Carta de apoyo de WCPT a nuestras demandas por la exclusividad universitaria y el logro de los más altos estándares en la formación profesional

1. Tomás Hernández
President
Colegio de Kinesiologos de Chile
Joaquin Diaz Garces 090
Providencia
Santiago
9317
Chile
19 May 2014
Dear Tomás
Re: Educating and regulating the physical therapy workforce to meet the health needs of the
population
The Colegio de Kinesiologos de Chile has been a member organisation of WCPT since 1967 and
has fully participated in the work of WCPT and the South America Region. WCPT accepts the
largest and most representative organisation of physical therapists in a country into membership
and, as the member organisation from Chile, WCPT recognises the Colegio as the sole
authoritative voice for the physical therapy profession in the country.
WCPT believes that every individual is entitled to the highest possible standard of culturally
appropriate healthcare delivered in an atmosphere of trust and respect for human dignity, and
underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and scientific evidence. It is committed to furthering the
physical therapy profession and improving global health through:
• encouraging high standards of physical therapy research, education and practice
• supporting the exchange of information between WCPT regions and member organisations
• collaborating with national and international organisations
WCPT member organisations accept WCPT policies and work to achieve all standards of practice
and education as described in WCPT’s policies and guidelines.
As stated in WCPT’s policy statement on regulation, WCPT advocates for regulation of the physical
therapy profession through recognised and valued systems. These systems should assure
protection of the public in both public and private settings. Such a system will promote trust and
confidence in the profession. The system can achieve this through mechanisms that ensure only
physical therapists, who are duly educated and competent, are able to use the title physical
therapist or physiotherapist.

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Effective regulation is characterised by four key elements:
• assurance that educational programmes have met the professional entry level education
standards for practice
• continuing assurance of standards of professional competence or proficiency
• standards of professional ethics and conduct
• the maintenance of a register of licensed/regulated/recognised physical therapists
These four key elements are inter-related and represent the pillars that underpin regulatory
approaches that serve the public interest.
To underpin the first element, we would refer you to WCPT’s policy statement on education and
WCPT’s guideline for physical therapist professional entry level education.
WCPT’s policy statement education recommends that “education for entry level physical therapists
should be based on university or university level courses of a minimum of at least four years.”
WCPT expects that “any programme, irrespective of its length and mode of delivery, should deliver
a curriculum that will enable physical therapists to attain the knowledge, skills and attributes
described in the guidelines for physical therapist professional entry level education.”
The WCPT guideline for physical therapist professional entry level education provides “a means of
describing the nature and characteristics of physical therapist professional entry level educational
programmes. They represent general expectations about standards for the award of qualifications
at an entry level and articulate attributes and capabilities that those possessing such qualifications
should be able to demonstrate.” These are further supported by WCPT’s guidelines for:
• qualifications of faculty for physical therapist professional entry level education
programmes
• standard evaluation process for accreditation/recognition of physical therapist professional
entry level education programmes
• the clinical education component of physical therapist professional entry level education
Physical therapists are educated to undertake a comprehensive examination/assessment of the
patient/client to formulate a diagnosis and prognosis/plan of care, to implement a therapeutic
intervention/treatment programme if appropriate, to evaluate the outcome of any
intervention/treatment, and to determine discharge arrangements. In doing so, physical therapists
practise with other health professionals and act in the best interests of their patients/clients.
WCPT’s accreditation programme for professional entry level education programmes assesses
curricula delivery and clinical education provision in line with WCPT’s guidelines. A programme that
does not meet the expectations set out in the guidelines would not pass the accreditation process.
Physical therapy in Chile, through the Colegio, has complied with WCPT’s policies. Whatever the
current situation, it is imperative that physical therapy regulation and education in Chile be

3. conducted in accordance with international policies and guidelines. This will assure health
outcomes and economic benefits for the population.
Yours sincerely
Marilyn Moffat
President
Brenda J Myers
Secretary General
Relevant policies and guidelines from WCPT:
1. Policy statement: Education http://www.wcpt.org/policy/ps-education
2. WCPT guideline for physical therapist professional entry level education
http://www.wcpt.org/guidelines/entry-level-education
3. WCPT guideline for qualifications of faculty for physical therapist professional entry level
education programmes http://www.wcpt.org/guidelines/faculty-qualifications
4. WCPT guideline for standard evaluation process for accreditation/recognition of physical
therapist professional entry level education programmes
http://www.wcpt.org/guidelines/accreditation
5. WCPT guideline for the clinical education component of physical therapist professional entry
level education http://www.wcpt.org/guidelines/clinical-education
6. Policy statement: Regulation of the physical therapy profession http://www.wcpt.org/policy/ps-
regulation
7. WCPT guideline for the development of a system of legislation/regulation/recognition of
physical therapists http://www.wcpt.org/guidelines/regulation-legislation