In order to become a member of WCPT, a national physical therapy association must meet certain criteria. These criteria, as defined in WCPT's Articles of Association, are:

• the majority of membership of the organisation shall be qualified physical therapists
• the majority of the governing body of the organisation must be physical therapists
• the organisation must be open to all qualified physical therapists of the country, unrestricted by consideration of nationality, race, creed, politics, gender, or social status
• when there is more than one organisation open to all qualified physical therapists in the country, only the organisation representing the largest number of qualified physical therapists in the country shall be eligible for membership
• the organisation shall have a code of ethics consistent with WCPT's Ethical Principles