Learn More About the PRPC

The PRPC Is Getting A Facelift!

In order to ensure that our certification exam, the PRPC, stays current and reflective of the knowledge and skills of the minimally competent pelvic rehab practitioner working in the field today, it is best practice to evaluate the test blueprint every 7-10 years. As PRPC nears its 10th birthday, we have been working for the last year with a team of Subject Matter Experts, made up of members of our Series Faculty, to go through the current exam and analyze the items (questions and answers) to ensure that they are still relevant.

Some of the updates have included changing terminology that has become dated and updating case studies to be less binary and more inclusive of patients across the gender spectrum. This includes doing a deep dive look at the items and deciding which ones to throw out, rework, or keep. The result of this process will be an exam that does not change significantly - items will still cover knowledge and skills for treating pelvic rehab patients throughout the life cycle - but that keeps up with the newest research in that field.

The Subject Matter Experts, which include our Senior Faculty (those who have been teaching for the Institute for over a decade) live and work all over the country, meaning our team members come from diverse backgrounds and regional patient populations (also important for an exam that will be administered worldwide).

By going through this process, we ensure that the PRPC remains a valid and legally defensible distinction of competence in the field.

 

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Questions About PRPC Eligibility & Benefits

@sir_duke_samoyed I be good boy helping my mom study for her PRPC 📚🎓

Use #PRPC to share photos of your PRPC Certificate and study sessions on social media!

Do I need to take any particular courses to be eligible for this certification?

There is no required coursework one must complete in order to sit for the PRPC exam. Those therapists who possess the required clinical experience who apply for and successfully pass the exam will be awarded PRPC. Most therapists complete pelvic rehab coursework and then use those skills in the clinic for years prior to pursuing certification.

It is recommended that therapists considering applying for the PRPC review the List of Knowledge and Skill Statements covered on the exam and assess their comfort level with those topics. Advanced coursework may be useful in filling any knowledge gaps that exist.

Thank you to Ayesha Bhonsle and Heather Coulter for sharing their PRPC certificates with H&W.

 

What are the eligibility requirements to apply for PRPC?

To be eligible to sit for the exam, all applicants must have completed 2000 hours of direct pelvic patient care in the past 8 years, 500 of which must have been completed in the last 2 years. Patient care hours can only be earned by a licensed clinician, and hours spent with patients prior to licensure do not satisfy this requirement.

Definition of Pelvic Patient Care
For purposes of this application, pelvic patient care includes hours spent on direct patient care related to conditions of pelvic pain, pelvic girdle dysfunction, conditions of bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction that relate, in whole or in part, to the health and function of pelvic structures and the pelvic floor. Other conditions that qualify as direct pelvic patient care may include dysfunctions of the abdomen, thoracolumbar spine, or the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex. These hours can include care for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and aged patients of any gender.

Definition of Direct Patient Care
There is no comprehensive list of activities that encompass direct patient care. A general guideline is that direct patient care includes any time spent by a clinician that has a direct influence on the care of a specific individual patient. This time may be paid, or provided at no cost. While time spent on the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, or intervention of an individual absolutely qualifies as direct patient care, there are other activities that applicants may apply toward this requirement. Applicants who have a question about whether or not a certain activity qualifies as direct patient care should contact H&W for a clarification.

Approved Professions
All clinicians holding a license as a: Physical Therapist (PT), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Physician (MD), Registered Nurse (RN), Occupational Therapist (OT), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), or Physician’s Assistant (PA-C) are automatically approved to apply for PRPC. If an individual wishes to sit for the exam who does not hold one of the above licenses, they may request permission to apply to sit for the exam, and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 Thank you to Ayesha Bhonsle for sharing her practitioner listings with H&W for this article.

 

What are the benefits of becoming a PRPC certified practitioner?

Clinicians who earn the PRPC certification may amend their professional title and all accompanying documentation (CV, business cards, resume) with the letters "PRPC" to distinguish themselves as an expert in the field of pelvic rehabilitation.

The following benefits are also available to you as a certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner:

Lifetime Course Discount!
H&W extends a lifetime $50 discount on all of our live courses. This discount code can only be applied to registrations for the certified practitioner and can be applied toward any course you attend while you are actively PRPC certified.

Website Feature
H&W has a page dedicated to highlighting Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioners!

Feature on PelvicRehab.com!
As a PRPC-certified practitioner, your listing shows at the top of the search list and stands out on this map with a gold color pin.

 

Click Here to Learn More About Becoming Certified!

 

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Is your certification expiring soon?

Did you know that the PRPC Certification expires every 10 years?

That means that if you became certified in 2014 you will need to retake the PRPC exam to keep your credentials! Since the pricing will be changing in 2024 - this is the perfect time to reapply for the exam. 

As a PRPC Certified Practitioner wanting to renew your credentials you will need to:

• 1. Submit an Application, Direct Patient Hours Worksheet, and copy of your active Practitioners License
  •      *There is no fee for this
• 2. Pay the Exam Fee of $950
  •      *The PRPC discount can be applied toward this so the discounted fee would be $900
• 3. Sit and Pass the Exam!

Apply to Renew Your PRPC Certification