtained from a bachelor or masters degree from a ATEP accredited school, adjunct with the license exam.
CSCS is a designation given through the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) that just requires a bachelor's in any field and the passing of their examination.
If you are really interested in true PT specialty certs, check out the APTA's page regarding professional development.
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Certification2&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=206&ContentID=56915

 

[jesspt]

If you click on the link provided by Hoski, you'll get some good info. You'll find that PTs can become board-certified specialists in several areas through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. This occurs through submission of a professional portfolio and passing a fairly rigorous examination. These are the OCS, SCS, PCS, NCS designations that you see after some therapists names.