“What an amazing class (Clinical Skills, formerly Canine Rehabilitation Therapist)! Thank you to all of the instructors, TAs, and supportive staff for making this experience so great! My brain is full, and I can't wait to transition from human physical therapy to canine."
–Sunny Rubin, MSPT,
Seattle, Washington
Clinical Skills
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Upcoming Dates

» February 12-14, 2022
Clinical Skills, Coral Springs, Florida, $3,050.

» Future Class
Clinical Skills, Florida or Colorado location, $3,050.

 

» Save with a 2-Course Package!
Save when you register for Clinical Skills together with Clinical Applications. You will have the opportunity to select your preferred dates when you register.

2-Course Package: Clinical Skills plus Clinical Applications, $4,725.

Clinical Skills is currently being offered in a hybrid format combining online coursework and an in-person 3-day session. Beginning in December 2021, a Zoom session is no longer included for this course. Please read our Hybrid Course Notes below.

Clinical Skills is the second of three modules in the CCRT certification program. It was formerly named Canine Rehabilitation Therapist.

Watch our videos for an overview and student testimonials about this course.

Faculty: Sasha A. Foster, MSPT, CCRT; Ellen Martens, PT, MT, CCRT; Amber Kenney, MPT, MTC, CKTP, CCRT; Suzie Stoke, MSPT, CCRT; Mamie Whitman, PT, CCRT, Angie Pace, DPT, MTC, CCRT; Patsy Mich, DVM, MS, DABVP, DACVAA, DACVSMR

Prerequisites: This 3-day course is open to veterinarians and physical therapists that have successfully completed Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation and to veterinarians and physical therapists certified as Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners (CCRP). We recommend that CCRP veterinarians and physical therapists take Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation before taking Clinical Skills to gain the most benefit from these courses. Veterinary students may take Clinical Skills after completing Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation and their second year of veterinary school. Physical therapy students may register for this course, but can't start the course until after they graduate and are licensed.

Online Coursework: We have streamlined this course to include more online content. The hybrid version includes online coursework and in-person labs over 3 classroom days. Approximately 10.5 hours of online coursework and another 4-5 hours of homework must be completed prior to coming to the in-person class.
Registered students: Please set aside the time you need to do the online coursework before the first day of class. We will email instructions for accessing the online coursework at least 30 days before the class starts.

Course Description: Clinical Skills (formerly called Canine Rehabilitation Therapist) introduces students to clinical assessment, goal-setting, treatment planning and outcome measurement in canine rehabilitation from a physical therapy perspective. This case-based course highlights orthopedic conditions and injuries involving the extremities and the spine. Practical applications of joint mobilization, modalities and therapeutic exercise are covered. Participants get hands-on experience with dogs on site. The business of canine rehabilitation is discussed as well as pertinent legal and ethical issues. This course will also cover canine neuro rehabilitation. Students get hands-on experience with dogs on site as they learn how to perform a neurologic exam and apply neurophysiological facilitation techniques. Developing goal-focused treatment plans and assessing outcomes in canine neuro-rehabilitation patients are also covered.

This course is RACE approved for 49 credit hours by the AAVSB.

Please note: Students who do not attend a full day of class will not receive any CE credit hours for that day and may have to return to make up the missing hours.

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Course Fee: $3,050

Hybrid Course Notes: The hybrid version of the Clinical Skills module includes online coursework and in-person labs over 3 classroom days. Thirty days before the start of the in-person class, registrants will receive access to the pre-course videos that must be viewed prior to the in-person class. Approximately 10.5 hours of online coursework and another 4-5 hours of homework must be completed prior to coming to the in-person class.

Topics Covered Include:

  • Evaluation of the canine patient
  • Spinal and extremity joint kinematics and biomechanics
  • Manual therapy
  • Neurological rehabilitation
  • Therapeutic modalities including LASER, ultrasound and electrotherapy
  • Therapeutic exercises for strength, weight-bearing, range of motion, stretching and proprioception
  • Setting goals, developing treatment plans, and measuring outcomes
  • Legal and ethical issues
  • The business of canine rehabilitation

Classes are held each day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm in Colorado and Florida. There is a 1-hour break for lunch. Registered students: Please watch for specific emails about each class as there may be occasional minor changes to class times.

At the end of DAY 3, students are given an open-book, take-home final exam that they have 30 days to complete. Collaboration with fellow classmates is encouraged.