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 the APTA web site at www.apta.org, clicking on “Professional Resources,” and then “ABPTS.” Review requirements thoroughly.  This includes documentation of clinical hours and a case study.  The application, patient log, case study guide, and sample case study will be available in February 2008 and is due 7/31/08.
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 for the first time 2/28 – 3/14/2009. 
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. 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 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

The SOWH is currently developing a list of resources to assist with preparation for the Women’s Health Certified Specialist exam which will include suggestions for journal articles, textbooks and APTA publications.  This resource will be available July 1, 2008

**Neither the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, nor the Women’s Health Specialty Council has reviewed or endorsed the content of this list. In addition, reviewing these resources does not guarantee that a candidate will receive a passing score on the specialist certification examination.