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The data has been provided by the Member Organisation and to the extent possible are a true reflection of the situation in the country, however not all figures are authoritative and should be interpreted accordingly.
For questions or feedback please contact info@erwcpt.eu
General View
Country Profile
Education
Profession & Practice
CPD & Specialisation
Migration & Mobility
Address
PO Box 147,
Sentrum, 0102 Oslo, Norway
Telefon
(47) 22 93 30 50
Website
Social media:
Number of Members:
9 438
Europe region Primary Contact
President
Chief Executive Officer
Kari Bente Sørlie / kbs@fysio.no
Gerty Lund / gl@fysio.no
Jorunn Lunde / jl@fysio.no
General Secretary
Contact for Students
Stian Rugsveen Engen / sre@fysio.no
Norwegian Directorate of Health website: https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/english/authorisation-and-license-for-health-personnel e-mail: godkjenning@helsedir.no
5 500 000
Population
13874
Practising Physiotherapists
9 438
Physiotherapists' Members
Publications
Newsletters
No
Journals
Scientific Publications
Yes
Events
Organisation Congress
Fysioterapikongressen 2025. (There is no site to link to yet)
Other events
Entry Level Educational programmes: Those programmes that prepares graduates for entry into practice of physiotherapy. They bring a person to the point of being able to practice as a physiotherapist in the country of education. Entry requirements, length of the education programmes and the final qualification obtained may vary within and across countries.
World Physiotherapy definition: “Entry level physical therapist professional education programmes are those that equip physical therapists to practise as independent professionals. World Physiotherapy recommends that education for entry-level physical therapists should be based on university or university-level studies of a minimum of four years, independently validated and accredited as being at a standard that affords graduates full statutory and professional recognition.”
In some countries it could be a difference between education itself and access to the profession such as possible legal requirements to practice – i.e. registration or training period.
Bachelor`s degree in physiotherapy
13
School years needed before entering the Physiotherapy Programme
3+1
Years of the Physiotherapy Education Programme
180
ECTS
1st
Correspondent Bologna Cycle
National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level
European Qualifications Framework (EQF) level
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)
Professional Title
English title
National language titles
Physiotherapist
Fysioterapeut
Practice and Regulation
Professional Autonomy
Standards of practice
Yes
Code of conduct
Yes
Registration required to practice
Yes
Re-registration required
Yes
Re-registration frequency
CPD required for re-registration
No
Permitted to Assess?
Yes
Permitted to Diagnose?
Yes
Permitted to Treat?
Yes
Permitted to Refer on to other specialities/services?
No
Permitted to Refer on to other tests or examinations (MRI, Radiography, US)?
No
Access to Physiotherapy
Access to physiotherapy: Ability of a client or patient to be referred to a physiotherapist for assessment and treatment. There are different types:
1. Direct access: The patient/client directly asks the physiotherapist to provide services (The patients refer themselves). The physiotherapist freely decides his conduct and takes full responsibility for it. Also when the physiotherapist has direct access to patients/clients and determines those that need a physiotherapy assessment/intervention without referral from a third party.
2. Access by referral: The patient/client has access to the physiotherapist by referral from another health professional (medical practitioner or other).
3. Access by referral with the freedom to decide intervention: The patient/client has access to the physiotherapist by referral from another health professional. The prescription will not indicate the technical modalities used in the intervention.
4. Access by referral with an imposed programme of intervention: The patient/client has access to the physiotherapist by referral from another health professional. The prescription will include the diagnosis, and will further specify the intervention modalities to be carried out by the physiotherapist. The prescription may also include the number of sessions and their frequency.
Can service users refer/seek directly asks the physiotherapist to provide services (assessment, intervention or treatment)?
Yes
Is Self-referral allowed or possible within the national health system?
Yes
Is Self-referral allowed or possible outside the national health system?
Yes
In the case a medical/ physician referral is needed, are there limitations?
No
Do the expected competencies of graduates from entry-level physical therapy programmes prepare them to accept self-referrals on qualification?
No
Clarifications:
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing professional development (CPD): Is a systematic, ongoing structured process of maintaining, developing and enhancing skills, knowledge and competence both professionally and personally. The aim is to develop the clinical performance at work. The individual physiotherapist undertakes her/his CPD activity systematically keeping a record of her/his clinical reflection and learning. This process strengthens the personal and professional profile along with quality service to the patient/clients
CPD in the country is:
Voluntary
CPD is monitored by:
What is the CPD approach in the country?
More information on what is recorded
Does the MO offer advice on career pathways to its members?
Yes
Is this advice in relation to:
Further information on the advise the MO provides
Does the MO offer CPD courses to its members?
Yes
Courses are to
A variety of courses: https://norskfysiokurs.docebosaas.com/learn
Does the MO survey their members about CPD?
Yes
Who is financing or otherwise supporting CPD?
Self, employer and other
Other - Responsible for financing
The fund for continuing professional development of physiotherapist
Who provides the MOST financial support
The fund for continuing professional development of physiotherapist
Clarifications:
Clinical Specialisation
Physiotherapy clinical specialisation recognised?
No
Physiotherapy clinical specialisation recognised by
Member Organisation
Recognised clinical specialisations
14 specialisations: https://fysio.no/spesialistordning
Clarifications:
To become a specialist, you need a master's degree and minimum three years of practice within the field of specialisation. A minimum of one year of supervised practice has to be completed after the master's degree. Manual Therapists was recognised as a new group of Health personnel in 2023.
To keep your title as a specialists, you need to document a minimum of 200 hours of CPD within different areas, every 7th year.
Permanent Stay
Documents you must provide / the application (attachment) or information to be submitted:
If you have obtained your professional qualification out of the EU, you should check with responsible authority whether you can apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications.
If you wish to work as a physiotherapist in Norway on a permanent basis you will have to submit the following documents:
- Diploma/Certificate (Evidence of formal qualifications)
- Transcript/Description of the contents of the education
- Certificate of current professional status (“Letter of good standing”)
- Copy of passport or other recognised ID-document
- Documentation of relevant work-experience
Responsible authority:
When can you expect an answer:
The duration of the recognition procedure is:
1 month to acknowledge receipt of your application and request any documents they need.
2-3 months to take a decision after reception of all necessary documents.
Cost:
€110
Temporary Stay
Documents you must provide / the application (attachment) or information to be submitted:
If you have obtained your professional qualification out of the EU, you should check with responsible authority whether you can apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications.
If you wish to work as a physiotherapist in Norway on a temporary basis you will have to submit the following documents:
- Diploma/Certificate (Evidence of formal qualifications)
- Transcript/Description of the contents of the education
- Certificate of current professional status (“Letter of good standing”)
- Copy of passport or other recognised ID-document
- Documentation of relevant work-experience
Responsible authority:
When can you expect an answer:
The duration of the recognition procedure is:
1 month to acknowledge receipt of your application and request any documents they need.
2-3 months to take a decision after reception of all necessary documents.
Cost:
€110
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