History

Taiwan Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) is a professional organization for nearly 1,000 licensed physical therapists and physical therapy students in Taiwan.

The history of physical therapy (PT) development in Taiwan consists of four periods: the initiation period (1950's-1966), the foundation building period (1967-1981), the construction period (1982-1998), and the consolidation period (1999-present). The major events and accomplishments for each period are listed in the following table.

Initial Period
1950

PT services and on-site courses at several hospitals

Foundation Period
1967

First entry-level baccalaureate PT program launched at National Taiwan University

1975

First national organization, Physical Therapy Association Republic of China (PTAROC), established

1976

Official journal of PTAROC published

1980

Founding member of the Asian Confederation for Physical Therapy (ACPT)

Construction Period
1982

Full member of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT)

1985

Second baccalaureate PT program launched at Chung-Shan Medical University and more afterwards

1995

Promulgation of Physical Therapist Act; coverage of PT services by National Health Insurance program

1997

First PT graduate program launched at National Taiwan University

Consolidation Period
1999

The Aggregate National Federation of Associations of Physical Therapists of the Republic of China founded; name change from PTAROC to PTAROC (Taiwan)

2001

Health insurance contracted physical therapy clinic started

2003

Four Graduate Schools of Doctorate degree have been established since the Department of National Cheng Kung University jointly set up school of Doctorate program with the other for graduate programs

2007

Two-year PT post-graduate training program at teaching hospitals

2013

The Advanced Doctoral of Physical Therapy (DPT) program established at National Taiwan University

2014

Name change from PTAROC to Taiwan Physical Therapy Association (TPTA)

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