Do you have a career — or want one — in physical, occupational, speech, or respiratory therapy? If so, earning certifications is a great way to take your therapy job (and even your salary) to the next level. Certain professional certifications can also help you compete for specialized, high-demand jobs like home health or sports rehab. With that in mind, discover the best certifications for therapists to pursue, and how to choose the right ones for your career.
What Are the Benefits of Earning Therapy Certifications?
As opposed to a certification you earn after completing a formal educational program, professional certifications are proof that you’ve achieved certain skills. As such, they may be necessary for licensure in some areas. And some “certs” are required to land certain jobs — for instance, CPR/AED.
But beyond what’s necessary, many therapists also choose to pursue certain certifications because of the career benefits they offer. Although it doesn’t quite guarantee these things, professional certs can definitely boost your chances of:
- Qualifying for higher pay because of additional skills or expertise you offer
- Standing out to employers (whether by word of mouth or CV) by showing off your skillset
- Earning trust from patients and co-workers
- Building a great network with other professionals in your specialty
- Having more opportunities to choose from — including research and other nontraditional jobs
- Being able to create the career path you want, including earning more referrals in your chosen specialty
Best Certifications for Therapists: PT, OT, RT & SLP
But how can you tell which certification to pursue? If you’re not sure, you may get some ideas from co-workers, or from mentorship or fellowship programs, if available. In addition, a good rule of thumb is to pursue certifications that are accredited by an official board, like the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
And to help you get started on the right foot, here’s a rundown of some of the best certifications for therapists in terms of employer demand and job opportunities. Eligibility requirements fluctuate; visit the official site link by clicking the name of the certification for all the details.
Best Certifications for Physical Therapists
The ABPTS is the country’s manager of official PT certification, and offers 10 board-certified specializations. Each has requirements like passing an exam or project/case report and completing either 2,000 hours of direct care or an approved residency:
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialty for treating patients with cardiac and/or respiratory conditions
- Clinical Electrophysiologic Specialty for the use of electricity, including managing and interpreting electrodiagnostic and electrotherapeutic procedures
- Geriatric Clinical Specialty for treating elderly patients
- Neurologic Clinical Specialty for treating disorders affecting the neuromuscular system
- Oncologic Clinical Specialty for treating cancer and other severe chronic conditions like HIV
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialty for treating musculoskeletal dysfunction and related neurovascular conditions
- Pediatric Clinical Specialty for working with children and teens
- Sports Clinical Specialty for providing sports PT
- Women’s Health Clinical Specialty for treating female patients
- Wound Management Clinical Specialty for managing wounds
Other PT Certifications
Many other certifications are also available to help support your preferred career path. Like ABPTS certs, these usually also include the need for licensure and passing an exam. Some examples include:
Basic but essential, Red Cross CPR/AED focuses on first response for emergencies and is sometimes required for more advanced certifications
- Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) focuses on adapting living spaces for accessibility
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) focuses on the use of hands and manual dexterity
- Certified Special Population Specialist® (CSPS®) works with people who have special needs
- Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) for providing recreational therapy
- Certified Wound Specialist (CWS®) focuses on advanced wound care
Best Certifications for Occupational Therapists
Certifications can help unlock the best jobs for OTs. Besides the standard OT certification for National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offers three professional certificates, each available upon the completion of a series of micro courses:
- The Acute Care Professional Certificate documents “specialized knowledge” in acute care and discharge planning
- The School-Based Practice Professional Certificate focuses on practicing in educational settings
- The Home and Community Safety and Driving Professional Certificate focuses on assisting “community dwelling adults”
Other OT Certifications
Like PTs, OTs have a big list of potential certifications to choose from. Many are available for PTs and OTs, such as Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) and the Certification in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (COMT), which develops general musculoskeletal (MSK) and hand-and-upper-extremity (UE) skills.
In addition, some of the best certifications for therapists in OT are from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), which offers three certification programs that align with OT careers.
- Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) focuses on using tech to improve the lives of people with disabilities
- Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) focuses on helping those with seating and mobility needs
- Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist (RET) applies the principles of engineering to assist those with disabilities
Best Certifications for Respiratory Therapists
Those who practice respiratory therapy must either be certified or registered with the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Considered more advanced than certified registered therapists (CRTs), registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) must take more education (and an extra exam). But RRTs also tends to enjoy higher pay and more career opportunities.
In addition, CRTs are limited to a single official specialization, while RRTs may choose from four:
- Asthma Educator Specialist (AE-C) develops specialized expertise in asthma pathophysiology and management (also available to PTs and OTs)
- Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) focuses on competencies in adult critical care
- Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS) demonstrates expertise in working with younger patients
- Sleep Disorders Specialty (SDS) focuses on testing for sleep disorders and providing the appropriate intervention (also available to CRTs)
Other RT Certifications
On top of the standard specialties from the NBRC, both CRTs and RRTs will likely find more opportunities available to them with basic certifications like CPR/AED and Basic Life Support (BLS), which focus on providing a fast and effective response to life-threatening situations.
And RRTs who want to take their careers to the next level may soon have the option of becoming an advanced practice respiratory therapist.
Best Certifications for Speech Therapists
Practicing speech therapy requires earning the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC/SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Speech therapists can also earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) to specialize in hearing-related disorders.
You can also boost your job prospects by becoming a Board Certified Specialist (BCS), which require a specific amount of applicable experience and continuing education:
- BCS in Children’s Language and Language Disorders (BCS-CL) focuses on treating children
- BCS in Fluency (BCS-F) focuses on fluency disorders
- BCS in Intraoperative Monitoring (BCS-IOM) focuses on audiology and surgical procedures
- BCS in Swallowing (BCS-S) focuses on swallowing disorders
Other Certifications for SLPs and Speech Therapists
In addition to CCC and BCS certifications, speech therapists have many other options to specialize their talents. Some of the most popular speech therapy certifications include:
- Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) specializes in care for people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions
- Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT) focuses on developing key motor skills
- Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) focuses on the use of imagery to improve specific communication skills
Related: Looking for a new SLP job? Start preparing with the most common SLP interview questions!
Explore the Best Jobs for Therapists
Ready to level up your therapy career? This short list of the best certifications for therapists is just the tip of the iceberg. Talk to your recruiter for more info on the best certifications for therapists on your career path. And if you’re looking for new therapy job opportunities — or a great recruiter — you’re at the right site!
Explore local, travel, and PRN therapy jobs across the United States now. Or, fill out a quick online application below to connect with a dedicated recruiter to get started.
Please note: All certifications listed here are presented purely for informational purposes. No endorsement with any board or organization exists or is implied by CareerStaff Unlimited.