Where Can I go with a Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) Diploma?!

I often get asked by physiotherapy students and new graduates interested in sport medicine why they should pursue post-graduate training/certification in sport physiotherapy. The physiotherapy profession has exploded over the past few years and the options for continuing education, clinical specialty and research training is diverse. The time and financial commitment required for seeking professional certifications can seem overwhelming. So why go to the effort of progressing through the Sport Physiotherapy Canada (SPC) Credential Program? Where can it take you?

In my case, the SPC Credentials led to great experiences in Australia and Poland in the past two months alone! In August 2009 I travelled with the Canadian Men’s National Wheelchair Basketball team to a competition and training in Australia. A month later I received a call to accompany a Junior Skate Canada Figure Skating squad to a competition in Poland.

The learning objectives set by the SPC credential program have enabled me to adapt my clinical and on-field skills to unique sports and to athletes with a physical difference. The reason I was fortunate to receive these calls was owing to the desire by the national sport organizations to have a physiotherapist with a guaranteed level of competency in sport medicine to meet the needs of their athletes. The SPC Diploma and Certificate credentials are well respected in sport medicine circles and have a strong history and a promising future. Working with other sport medicine professionals as part of an Integrated Support Team (IST) is also very rewarding and promotes a spirit of collaboration through clinical practice, education and research.

Gaining sport-specific training through SPC has enabled me to become a more competent and effective clinician. It has allowed me to work together with clients of diverse abilities and ages to pursue goals of achieving an active lifestyle. It is very rewarding to help clients reach their personal functional rehab and performance-related goals, whether they are recreational, competitive, developmental or high-performance athletes.

Certification as a Canadian Sport Physiotherapist has opened many doors for me. I am fortunate to have a supportive work environment that respects my level of training and values the contributions I make to the profession of physiotherapy, to my workplace and to our clients. I continue to learn and grow as a sport physiotherapist and enjoy mentoring colleagues for the future. Although it is an honor to contribute to Canadian athletes at a national and international level, my level of personal satisfaction is just as strong when working with my clients back home. It really is about making a difference and influencing the lives of active Canadians over the lifespan. It is clearly worth the effort to see where a SPC Diploma certification can lead you!