Advanced Skills Course Series
Program Options
Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Course Series
A Program for Busy Professionals
Time can be the biggest hurdle to your professional career – the
time to study, practice and update yourself on the latest skills and
knowledge. Our new 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 residency faculty in the country and a solid,
current and rigorous curriculum to refresh your skills and give you
a competitive edge.
Take the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills course if you want to:
- Learn an efficient, systematic clinical reasoning process that emphasizes manual therapy examination and treatment of the spine, shoulder and knee complexes.
- Improve your differential diagnosis skills.
- Expand your repertoire of treatment options in combination with exercise and self-management approaches.
- Become skilled in the Australian approach (Maitland Concept).
- Learn exercise, functional training and self-mobilization interventions as part of total patient management.
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Course Schedule
May 1: Application deadline. Click here for information on the application process.
October – Early December: Participate in online coursework, Webinars and virtual office hours with faculty and classmates. The time commitment for completing online coursework will average nine to 12 hours per week, plus practice time with classmates.
December: Attend a weekend lab session to consolidate your clinical reasoning and handling skills.
January – May:
Continue online coursework and participate in weekend lab
sessions every five to six weeks, including selected Fridays. The
time commitment for completing online coursework will average nine
to 12 hours per week, plus practice time with classmates. Coursework
and labs will focus on examination, OMPT and exercise management for
patients with dysfunctions of the upper cervical, mid-cervical,
thoracic, lumbar, shoulder and knee complexes.
Participants in the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills Series are able
to continue full-time employment with their current employer. You
may be required to take an occasional Friday off for lab sessions.
Clinical Course Content
- Anatomical and biomechanical foundations of orthopedic manual physical therapy
- Detailed manual therapy examination and treatment procedures focusing on the upper cervical, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine complexes, shoulder and knee complexes.
- Clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis: Australian (Maitland Concept) approach to manual therapy
- Indications and contraindications to manual therapy
- Principles of technique selection and progression
- Principles of overall patient management, including exercise and self-management
- Scientific basis of orthopedic manual physical therapy
- Medical screening: Differential diagnosis of non-musculoskeletal conditions
- Journal club discussions of current literature
Entry Requirements
- Must be licensed to practice physical therapy in the state of California
- Minimum of one year of physical therapy practice
- Currently practicing a minimum of 50 percent of your time in an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy setting
Certificate of Completion
A certificate of completion is granted upon successful completion. Individuals who wish to complete a Manual Therapy Certification Level I should contact the program director for additional requirements and costs.
Tuition, Benefits and Mentee Salary
$1800 Kaiser Permanente Physical Therapist, $1950 for Non-Kaiser Physical Therapists
Application Deadline
May 1st in the same year of enrollment, e.g. Apply May 1st for the Fall Advanced Skills Series which runs October to May.
How to Apply for the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills
- Submit a resume describing employment history and continuing education courses taken and number of hours of instruction.
- Write a brief essay describing why you would like to attend the Manual Therapy Advanced Skills series, what you would like to gain from the courses, and what coursework or other clinical experiences you have completed that will prepare you for entry into this course series.
- Mail your resume and essay to Carol Jo Tichenor, MA, PT at the program office address. There is no application fee. Your application must be postmarked no later than May 1st.
- Contact us if you have missed an application deadline as selected spots may be open.