The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) coordinates and oversees the physical therapist specialist certification process, and is the governing body for certification and recertification of clinical specialists. The board is composed of eleven individuals: board-certified physical therapists from the eight different board certification specialty areas; one physical therapist member of the APTA Board of Directors; one individual with expertise in test development, evaluation, and education; and one nonphysical therapist representing the public.
The mission of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties is to advance the profession of physical therapy by establishing, maintaining, and promoting standards of excellence for clinical specialization, and by recognizing the advanced knowledge, skills and experience by physical therapist practitioners through specialist credentialing.