Hand Therapy Certification Commission

The purposes of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission credentialing program are to:1. Serve the public and hand therapy community by maintaining high standards in the practice of hand therapy.2. Enhance the quality of patient care.3. Recognize occupational therapists and physical therapists who have achieved an advanced level of professional knowledge and clinical skill.4. Encourage participation in continuing education and professional development.The fundamental goal of HTCCs credentialing program is to provide an objective standard of competency against which to measure the performance of a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) practitioner. HTCC establishes the standards for hand therapy practice by conducting empirical practice analysis studies every five to seven years to delineate the role of a hand therapist.HTCC ensures that the hand therapy profession is defined accurately and provides a meaningful way to communicate effectively with practitioners, educators, the professional community, and the public. HTCC conducts formal practice analysis / role delineation studies to determine that the professional knowledge and skills assessed in its hand therapy credentialing program are, in fact, limited to those required for competent performance of hand therapy. The routine assessment and review of current practice standards identify reliable indicators of competence in hand therapy practice and creates a valid and defensible empirical foundation for the Hand Therapy Certification Examination (HTCE) and the CHT recertification process.HTCC provides assurance that the CHT meets the high standards for the credential through a two-step process of certification and recertification.Certification is the first step in the process, setting rigorous educational and professional experience eligibility requisites followed by the successful completion of a comprehensive examination of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation.Recertification ensures that the CHT maintains clinical competence after initial certification. It is the personal responsibility of each CHT to maintain the credential by demonstrating current knowledge and skills. Each CHT must re-certify every five years by attesting to continued competency obtained through practice and participating in ongoing professional development.The HTCC credentialing program validates an individuals knowledge, skills, and abilities in the hand therapy profession. It provides a mechanism for patients, medical professionals, employers, and other stakeholders to identify individuals with the competencies needed to perform hand therapy. The CHT credentialing program therefore serves the public interest by reducing risk and enhancing consumer protection and public safety. There are 7,570 CHTs worldwide.HTCC provides resources to support the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) as well as the CHT candidate including mentoring, self-assessment, career development, continuing education, marketing and advocacy.