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A Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) is a licensed physical therapist who:

  • Has proven they have the knowledge, skill, and experience exceeding that of the physical therapist at entry to the profession and unique to the area of women’s health practice by successfully passing the Women’s Health Clinical Specialist Examination
  • Is certified in Women’s Health Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
  • Has completed a minimum of 2000 hours of women’s health clinical practice, 25% of which has been in the last 3 years OR has successfully completed an APTA-credentialed post  professional clinical residency that has a curriculum plan reflective of the Description of Specialty Practice: Women’s Health Physical Therapy (DSP).
  • While working with female clients, has demonstrated competency in:

Foundational Sciences

  1. Anatomy
  2. Physiology
  3. kinesiology

Behavioral Sciences

  1. Psychology

Clinical Sciences
Ancillary tests
Medical interventions
Critical inquiry

Professional Practice Expectations

  1. Professional Responsibilities
  2. Risk Management
  3. Professional Development
  4. Evidence Based Practice
  5. Education
  6. Consultation
  7. Participation in Professional Organizations
  8. Social Responsibility
  9. Roles in Women’s health Physical Therapy Care Settings
  10. Prevention/Wellness/Health Promotion

Patient Care

  1. History and systems review
  2. Tests and measures
  3. Re-examination
  4. Evaluation
  5. Diagnosis
  6. Intervention, Coordination, Communication
  7. Patient/Client related instruction
  8. Procedural interventions
  9. Outcomes assessment

For more information about the Women’s Health Specialist Certification click here.

To begin your application process:

  1. Request all application materials from American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) by visiting  this link  and clicking on "Application and Info: Women's Health".   Review requirements thoroughly.  This includes documentation of clinical hours and a case study.  
  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 women’s health exam which will be available:
    February 27th - March 13th, 2010
    February 26th - March 12th, 2011
  4. Request the Description of Specialty Practice (DSP).  The DSP represents a description of current advanced PT practice 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 DSP and self-assessment are provided free 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 x3395, or by visiting the APTA on-line store.

Suggestions for Preparing for the WCS 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 female patient/clients with varying diagnoses in your setting.
    4. Observe in as many women's health treatment settings as possible to have first-hand knowledge of the types of patients/clients and diagnoses treated by a women's health physical therapist.
    5. Find a mentor. Someone who is also actively preparing for the women’s health specialist exam or who is a certified specialist in another area and is willing to share knowledge, materials, and time with you as well as to provide insight on how best to prepare for the examination.
    6. Become a member of the Section on Women’s Health to begin receiving the peer-reviewed Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy and other resources that are produced by the Section.
    7. Check on the website www.womenshealthapta.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 current continuing education courses available at the Section’s web site.  Consider the certificate of achievement (CAPP) process offered by the SOWH.
    9. Consider enrolling in an APTA approved Women’s Health Clinical Residency Program.
    10. Purchase and study Home Study courses produced by the Section on Women’s Health. These courses give a breadth and depth of a variety of settings and diagnoses in which women’s health PTs currently work.
    11. 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 experience in the areas of women’s health PT. 
    12. 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.
    13. Carefully choose continuing education courses. Though many advertise as women’s health 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.
    14. If you are interested in a study group for Specialization, please contact your SoWH Regional Representative

 Section on Women’s Health WCS Resource List

A recommended reading list has been created by experts within the SOWH to help you prepare for the Women's Health Specialist Examination. This will be free for Section on Women's Health members and $25 for non-SOWH members.

Members can access with their membership number here.

Non-members can find the reading list in our store.

 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Women’s Health Certified Specialist.  We hope that these suggestions are helpful as you prepare to take the WCS exam.

 
 

November 2009:  Update on Women’s Health Specialty Council (WHSC) of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS)
Rebecca Byerley

Council Members:     Jean Irion, WHSC Chair
                                  Karen Abraham, WHSC, SACE Coordinator
                                  Rebecca Byerley, WHSC Public Relations

Three months to go until our next cohort of therapists will take the women’s health specialization exam.

  • The 61 newly certified women’s health specialists of 2009 will be recognized during the Opening Ceremony of the APTA Combined Sections Meetings in San Diego, CA on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
  • Specialization examination application deadline and testing dates for the 2010 examination cycle.
    • APPLICATION DEADLINE for submitting to ABPTS was July 31st, 2009.
    • TESTING DATES for the specialization examination will take place February 27th, 2010 through March 13th, 2010.
  • Specialization examination applications.
    • WHSC and SACE I and II case reflection training took place in September 2009
    • The review of applications and case reflections is continuing, however, all applicants will be notified of their application status by 11/6/09.
    • Examination fee deadline for the 2010 exam is November 30, 2009.
  • Item Writer Workshop for 2009:
    • Philadelphia, PA:  tentative late fall 2009
    • If you would like to host an Item Writer Workshop, or have questions about one of the above Workshops, please contact:  
    • Requirements to participate in the Item Writer Workshop include:
      • Licensed PT with experience in women’s health
      • Previous item writer experience not necessary
      • Do not have to be appointed as an official item writer (SACE member)
      • Participation will not affect your ability to take the specialization exam without a waiting period.
  • New WHSC Member, SACE I, and CCE Members have been appointed by the ABPTS.  The Specialty Council representative and all CCEs are all newly certified specialists.
    • New Women’s Health Specialty Council Member: 
      • Tracy Spitznagle from Washington University has been appointed by the Board as the new Women’s Health Specialty Council member.
      • Her responsibilities will include PR/Marketing and assisting with other tasks specific to the specialty council.
      • The 4-year term will begin on January 1, 2010.
      • Tracy will be fulfilling Rebecca’s position as she rotates off the Council.
    • Committee of Content Expert (CCE):
      • Three individuals have been appointed:
        • Kim Fisher
        • Lisa Massa
        • Susan Clinton
      • Responsibilities include assisting the Item Writer Coordinator in working with the SACE I and SACE II in item writing/editing activities related to maintaining and building the test item bank for the specialization examination, and assisting with the Regional Item Writing Workshops.
      • The 3-year term will begin soon during this fall of 2009.
    • Specialty Area Content Experts (SACE):
      • Seven individuals have been appointed to serve as SACE I:
        • Elizabeth M. Cole
        • Ingrid Harm-Ernandes
        • Natalie Jean Herback
        • Victoria Clarke Keller
        • Laurelle G. Kilmartin
        • Ting-Ting Kuo
        • Patricia R. Nelson
      • Four individuals have been re-appointed to serve as SACE II
        • Carrie James
        • Susan George
        • Debbie Hickman
        • Kathy Stover
      • Responsibilities include writing questions for the specialty examination and attendance at an Item Writer’s Workshop at Combined Sections Meeting in February 2010. 
      • The 2- year appointment will begin at CSM, 2010 in San Diego, CA with a mandatory Item Writing Workshop on Wednesday, February 17, 2010.
      • SACE members are also asked to assist the Council with Regional Item Writing Workshops in their geographical locale.
  • Next Steps for the Specialty Council:
    • Assist the Postgraduate Certification Office with notifying examination applicants of their application status, by November 6, 2009.
    • WHSC to participate in conference call meetings to prepare for activities for 2010.
    • Work with the SoWH Board of Directors for the Section to recognize the specialists at CSM 2010.
    • Regional Item Writing Workshops: 
      • Philadelphia, PA:  late fall 2009
    • ABPTS Specialty Council Meeting, CSM, San Diego, 2010
    • Item Writer’s Workshops:  Specialty Council for SACE I/II at CSM, San Diego, 2010
    • Prepare for Opening Ceremony at CSM 2010 to recognize the first cohort of Women’s Health Specialists.  The Council hopes that these new specialists will be in attendance to be recognized and that many other women’s health practitioners will be there to congratulate them and cheer them on.
    • WHSC to present at CSM, 2010, Women’s Health Specialization Update 2010:  The Road to Specialist Certification. Date and time TBA.
    • ABPTS  Forum on Certification/Continued Competence at CSM, 2010 on Thursday, February 18, 2010, tentative time 3:30 – 4:30.
  
 

12/29/09:  End of Year Report
Rebecca Byerley

Women’s Health Specialty Council  (WHSC) of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS)

Council Members:    Jean Irion, WHSC Chair
                                 Karen Abraham, WHSC, Item Writer Coordinator
                                 Rebecca Byerley, WHSC Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator

  • The WHSC appreciates the support of the SOWH BOD and those members who have assisted in coordinating the celebration for the newly certified specialists at CMS ’10 in San Diego and for their support as the Council has moved forward in achieving the goal of implementing the women’s health certification specialization examination and the processes necessary to meet this goal.

        The Specialty Council actions and responsibilities in ‘09 included:

    • Revising the specialization examination application packet in working with the ABPTS post graduate office staff
    • Revising the case reflection
    • Participating in the Key Validation Conference Call Meeting:  4/ 2/09.
        • Item analysis and item text from ’09 examination that did not perform statistically were discussed. 
        • Decisions were made on these items to determine if there was a keying error or if there was a quality problem with the question
    • The WHSC, 6 women’s health therapists, and the NBME Psychometrician met in Philadelphia, PA, 4/20/09 for the Women’s Health Standard Setting Meeting.  The following occurred at this meeting.
        • Item analysis of which one component was to determine the difficulty of each item on the specialty examination.
        • Analysis information was used to determine the 2009 cut score for the women’s health specialty certification examination with the guidance of the NBME’s Psychometrician.
    • Notification from the ABPTS office to examinees of examination results occurred by mid June 2009
    • Writing congratulatory letters to the 61 newly certified specialists.
    • Meeting in Philadelphia at the National Board of Medical Examiners on 7/31 for an item review meeting. 
        • Reviewed and revised previously flagged and new items.
        • Other individuals in partial attendance included: 
          • Ken Harwood, Vice President, Practice and Education, APTA.
          • Derek Stepp, Director, Post Graduate Certification and,
          • Brenda Smith-Epps, Assistant Director, Post-Graduate Certification Department.
    • Completing a case reflection training session for the SACE I and SACE II:  September 2009
    • Specialty Council Members and selected case reviewers completed the application and case review process for the ’10 examination cycle in September/October.  Information was sent shortly thereafter to all applicants regarding their application status.
    • Preparing for Opening Ceremony at CSM 2010 on Wednesday, February 17th, to recognize the first cohort of Women’s Health Specialists.  The Council hopes that these new specialists will be in attendance to be recognized and that many other women’s health practitioners will be there to congratulate and cheer.
    • Reviewing applications for new WHSC member, CCE, and SACE I members for 2010.  Individuals to these positions were appointment by the ABPTS in November, 2009.
      • New Women’s Health Specialty Council Member:  Tracy Spitznagle.  She will be fulfilling Rebecca’s position as she rotates off the Council.
      • Committee of Content Expert (CCE): 3 individuals have been appointed
        • Kim Fisher
        • Lisa Massa
        • Susan Clinton
      • Specialty Area Content Experts (SACE): 7 individuals have been appointed to serve as SACE I:
        • Elizabeth M. Cole
        • Ingrid Harm-Ernandes
        • Natalie Jean Herback
        • Victoria Clarke Keller
        • Laurelle G. Kilmartin
        • Ting-Ting Kuo
        • Patricia R. Nelson
      • 12 individuals have been appointed to serve as SACE II
        • Adrienne McAuley
        • Allison Francis
        • Jill Boissonnault
        • Susan George
        • Debbie Hickman
        • Carrie James
        • Genne McDonnell
        • Kathleen Novicki
        • Kim Fisher
        • Lisa Massa
        • Trish King
        • Kathy Stover
    • Participating in Council conference call meetings as necessary.
  • Jean Irion attended the Combined ABPTS, Specialty Council Chair meeting in Alexandria, VA on September 11 & 12, 2009.
  • The Specialty Council has requested to be placed as an agenda item on the BOD meeting at CSM and on the Section Business Meeting to further enhance the relationship between the Council and the Section.  Information will be shared by the Council at both meetings for the Board members and the members at large.
  • Next Item Writer Workshop for new SACE I and II members will be held at CSM ’10, San Diego, CA
  • The Specialty Council Members will have a presentation at CSM ’10 in San Diego, CA, Women’s Health Specialization Update:  The Road Map on the Way to Certification and Beyond for the Newly Certified Specialist, Thursday, February 18, 2010, 2:30 – 4:30, 2 contact hours.  This presentation will provide an update to members on the specialization process.  Dr. Sue Scheurman, our ABPTS Board Liaison and Derek Stepp from the APTA Postgraduate Office will join the Specialty Council Members on the Panel for this presentation.
  • Karen Abraham to attend the ABPTS Forum on Certification/Continued Competence at CSM, 2010 on Thursday, February 18, 2010, tentative time 3:30 – 4:30
  • Karen Abraham has served on a Task Force this year for the Specialization process to review the current methods of SACE/CCE training and item writing development and submission.  This Task Force consisted of ABPTS and Specialty Council members.  This feedback from this Task Force will be presented to the ABPTS/Specialty Council members at the combined ABPTS/Specialty Council meeting at CSM on 2/16/10.  Karen Abraham will also begin to serve on a Task Force in 2011 to look at Practice Re-analysis.
  • Jean Irion has served on a Task Force this year for the Specialization process to review the current Recertification process and potential changes in that process with movement towards a Continued Competence format. This Task Force consisted of ABPTS and Specialty Council members.  This feedback from this Task Force will be presented to the ABPTS/Specialty Council members at the combined ABPTS/Specialty Council meeting at CSM on 2/16/10.
  • WH Specialization Exam to take place between February 27th, 2010 and March 13th, 2010.

 

  
 

June 20, 2006: Women’s Health Specialization in Physical Therapy Is Approved!

 The Section on Women’s Health (SoWH) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is proud to announce that within the next few years, there will be a specialist certification exam available in Women’s Health! On behalf of the Section on Women’s Health, the APTA Board of Directors brought forth RC 19-06 Women’s Health Physical Therapy: Specialization, to the 2006 House of Delegates (HOD).  The motion called for the approval of Women’s Health Physical Therapy as an area of specialization through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).  We are delighted to report that the motion was approved by the HOD unanimously!

Specialist Certification is a process, through ABPTS, in which qualified women's health PTs can sit for an exam that covers the entire breadth and depth of Women's Health Physical Therapy. All post-professional education (SOWH and non-Section courses, certifications, self-study, residency, clinical mentoring, etc) will assist the practitioner in preparing for the exam. 

Members of the SoWH are finalizing the Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) which is based on a survey of 234 physical therapists practicing in the area of women’s health.  The survey results and DSP clearly identify a unique body of knowledge and skills that define the specialty practice of a Women’s Health Clinical Specialist. The specialization exam will be based on the DSP.

The SoWH submitted a petition to the ABPTS for recognition as a specialty area for certification.  ABPTS issued a call for comment to allow physical therapists an opportunity to communicate their opinion regarding the petition.  In addition, an open hearing was held at 2006 CSM to allow oral or written testimony from the public either in support or opposition to the petition.  The testimony was universally in favor of the petition.  Following CSM, the ABPTS evaluated all the information received and voted unanimously to recommend approval of women’s health as a specialty area.

The Section on Women’s Health is now seeking item writers who are practicing in the area of Women’s Health Physical Therapy to help write test questions for the exam. Please note: we originally stated that you are eligible to take the exam even if you write questions. In fact, item writers must sit out 2 years before being eligible to take the exam. We apologize for the confusion. Please contact Karen Abraham, SoWH Specialization Task Force Chair at kabraham@su.edu for more information.

Another crucial step in the Specialization process is to identify a 3-member Specialty Council. This council, under the direction of the ABPTS, will develop the exam. The members of the Specialty Council will not be eligible to take the exam during their term or for the following 4 years. For further information, please contact Karen. You may also view the ABPTS link on the APTA Web site (www.apta.org) for additional information.

Thank you to all of the dedicated Women’s Health Physical Therapists who have helped make this vision a reality!

 
 

February 16, 2006 SOWH One Step Closer to ABPTS Specialty Certification for Women's Health

The Section on Women's Health (SOWH) is very pleased to report that we are one step closer to ABPTS Specialty Certification for Women's Health! The ABPTS held an open hearing at the CSM and we received excellent feedback on our petition and a unanimous recommendation to go forward with the petition. ABPTS will now send the recommendation to the APTA Board of Director's March meeting. Upon approval, the BOD will send an RC to the House of Delegates for a vote at the June 2006 House of Delegates. We hope all SOWH members will contact their state delegates to garner support.

To stay on track with our timeline, ABPTS has recommended that we move forward with the process. Our most desperate need at this time is to locate item writers who are practicing in the area of women's health PT. We need several good test question writers in order to build up our item bank. Please contact Karen Abraham, Specialization Task Force Chair, if you are interested or have further questions at kabraham@su.edu.

Please note: we originally stated that you are eligible to take the exam even if you write questions. In fact, item writers must sit out 2 years before being eligible to take the exam. We apologize for the confusion."

Another very crucial step in the Specialization process is to identify a 3-member Specialty Council. This council, under the direction of the ABPTS, will put the exam together and will not be eligible to take the exam during their term and for 4 years following, Our specialization task force hopes to have the council in place by the end of May. For further information, please contact Karen. You may also view the ABPTS link on the APTA website for additional information.

The SOWH would also like to clarify differences between the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Floor PT (CAPP) and ABPTS Specialty Certification. CAPP is a process through which PTs can take approved SOWH courses (Level I-III) along with written and practical exams which will lead to a certificate of achievement. Specialist Certification is a process, through ABPTS, in which qualified women's health PTs can sit for an exam which covers the entire breadth and depth of women's health PT. The exam is based on the Description of Specialty Practice. All post-professional education (SOWH and non-section courses, CAPP, certifications, self-study, residency, clinical mentoring) will assist the practitioner in preparing for the exam.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SIGNED THE PETITION AT CSM INDICATING INTEREST IN PURSUING SPECIALIZATION, PLEASE CONTACT US NOW!

The SOWH is currently collecting names of individuals interested in taking the exam within the next 5 years, to provide evidence to APTA's BoD of sufficient interest in WH specialization. A petition was circulated at CSM 2006 in San Diego. If you already signed the petition there, please do not respond to this request. If you have any future interest in taking the specialization exam, please send an e-mail to sowh@apta.org stating your interest in doing so, along with your name,
e-mail address, mailing address, and if you are a member of the SOWH. Your reply does not bind you to pursue specialization. Please help spread the word to your friends and colleagues and encourage their involvement.

The SOWH Board looks forward to the day, in the near future, when our first ABPTS Women's Health Specialists walk across the stage.

 
  January 15, 2006 ABPTS Announces Preliminary Approval To Petition

In December 2005, the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) announced that it had granted preliminary approval to a petition submitted by the Section on Women’s Health for recognition as a specialty area for certification

The Specialization Task Force recently submitted a required addendum to our original petition to the ABPTS. A petition will be circulated at CSM. We need 300 signatures on the petition for APTA's purposes.

ABPTS will hold an open hearing from 8am-11am on Friday, February 3rd in the Marriott Hotel—Columbia 1 Room during the 2006 Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego, CA. The open hearing provides an opportunity for the physical therapy profession, other health professions, and the public to provide oral or written testimony about the petition. The ABPTS will evaluate information gathered in response to the call for comment and the public hearing to make a final decision about whether to forward the petition to the APTA’s 2006 House of Delegates, with a recommendation for approval of women’s health as a specialty area for certification

  
     
 

November 17, 2005 ABPTS Grants Preliminary Approval to SOWH Petition for Recognition as a Specialty Area for Certification and Seeks Comments in Support or Opposition to the Petition

The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) has granted preliminary approval to a petition submitted by the Section on Women’s Health for recognition as a specialty area for certification. The ABPTS determined that the petitioner adequately addressed the required criteria and that women’s health represents an identifiable and distinct field of practice that requires special knowledge and skills acquired by education, training, and experience that are at the advanced level.

Following preliminary approval by the ABPTS of a petition for recognition as a specialty area, the next step in the process is for the ABPTS to publicly announce the status of the petition and request comments in support or opposition to the petition. This provides physical therapists, whose practice may be directly affected by the recognition of the specialty, an opportunity to communicate their opinion about the petition to the ABPTS. Additionally, an open hearing, which will allow the physical therapy profession, other health professions, and the public to provide oral or written testimony about the petition, will be held in conjunction with the 2006 Combined Sections Meeting in San Diego, CA. Following the open hearing, the ABPTS will evaluate information gathered in response to this announcement and the public hearing to make a final decision about whether to forward the petition to the APTA’s 2006 House of Delegates, with a recommendation for approval of the petition to recognize women’s health as a specialty area for certification.

An electronic copy of the basic petition (62 pages) can be downloaded here. Please be aware that this electronic copy does include the supporting documents that were submitted with the petition. These documents, which are listed on page 3 of the petition and available as Appendices 1-13, include copies of the survey instruments used for the practice analysis to develop the Description of Specialty Practice for Women’s Health Physical Therapy, survey results, the Technical Report on the 2005 Practice Analysis, the Description of Specialty Practice for Women’s Health Physical Therapy, articles related to Women’s Health Physical Therapy, a listing of regional courses offered by the Section in 2005, and the letters of support.

If you wish to receive a print copy of the petition, which include Appendices 1-13, please e-mail your request to andreablake@apta.org or call 800/999-2782, ext. 3150.

The deadline for submitting comment is January 6, 2006.

  
     
     
 
 

The Journal of the Section on Women's Health is a quarterly publication focused on the clinical interests of physical therapists practicing in women's health as well as those of other health care providers in the practice of women's health.

 

 

 
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