<P> A residency is usually undertaken after the student completes a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and passes the initial licensure exam . A Residency continues physical therapy education with evidence based training to better equip the resident to be able to help the patients that they will serve . A residency is a specialty designed to advance the residents knowledge in evaluation, examination, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and management of patients within the given subset of patients . Residencies for a Doctor of Physical Therapy are between 9 and 36 months and must be completed within a minimum of 1,500 hours . Residencies may involve community service, research, patient education, teaching opportunities, and the supervision of other health care providers . Residencies are currently offered in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sports, Women's Health, and Wound Care . Residencies prepare the Doctor to become a board - certified clinical specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). </P> <P> A fellowship is designed to provide greater evidence based knowledge in a speciality or subspecialty . To gain acceptance to a fellowship a physical therapist must have one or more of the following qualifications 1) Completion of a residency 2) Board Certified Specialist certification 3) Demonstrate clinical skills within a particular speciality area . Fellowships must be completed between 6 and 36 months and completed with a minimum of 1000 hours . Fellowships are offered in Hand Therapy, Movement Science, Neonatal, Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy, and Sports - Division 1 Athletics . Those individuals who complete post doctoral residencies and fellowships are more marketable as specialized practitioners . </P>

How many years is the course of physiotherapy