What Does OCS Stand For?
As you scroll through your healthcare practitioner’s biographies, have you ever wondered what the letters behind their name mean? I recently studied and passed an exam to become a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). We currently have 13 physical therapists on staff at Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy who have an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist certification, and as of August 2024, 352 physical therapists are certified in the state of Michigan.
OCS Treatment
An Orthopedic Clinical Specialist has advanced knowledge, experience, and skills in the area of orthopedics and is up to date on evidence-based practice. This means they have been educated on the most current research findings and updated clinical practice guidelines, enabling them to provide thorough and high-quality care to their patients. The exam covers a wide range of topics, including current treatment recommendations for knee osteoarthritis, headache classifications, and rotator cuff pain. If there is a body part that an orthopedic physical therapist can treat, it is covered thoroughly!
How to Become OCS Certified
In order to take the exam, physical therapists must hold a current license and submit evidence of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in orthopedics within the last ten years to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). I prepared over a 6-month timeframe to sit for the Orthopedic Clinical Specialist exam. The exam is 200 questions and covers orthopedic conditions of the entire body, including, but not limited to, human anatomy and physiology, pathology, medical and surgical interventions, examination, evaluation, and diagnosis.
Being OCS certified is not required in order to get excellent treatment from a physical therapist. At Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy, our PTs are encouraged and supported by the company to seek out education based on their passions and strengths.
Find the Right PT for you!
If you go to our website and search our specialties or read our biographies, I guarantee you will find the right PT for you! If you or anyone you know needs a physical therapist, don’t hesitate to call 616.256.8679 or https://www.hjphysicaltherapy.com/request-appointment/
References:
Become a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (n.d.) https://specialization.apta.org/become-a-specialist/orthopaedics
How to Pass the OCS Exam: A Comprehensive Guide for Physical Therapists (n.d.) https://www.orthopt.org/blog/how-to-pass-the-ocs-exam-a-comprehensive-guide-for-physical-therapists
