מבוא‭ ‬למקצוענות‭: ‬עקרונות‭ ‬מנחים‭ ‬וכלים‭ ‬לפיזיותרפיסט‭ ‬המתחיל, ‬בשנתיים‭ ‬הראשונות‭ ‬לעיסוקו‭ ‬בתחום: [מתוך המדור: חינוך בפיזיותרפיה]

Professional growth towards professionalism, which includes a commitment to excellence, is a fundamental principle in physical therapy, guiding practitioners throughout their careers. However, the journey to professionalism - which involves integrating systematic knowledge, experience-based intuition, and active engagement with the profession - is neither straightforward nor always clear. This process is particularly challenging during the early stages of professional development, specifically in the first two years of practice. During this critical period, novice clinicians begin to shape their professional identity and establish effective working patterns. This early stage is the focus of the present article. This article explores the core components of professional development and strategies for fostering them during the "novice" stage, with a particular focus on the role of reflective tools as a key mechanism for learning through experience. Reflective tools are explored through the lens of scientific literature, along with personal insights drawn from their application in an academic setting among students in their final year of a Bachelor's degree program. These insights provide a foundation for advancing future professional discourse.