Comisión Profesional de Fisioterapia del Colegio de Terapeutas/Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 2019 and is part of our South America region.
Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica
Comisión Profesional de Fisioterapia del Colegio de TerapeutasCosta RicaSouth AmericaYear established
2011
World Physiotherapy member since
2019
Year members reported
2023
Number of physiotherapist members
3,408
Key contacts
Gabriel Peña
Primary contact
[email protected]Gabriel Peña
President
Costa Rica: a profile of the profession in 2023
Download profileData disclaimerData correct as at 30 June 2023Professional titles protected by law
Terapia Fisica
Fisioterapia
About Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica and the physiotherapy profession in Costa Rica
Practising physiotherapists in the country/territory
4,192
8.09
Per 10,000 population
% female
73%
In this country/territory
65%
In this region
63%
Globally
Physiotherapist members in this member organisation (MO)
3,408
% female
73%
In this MO
65%
In MOs in this region
58%
In MOs globally
Physiotherapy professional entry level education
Minimum qualification required to practice
Bachelors degree
Equivalent fulltime years
4
Number of programmes
5
Entry level physiotherapy education programmes
Please contact the Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica for details of entry level education programmes in Costa Rica
Regulation
* = Continuing Professional Development
Registration required to practice
CPD* required for re-registration
CPD* required for membership
What is required to practice in the country/territory?
Physiotherapists in Costa Rica are regulated under law 8989. To practice in the country, physiotherapists must be members of the Physical Therapy Commission of the Therapist Guild of Costa Rica: http://www.colegiodeterapeutas.cr/incorporaciones/
Practice
Which authority defines scope of practice
Your organisation
Standards of practice
The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Education for autonomous practice
All programmes
Legislation supports private practice
Physiotherapists are permitted to
Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners
Assess patients/clients
Make a diagnosis
Offer preventative advice/services
Refer to other specialists/services
Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)
Provide telehealth services
Direct access
*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional
Direct access* permitted?
Can people self refer to physiotherapists in private practice?
Will this be reimbursed?
Can people self refer to physiotherapists in the public system?
Limitations
What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?
Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)
Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)
Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)
Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)
Other
Special interest groups recognised by the member organisation
Aquatics
Acupuncture
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
Educators in physiotherapy
Electrophysical agents
Mental health
Orthopaedics/manual therapy
Older people
Oncology/palliative care and HIV
Pain management
Paediatrics
Sports physiotherapy
Womens health
Management/administration
Neurology
Occupational health and ergonomics
Private practitioners
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events
Profile of the profession in this region
A global profile of the profession is also available.
Accessible version of data
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Argentina
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
1,208 (1000-10000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
8.95 (5-10)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
64% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
60% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
5.19 (5-10)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
No
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Is direct access permitted?
Private only
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Brazil
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
3,800 (1000-10000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
12.77 (10-15)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
60% (40-60%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
65% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
25.54 (>20)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Is direct access permitted?
Yes
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Chile
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
1,070 (1000-10000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
21.17 (>20)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
46% (40-60%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
52% (40-60%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
19.89 (15-20)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
No
Is direct access permitted?
No
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Colombia
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
332 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
6.7 (5-10)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
86% (>80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
85% (>80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
3.28 (1-5)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Is direct access permitted?
Private only
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Costa Rica
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
3,408 (1000-10000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
8.09 (5-10)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
74% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
73% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
4.83 (1-5)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Member organisation
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Is direct access permitted?
Private only
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
Yes
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Ecuador
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
134 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
3.03 (1-5)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
60% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
70% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
6.11 (5-10)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
No
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Is direct access permitted?
Yes
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
Yes
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Guatemala
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
80 (<100)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
0.38 (<1)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
64% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
51% (40-60%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
1.44 (1-5)
Is registration required to practice?
No
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
No
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
No
Is direct access permitted?
Private only
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
Yes
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Mexico
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
621 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
2.25 (1-5)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
68% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
69% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
11.1 (10-15)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, More than one
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Is direct access permitted?
Private only
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Peru
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
150 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
2.5 (1-5)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
85% (>80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
80% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
5.87 (5-10)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
No
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
No
Is direct access permitted?
No
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
Yes
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Uruguay
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
410 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
4.79 (1-5)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
71% (60-80%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
70% (60-80%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
4.38 (1-5)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Is direct access permitted?
No
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
Venezuela
How many physiotherapist members does our member organisation have?
227 (100-1000)
How many practising physiotherapists per 10,000 population?
1.59 (1-5)
What proportion of physiotherapist members are female?
54% (40-60%)
What proportion of practising physiotherapists are female?
27% (20-40%)
What is the minimum qualification required to practice?
Bachelors degree
How many entry level education programmes per 5,000,000 population?
1.94 (1-5)
Is registration required to practice?
Yes
Which authority defines scope of practice?
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Is practice guided by specified standards of practice?
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Are physiotherapists educated for autonomous practice?
No
Is direct access permitted?
No
Do support personnel work with physiotherapists?
No
Do physiotherapists need to be a member of our member organisation to practice?
No
Are physiotherapists permitted to provide telehealth services?
Yes
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