• Certification program in manual therapy

  This consists of the 2.5 years worth of course work as described in this application, followed by a written and a practical exam. A certificate is rewarded upon successful completion of this program.

• Fellowship program in manual therapy

  The fellowship program consists of 440 supervised hours (130 of which are spent one on one with a mentor) in addition to the 2.5 years of course work. This situation provides the resident with the opportunity to evaluate and treat patients together with a more experienced physical therapist. We work together with 10 clinical sites throughout the country where therapists can do their supervised hours.  Fellow status in the AAOMPT is awarded upon successful completion of the Fellowship Program.

Both program tracks are designed to advance the evaluation and treatment skills of physical therapists in the orthopedic setting. Over a period of 2 years and 6 months, 18 weekend courses are taught. The curriculum is set up according to the guidelines set forth by the AAOMPT in their “Standards for Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Residency Training”. The manual therapy instruction establishes a firm foundation in the Norwegian approach. However, graduates should have the foundation to quickly assimilate manual techniques from basically any origin.

The real strength of the course is the clinical curriculum. It puts a strong emphasis on advanced evaluation and treatment skills. A sound framework of clinical reasoning and decision-making is being taught, from which a skilled treatment will follow. This takes the resident beyond the level of just randomly applying manual therapy techniques. Additional curriculum includes anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, therapeutic exercise, radiology, research and pharmacology.

Successful completion of a program like this demands a great deal of commitment, time and effort on your part. You have to study regularly and you will be given assignments. Skills will be tested through written exams, practical exams and case review.