Italy

Italy is a culturally rich and diverse country in Southern Europe, known for its regional variations in language, traditions, and historical influence.

This diversity is also visible in the field of psychomotricity, with different developments and practices emerging across the country’s regions, such as in the North, Center, and South.

Professional
Framework
Education
Working
Turning points
FAQ

Professional Framework
in Italy​

Italy has two distinct psychomotricity professions, reflecting Italy’s commitment to broad-based psychomotor care across the lifespan and specialized pediatric therapy:

Psicomotricista and Terapista della Neuro e Psicomotricità dell’Età Evolutiva (TNPEE).

A psicomotricista works with individuals of all ages, focusing on psychomotor development in prevention, educational and health settings.

The professional title is

Piscomotricista

The profession is

check

recognized

The profession is recognized as such by state health and educational authorities, as well as private institutions and insurance companies.

check

protected

The title of psicomotricista is protected and reserved for holders of recognized diplomas.

check

self-regulated

The profession is regulated by national associations.

The law of January 2013 (L.4/2013) now provides professional recognition for the profession, classifying psychomotricity as a “non-regulated” profession.

This means that a psychomotrician is recognized for their professional practice but not for their education.

A TNPEE specializes in treating children with neurodevelopmental disorders within the sanitary system.

The professional title is

Terapista della Neuro e Psicomotricità dell’Età Evolutiva (TNPEE)

The profession is

check

recognized

The profession is recognized as such by state health and educational authorities, as well as private institutions and insurance companies.

check

protected

The title of TNPEE is protected and reserved for holders of recognized diplomas.

check

state-regulated

State-regulated means that the education in that country is organized and supervised by the state.

Education
in Italy

Initial education​

Psicomotricista

The pathway to becoming a Psicomotricista in Italy is offered through specialized part-time three-year programs at private institutions.

These programs focus on medical, pedagogical, psychological and psychomotor contents, comprising 2400-2750 hours of comprehensive theoretical and practical training. This route enables professionals to work with individuals of all ages in prevention, educational, and healthcare settings.

PRIVATE INSTITUTES

Certificato di competenza professionale di Psicomotricista

duration

180 ECTS

2750 hours

langage

Italian

location

Verone – Centro Italiano Studi e Ricerche in Psicologia e Psicomotricità (CISERPP)

Certificato di competenza professionale di Psicomotricista

duration

180 ECTS

2550 hours

langage

Italian

location

Rome – Associazione Italiana Servizi Formativi Innovativi (AISFI)

Certificato di competenza professionale di Psicomotricista

duration

180 ECTS

2400 hours

langage

Italian

location

Varese – Istituto Psicologico Europeo (IPSE)

Terapista della Neuro e Psicomotricità dell’Età Evolutiva

A full-time three-year university degree is required to become a Terapista della Neuro e Psicomotricità dell’Età Evolutiva (TNPEE).

This structured program offers a regulated education focused on neurodevelopmental care, including in-depth clinical training and direct integration into the national healthcare system.

UNIVERSITY

Bachelor in Terapia della neuro e psicomotricità dell'età evolutiva

duration

180 ECTS

langage

Italian

location

Ancona – Università degli Studi Politecnica delle Marche

L’Aquila – Università degli Studi dell’Aquila

Caserta – Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”

Genova – Università degli Studi di Genova

Messina – Università degli Studi di Messina

Milan – Università degli Studi di Milano

Milan – Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca

Padova – Università degli Studi di Padova

Pavia – Università degli Studi di Pavia

Pisa – Università degli Studi di Pisa

Rome – Università degli Studi di Roma “Cattolica del Sacro Cuore”

Rome – Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”

Rome– Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”

Turin – Università degli Studi di Torino

Postgraduate education

Psicomotricista

In Italy, the University of Verone and the Italian Studies and Research Center for Psychology and Psychomotricity (CISERPP) collaborate closely with a French institute to offer a postgraduate degree in Psychomotricity for “psicomotricisti”.

Máster Internacional en Psicomotricidad (MIP) - Titre d'Expert à Référentiel Européen (TE)

duration

120 ECTS

langage

Italian & French

location

Verone – ISRP-Paris, CISERPP, Univeristy of Verona

Working
in Italy

Get your diploma recognition

In Italy, the recognition of foreign diplomas in psychomotricity follows the general rules set by the European Union and national regulations.

The process involves the submission of relevant documents to the Italian Ministry of Health, where your qualifications will be assessed for equivalency, or to the Italian Psychomotricians Professional Association (APPI) to be enabled as a psychomotrician.

This process ensures that your educational background and professional qualifications meet the Italian standards for practicing psychomotricity.

Logo of the Italian health ministry
Contact APPI

Get to know the professional associations

Logo od APPI

Associazione Professionale Psicomotricisti Italiani (APPI) oversees professional standards and advocate for the interests of psychomotricians at both national and European levels. Joining these associations is highly recommended as they provide support, professional development opportunities, legal protection, and a network of peers.

Logo of CoNAPP

Coordinamento Nazionale di Psicomotricità (CoNAPP) oversees professional standards and advocate for the interests of psychomotricians at both national and European levels. Joining these associations is highly recommended as they provide support, professional development opportunities, legal protection, and a network of peers.

Logo of FNO TSRM PSTRP

Federazione nazionale degli Ordini TSRM e PSTRP (FNO TSRM e PSTRP) is a maxi order that includes the TNPEE,providing a formal regulatory framework for TNPEEs under Italy’s healthcare system. For TNPEE, joining the order is mandatory.

Psychomotricity
in Italy

The story of psychomotricity is one of growth, challenges, and recognition. It began in the 1970s with the first education programs, and soon faced crucial debates about its identity within healthcare. Step by step, any moment has shaped psychomotricity into a recognized discipline, and a profession well estabilished today in both health and education.

Turning points

A man with grey hair holding a phone in front of a group of young adults

1974

First Education Programs

The establishment of the first formal educational programs in psychomotricity, deeply influenced by French models, which introduced structured training pathways for the profession.

A poster of an event talking about psychomotricity, hanged on a wall next to other posters

1994

Autonomous Identity of Psychomotricity

The recognition of psychomotricity as a specialization within physiotherapy (decree signed by Health Minister Garavaglia) marked a crucial but controversial moment.

The decree highlighted the need to clarify the specific role of the psychomotrician concerning other healthcare professions. The professional community responded strongly, with efforts to block the decree and reaffirm the autonomous identity of psychomotricity as a distinct discipline.

1996

European Forum of Psychomotricity

The European Forum of Psychomotricity (EFP) is created,
with Italy as a founding member, represented by Franco Boscaini.

1997

TNPEE, a Specific Intervention

The enactment of the Legal Decree 56/1997 by the Italian Ministry of Health formally recognized the profession of childhood neuro and psychomotor therapist (TNPEE), differentiating it from the wider Psychomotricity intervention.

Since then, the national associations have worked tirelessly towards achieving full professional recognition and broader acknowledgment of the field’s importance.

2013

More and More Recognition

The Italian Ministry of Economic Development’s Law (L. 04/2013) further solidified the legal framework, ensuring that the profession of psicomotricista is protected across various education and healthcare settings.

FAQ

Here are few answers to frequently asked questions
in order to understand better Psychomotricity in Italy.

Yes, to work as a "Terapista della Neuro e Psicomotricità dell’Età Evolutiva (TNPEE)" in Italy, an official recognition of the TNPEE qualifications by the Italian Ministry of Health is mandatory. This process may include additional assessments or requirements depending on your educational background to ensure that you meet the national standards for practicing within the healthcare system.

To work as a "Psicomotricista", it is necessary to contact the relevant national association, such as APPI (Associazione Professionale Psicomotricisti Italiani).

The association will evaluate the applicant's educational background to verify that it aligns with the professional standards in Italy.

This step is important not only for ensuring that the applicant's qualifications are recognized, but also for securing professional protection and support as a practicing psicomotrician in the country.

In Italy, psychomotricians can work across several fields, including healthcare, education, and rehabilitation.

 

Common settings include:

  • Healthcare facilities: where psychomotricians work with people with neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological conditions, or mental health issues.
  • Educational settings: Schools and early childhood education centers, where psychomotricians support the development of motor skills, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation in children.
  • Private practice: Offering psychomotor sessions for individuals across the lifespan, addressing issues ranging from developmental delays to stress management and mental health concerns.

Yes, in sanitary contexts, psychomotor therapy is covered by the national healthcare system, particularly when it is prescribed as part of a rehabilitation program for children (TNPEE).

 

However, for psychomotricity sessions in the fields of prevention and education for children, adults and elderly individuals (Psicomotricista), coverage may vary.

These sessions are not considered medical interventions, but they can be reimbursed depending on the client's fiscal situation.

In Italy, psychomotor therapy provided by a TNPEE is subject to a medical prescription, especially when offered as part of a therapeutic or rehabilitation plan for children with neurodevelopmental disorders or other medical conditions.

 

Psychomotor intervention provided by a "psicomotricista" in private settings or educational contexts does not require a medical prescription. Their work focuses more on educational, preventive, and developmental aspects rather than medical treatments.

Get to know more about Psychomotricity in Italy

Logo od APPI
Logo of CoNAPP
Logo of FNO TSRM PSTRP