A degree or credential after a health care provider’s name provides identification of earned education, experience and competency criteria in their chosen field.

Commonly Used Physical Therapy Credentials

PT

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are licensed professionals who have graduated from an accredited physical therapist program and passed a licensure examination.

MPT, MSPT

Masters of Physical Therapy

A physical therapist who has earned a master’s degree from an institutional physical therapy program.

DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

A physical therapist who has earned a clinical doctorate degree from an institutional physical therapy program.

PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

An individual with an associates degree who works under the supervision of a physical therapist.

ATC, LAT

Certified Athletic Trainer, Licensed Athletic Trainer

Athletic trainers collaborate with physicians to optimize their clients’ activity. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. Accredited programs include formal instruction in injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition.

CEAS

Certified Ergonomic Assessment Certification

Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialists are able to provide detailed assessment and recommend simple, cost efficient and effective solutions for problems of workplace discomfort and strain.

Cert. MDT

Certified in the McKenzie Method

The McKenzie Method, aka Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is a philosophy and system of active patient involvement and education for patients with back, neck, and extremity problems. Physical therapists that are certified in the McKenzie Method can effectively use mechanical assessment to address an individual’s pain.

CFE

Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator

Certified functional capacity evaluators are certified specialists that perform testing and assessing of our patients functional abilities in regards to his/her ability to perform required essential job demands as well as the documentation of disability impairments.

CHT

Certified Hand Therapist

Certified Hand Therapists have the highest levels of training in the profession for treating the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. A CHT has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, and has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation.

COMT

Certified Orthopedic Manual/ Manipulative Therapist

Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapists have training in advanced spinal manipulation techniques for the upper and lower quadrants, including sophisticated locking techniques, specific localization, and dealing with the difficult patients that require advanced levels of clinical reasoning. This program is offered through the North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT).

CSCS

Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists apply scientific knowledge to improve individual training and performance. They may also make recommendations regarding nutrition and injury prevention. This certification is offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

CSMT

Certified Spinal Manual Therapist

Certified Spinal Manual Therapists are able to demonstrate up-to-date, evidence-based evaluation, reasoning and treatment skills related to spinal disorders. This program is offered by the International Spine & Pain Institute (ISPI) and focuses on manual manipulative therapy.

MTC

Manual Therapy Certified

Manual therapists use specific hand placements and the precise application of forces to restore normal movement to joints and soft tissues. The Manual therapy certification (MTC) program is a series of seminars on manual therapy in conjunction with the completion of written oral and practical examinations in each of the following manual techniques: myofascial release • muscle energy techniques • joint mobilizations of the extremities, spine and SI region.

OCS

Orthopedic Certified Specialist

OCS are credentials used by clinicians who are board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy. A physical therapist with the OCS credentials has met very specific practice standards and demonstrated their knowledge by passing a rigorous examination. This knowledge area focuses specifically on the needs of patients with orthopedic disorders, including orthopedic medical, and surgical interventions.

OMPT

Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapist

Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy is a certified therapy recognized by the American Medical Association. Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy is a post-graduate/advanced certificate program for physical therapists through Oakland University designed to develop specialized manual therapy skills.

Commonly Used Occupational Therapy Credentials

OT, OTR, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists are licensed professionals who have graduated from an accredited occupational therapist program and passed a licensure examination.

MOT, MOTR/L

Masters of Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist who has earned a master’s degree from an institutional occupational therapy program.

OTD, DOT

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist who has earned a clinical doctorate degree from an institutional occupational therapy program.

OTA, COTA

Occupational Therapist Assistant

An individual with an associates degree who works under the supervision of an occupational therapist.