At this time, graduation from a residency is not required for entry into a fellowship. An applicant to a fellowship must demonstrate a period of post-professional clinical experience and course work. The Kaiser Hayward program has two parts: the Clinical Mentorship and the Advanced Fellowship. One year clinical experience, preferably in orthopedic PT, and relevant course work is required for entry into the Clinical Mentorship. Two years of clinical experience, relevant course work and completion of the mentorship is required for entry into the Advanced Fellowship.

Q: Why seek Manual Therapy Certification?
A: Upon completion of the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Series I, Mentorship and the Advanced Fellowship, you will receive a Manual Therapy Certification Level I, III and IV respectively. Manual Therapy Certification Level II is on hold at this time. Completion of the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Series I requires additional projects and testing in order to achieve certification. Many individuals elect to take only the online courses and lab sessions in order to achieve a certificate of completion.

The certification process tells your colleagues and employer that you have achieved an established clinical and academic standard through clinical projects and formalized exams. Many therapists across the country take continuing education courses, but certification sets you apart as an individual who is committed to excellence.

Q: How does the Kaiser Hayward certification compare with other manual therapy certifications in the U.S.?
A: Currently there are no national standards for manual therapy certifications. Each is very different in expectations and standards. Completing a certification demonstrates that you have been evaluated or tested according to a standard of performance established by the program. It definitely bears more weight than a certificate of completion. You will need to evaluate the advantages of a certification based on the part of the country where you are employed. In most areas, the APTA clinical specialist certification would be more important to achieve. We ask that you not add any ‘initials’ after your name when you achieve the manual therapy certifications since there is no national standard. If you achieve Fellowship status in the American Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AAOMPT), you may use FAAOMPT after your name.

Q: How do I select the Fellowship program that is right for me?
A: The first step is to consult the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) websites for a list of approved and credentialed OMPT Fellowship programs. To learn more about planning for residency and fellowship education, I encourage you to download our free white paper “Exploring Residencies and Fellowships.” If your goal is to find the best possible clinical learning experience, we are confident that you will choose Kaiser Hayward for your fellowship training.

Q: What benefits will I continue to receive after graduating from the Kaiser Hayward program?
A: Within our program, you will have access to a wealth of educational materials (e.g., videos, extensive curriculum materials and library resources) to support your individual learning needs. Graduates of the program become a part of the alumni association, which offers ongoing advanced course work.

Q: What is the difference between the Advanced Fellowship and the overall program name, PT Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy?
A: Many years ago, we were called the Kaiser Hayward PT Residency and had two program components. When the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) set up the residency and fellowship credentialing process, a new designation, “Fellowship in Manual Therapy,” was established for subspecialty areas. We then changed our program name to match with the APTA terminology. We are officially the Kaiser Permanente Hayward Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy. To become a graduate of an APTA Credentialed Fellowship and achieve Fellow status in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT), you must complete all program components (the Clinical Mentorship, the Advanced Fellowship and all independent study). The curriculum hours are added together to meet APTA and AAOMPT requirements.

Q: What are the physical demands of the Mentorship and Fellowship?
A: Our program requires that you perform normal outpatient therapist activities. There may also be extended periods of sitting for classroom activities and some driving to training sites (although carpooling is an option). In addition, you will be practicing a variety of manual therapy techniques on classmates. You are asked to assess your own physical capabilities for participating in the program.

Q: Am I able to defer my student loans if I go to a fellowship?
A: You have several options related to your college loans. Click here to read more.

Q: What kind of housing options are available in the San Francisco Bay Area?
A: Most participants rent a room in a private home. Renting studios and apartments for the time period that you are at Kaiser can be quite expensive, unless you are coming with a spouse or significant other. We can assist you with finding housing and also recommend www.craigslist.com.

Q: I’d like to speak with a graduate or faculty member about the program. Can you direct me to someone?
A: Please contact the Program Director Carol Jo Tichenor at Caroljo.Tichenor@kp.org. She’ll be happy to help answer your questions or put you in touch with faculty or alumni. We also invite you to come to observe lab sessions and meet current participants.

Q: I am interested in attending the program. What do I do next?
A: Applications for program are available online at http://kaiserhaywardptfellowship.com/application/apply.asp. Applications for the Clinical Mentorship are due May 1 of the year you wish to attend. Applications for the Advanced Skills Course Series are due May 1 of the year you wish to attend. Applications for the Advanced Fellowship are due July 1 of the year prior to enrollment. If you have missed the admissions date, contact the program director to determine whether there are any spots still open.
 

Clinical Mentorship

Q: What is the length and start dates of the Clinical Mentorship?
A: The Clinical Mentorship runs every year from October through April. Click here for the course schedule.

Q: What is a typical week of study in the Mentorship?
A: Each week, you will participate in interactive lectures and complete assignments online. You’ll work two days per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays (16 hours) or two and a half days per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings (20 hours) at one of our training sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. Individuals who work 20 hours per week receive health plan benefits. During your clinical practice at Kaiser, you’ll receive one-on-one mentoring for four hours each week.

You’ll come to Kaiser Hayward for weekend laboratory sessions (including selected Fridays) every four to six weeks. We encourage you to plan your vacation and work schedule to be present at all lab sessions. There will be a total of five laboratory weekends, plus one weekend where you will have written and technique exams. Contact the program for specific weekend laboratory dates. There will also be live patient exams in the clinic.

Q: What will I learn during the Clinical Mentorship?
A: The Clinical Mentorship focuses on detailed manual therapy examination and treatment of the upper-cervical, mid-cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and shoulder and knee complexes. You will also learn how to integrate exercise and self-mobilization interventions. You will leave the program with a solid clinical reasoning framework. You will be able to apply examination and treatment concepts to a broad range of musculoskeletal dysfunctions, well beyond the spine, and shoulder and knee complexes.

Q: How much time will I need to commit for the Clinical Mentorship?
A: Completing the online course work, case study assignments, and review and critique of current literature will require approximately nine to 12 hours per week of independent study. To gain the most from this program, you’ll need to complete online course work and assignments in a timely manner and arrange to practice with classmates or other colleagues in the area so that you come prepared for lab sessions.

Q: Do I need to take the online course work according to a defined curriculum schedule?
A: Yes, the coursework is given like typical university curriculum with assignments and readings each week. If you have unexpected commitments that prevent you from being online during a given week, you can do your assignments in advance.

Q: If I have trouble understanding the online coursework or lab sessions, will there be instructional support to help me?
A: We closely follow the progress of each participant as if you are in a private university. There is ongoing communication between you, your faculty members and the program director. Tutorials are scheduled to help you over any “bumps” in the road, as we are committed to your success.

Q: Is it feasible to complete the Clinical Mentorship program while working at my present job?
A: You can work full time while attending the Clinical Mentorship. However, reducing your present work week to 32 to36 hours gives you some additional study time. As described above, you will work 16 to 20 hours per week at Kaiser (20 hours per week is required for benefits). You can still work two to three days at your current employment. Individuals who move to the area can find employment at local hospitals, clinics or on-call agencies. We will provide you with resources to aid in finding employment and housing.

Q: Can I attend the Clinical Mentorship if I live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area?
A: If you live within 2.5 hours of the San Francisco Bay Area, you can still commute to lab sessions on the weekends and work at one of our five training sites (San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland, Union City and Pleasanton) two days per week. Not every training site is in operation every year, so please contact us when you are applying for admission.

Q: Since the course work is online, could I complete the Clinical Mentorship while living out-of-state?
A: We have a training site for one resident at the Kaiser Northwest region in Portland. You can work two days per week at a Kaiser clinic in the Portland area and receive your mentoring, then travel to the San Francisco Bay Area for lab sessions every four to six weeks.

Some individuals from other states elect to continue work at their current employer and fly to the San Francisco Bay Area for the lab sessions. When the 13-week period of mentoring begins, you would then move to the San Francisco Bay Area, work at Kaiser and at a local practice or on-call agency. During this 13-week period you will continue online course work and lab sessions with faculty and classmates.

Q: What type of interaction will I have with classmates, faculty and alumni?
A: Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and classmates via online clinical forums, Webinars and virtual office hours. Lab sessions have an excellent instructor-to-student ratio, providing you with immediate and comprehensive feedback for handling skills and clinical reasoning. Our facilities are open to you on the weekends and we encourage classmates to get together on weekends to practice whenever possible. Several of our alumni routinely volunteer their time to practice with the classes. Having so many classmates in the area with whom you can practice and alumni who volunteer their time are features of Kaiser Hayward that few other programs are able to offer.


Manual Therapy Advanced Skills I Course Series

Q: What is the difference between the Mentorship and the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series?
A: Time can be the biggest hurdle to your professional career – the time to study, practice and update yourself on the latest skills and knowledge. The Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series recognizes that challenge and offers busy professionals an avenue to the latest approaches, techniques and physical therapy knowledge. The 28-week program is based on our highly respected Clinical Mentorship, but tailored for working professionals who can’t be on site regularly for intensive practice courses. It provides access to the most experienced fellowship faculty in the country and a solid, current and rigorous curriculum to refresh your skills and give you a competitive edge.

You will have access to all of the excellent online course work, weekend lab sessions, webinars and virtual office hours and should anticipate committing 9 to 12 hours per week to online course work and clinical reasoning projects. You will receive feedback on your clinical reasoning via online clinical forums and case study analyses. At the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion and informal feedback on your handling skills.

Q: What is the length and start dates of the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series?
A: The Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series runs every year from October through April. Click here for the course schedule.

Q: What are the requirements if I decide to pursue a manual therapy certification after completing the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series?
A: To be granted a manual therapy certification Level I, you will need to complete additional clinical reasoning projects and take technique and written exams at the end of the program. Contact the program director about the certification costs.


Advanced Manual Therapy Fellowship

Q: What is the difference in curriculum between the Clinical Mentorship and Advanced Fellowship?
A: The Advanced Fellowship moves at a faster pace than the Clinical Mentorship and focuses on more advanced manual therapy clinical reasoning and exam/intervention techniques. The program is designed for individuals who strive to become senior therapists, clinical specialists, consultants and/or faculty members in manual therapy.

The Advanced Fellowship focuses on examination and management of the complex patient. You will learn advanced manual therapy techniques for the spine and all peripheral joint complexes and all grades of passive movement, including Grade V mobilization. You will attain greater refinement in combining exercise, self-mobilization and ergonomic concepts with your manual therapy interventions. You will also take additional course work in research statistics and participate in additional journal clubs to discuss current literature.

Q: What is the length and start dates of the Advanced Manual Therapy Fellowship?
A: The Advanced Manual Therapy Fellowship runs every year from June through May. Click here for the course schedule. 

Q: What are the other assignments for the Advanced Fellowship beyond the clinical training at Kaiser? 
A: You will be required to design and implement a culminating teaching project in your own community, develop a poster presentation for a conference or submit a case study for publication. Individuals who seek recognition as a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) must complete the Clinical Mentorship, Advanced Fellowship, culminating teaching project and selected course work in the basic and applied sciences (e.g. anatomy) within a three-year period to meet American Physical Therapists Association (APTA) and AAOMPT requirements. Most therapists complete all requirements within 19 - 22 months. Living or working in California while finishing your Advanced Fellowship projects is not required.

Q: Can I go directly into the Advanced Fellowship if I already have experience in manual therapy?
A: Completion of the Clinical Mentorship is a prerequisite for the Advanced Fellowship because the content of the programs is interlinked. The Clinical Mentorship is tailored to meet the individual needs and skill level of each participant. We have years of experience mentoring clinicians with varying backgrounds and experience.

Q. I know I want to attend the Clinical Mentorship, but I’m not sure about continuing on to the Advanced Fellowship. When do I have to make a decision?
A: Some applicants know up front that they want to attend the entire program, while others do not decide until after they have finished the Clinical Mentorship. Please feel free to contact the program director to discuss your career plans and which program options best fit your goals.

Q: Is it realistic to work during the Advanced Fellowship?
A: The Advanced Fellowship is designed to enable you to work full time while studying in our program, but we recommend that you work no more than 32 - 36 hours per week to allow adequate time for studying and practicing with classmates. You will begin with online course work from June to October and come to the San Francisco Bay Area every six weeks for lab sessions. Some individuals elect to continue employment at their current employer and fly or drive to Hayward for the lab sessions. From November through May you will need to move to the San Francisco Bay Area in order to begin clinical practice at Kaiser and receive your clinical mentoring for four to six hours per week. You will continue online course work and attend lab sessions every six weeks. During this period, you will work for Kaiser 16-20 hours per week (employment of 20 hours per week is required for benefits). You may also continue employment two to three days per week with another employer or on-call agency.