Since its inception as an occupation in 1894 in United Kingdom and 1921 in United States, physiotherapy has come a long way in its quest towards professionalization in the developed world. A profession arises when any trade or occupation transforms itself through "the development of formal qualifications based upon education, apprenticeship, and examinations, the emergence of regulatory bodies with powers to admit and discipline members, and some degree of monopoly rights." What started as a short term course has now developed into graduate qualifying study, post graduate specializations and clinical and research doctorates throughout the world. Physiotherapy is now regulated through appropriate licensing authorities like Health Professions Council (HPC), Australian physiotherapy council (APC), Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) around the world. Thus the titles ‘physiotherapist’ and ‘physical therapist’ are protected and can only be used by members registered with the appropriate council or board.

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