We’re flexible.
We bring the program to you: Students may pursue their Fellowship at any qualified site in the United States. You may start the program in January, May, or September—and begin your clinical hours when it’s convenient for you.
Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship (OMPT)
Locations: Distance + on-campus
Formats: Online + hands-on
Program duration: 3-9 trimesters (1-3 years)*
See Requirements & Program Details
Fellowship at a glance:
- Online coursework; in-person seminars and skills labs
- 850 hours of patient care
- 160 hours of 1:1 mentorship
- 3–9 trimesters (1–3 years)*
- Location: Any qualified clinic in the U.S.
- Sept., Jan. & May start dates
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, traditional vs. accelerated pathway, credits transferred and other factors.
The USAHS Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship offers physical therapists the opportunity to focus on the subspecialty area of orthopaedic manual PT. A level beyond our Clinical Orthopaedic Residency program, the Fellowship is designed for PTs who have specialist certification or who have completed a residency in orthopaedics. It prepares you to sit for your Manual Therapy Certification exam through USAHS’ Continuing Professional Education program. Graduates are eligible (and expected) to become Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).
Gain Advance Expertise in Manual PT
As a fellow-in-training, you will gain advance expertise in manual PT through immersive online instruction and clinical guidance from our faculty and your on-site (or virtual) mentor. You may complete your patient care hours at any qualified clinical site across the country.
This advanced qualification is a chance for you to further hone your skills so you can improve patient outcomes, reduce treatment times, train for leadership and clinical research roles, and more. Through this program, you may earn academic credit toward your Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from USAHS.
Fellowship Student Outcomes
93%
Graduation Rate 10-year graduation rate (2010-2020)
100%
of graduates have become AAOMPT Fellows Based on all USAHS graduates of the program as of 2021
Flexible
Delivery Options
Tailored to You
“At a time when many of my peers are feeling stale in their career, mine feels like it’s just begun! The program content is so rich; I can now see myself venturing into research, teaching, mentoring etc. This is where I want to be, this is what I had hoped for.”
—Dr. Maria I., Fellowship alumna
Fellowship Curriculum
USAHS’ Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship is a demanding clinical and didactic learning experience designed to graduate physical therapists with advanced competency in manual physical therapy.
Clinical Requirements
Applicants may choose to pursue their Fellowship in the clinic they currently work, or find a position within a qualified and approved clinic anywhere in the United States.
- A minimum of 850 patient care hours. Examination and treatment will cover the following body regions: cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, pelvis – SI, craniomandibular, hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand.
- 160 hours of one-on-one mentoring in the clinic with a qualified and approved mentor, over the duration of the Fellowship.
Didactic Requirements
The didactic portion of the Fellowship focuses on advanced training in examination, evaluation, clinical reasoning, orthopaedic manual physical therapy, and patient management, based upon the practice dimensions described in the Advanced Description of Specialty Practice for Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and the AAOMPT Education Standards of Practice.
Expected learning experiences will be developed at the beginning of the Fellowship during discussions between the participant and the clinical faculty.
Examples of potential courses:
- Evidence-Based Research for Healthcare Professionals
- Foundations of Clinical Orthopaedics
- Dry Needling Part I Seminar
- Dry Needling Part II Seminar
- Foundational Theories in Education
- CF2: Intermediate Craniofacial
- Pharmacology
- Foundations of Imaging
- Cultural Competency
- E1 Extremity Evaluation and Manipulation Seminar
- E2 Extremity Integration Seminar
- S1: Spinal Evaluation and Manipulation Seminar
- S2: Advanced Evaluation and Manipulation of Pelvis, Lumbar and Thoracic Spine Seminar
- S3: Advanced Evaluation and Manipulation of Cranio Facial, Cervical and Upper Thoracic Spine Seminar
- S4: Functional Analysis and Management of Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex Seminar
- MF1: Myofascial Manipulation Seminar
- Manual Therapy Certification or Review
- Thrust – Advanced Manipulation of the Spine and Extremities Seminar
- Imaging Seminar
- Spinal Instability
- CF4: State of the Art Cranio Facial Seminar
- APTA CI Credentialing Course
Additional Requirements
- Participate in 12 journal clubs, lead three (online or in the clinic)
- Participate and lead 12 case rounds (online or in the clinic)
- Present three formal case presentations
- Attend one AAOMPT conference
- Attend Manual Therapy Certification review
- Complete healthcare observations, mentored clinical exams, and clinical skills checklists
- Complete a professional communications project
- Produce a scholarly product which is disseminated to the professional community (e.g., poster and/or platform presentation, publication in peer reviewed journal)
- Opportunity to teach and mentor entry-level DPT students, depending on location and if desired
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Fellowship Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, interested applicants must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state of the clinic assignment. You must have completed an APTA-accredited orthopaedic residency program or earned a successful score on the orthopaedic certified specialist exam. Applicants must display professional behaviors and enthusiasm in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy and demonstrate motivation and commitment to the profession. Desired applicants must possess clinical reasoning skills for the application of examination and treatment procedures, as well as have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
To apply, please visit RF-PTCAS. Applicants will be required to submit the following items to complete the application package:
- Online application
- Official transcripts from the degree-conferring institution
- Essay
- Two references from professional colleagues
- PT state license or proof of eligibility for licensure in the state of practice
- Current resume or curriculum vitae, which lists continuing education and professional publications
- Current photo
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Fellowship Tuition & Fees
When you apply through RF-PTCAS, you will pay their application fee.
- Program Cost is $12,000.00 if the applicant has already taken Manual Therapy Certification through USAHS
- Program Cost is $15,000.00 if the applicant has not taken Manual Therapy Certification through USAHS
- Additional Fee of $500.00 for each term over 12 months (not to exceed 36 months)
- Cost of APTA and AAOMPT membership dues
- Tuition & fees and travel to a Clinical Instructor (CI) Credentialing Course and an AAOMPT conference and Manual Therapy Seminars
- Cost of malpractice insurance
Fellows in Training will be mentored in a qualified clinic by an approved mentor while completing didactic components. If applicable, mentor fees for clinical mentoring are negotiated between fellow and mentor.
The University offers an interest-free tuition payment plan administrated by Sallie Mae®. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
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Fellowship Accreditation/Post-Graduation Licensure
Accreditation
The Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship program was reaccredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency & Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) in 2013.
The Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship program was accredited by the Accreditation Council on Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Education (ACOMPTE) in 2020.
The Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship program is not subject to accreditation by CAPTE.
For more information visit our Accreditation page.
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Fellowship Fact Sheets
Program Information
Name of Program: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship
Physical Address: 1 University Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32086
Program Hours
Educational Hours: 300 hours
Patient-Care Clinic / Practice Hours (inclusive of mentoring): 850 hours
Mentoring Hours: 160 hours.
Program Travel
Please indicate if participants are required to travel greater than 50 miles for any aspect of patient-care clinic/practice hours (does not include daily commute): Yes
Please indicate if participants are required to travel greater than 50 miles for any aspect of educational hours: Yes
Participant Costs
The program will provide all costs associated with this program.
| Type of Cost | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees Enter the amount of fees associated with the program (if applicable). Fees are any amount $1,000 or less. If more than $1,000, please enter that amount under tuition. ☐ Fees for this program include: ☐ CPR ☐ EMR ☐ APTA-Related Professional Membership ☐ Dues (APTA, Section/Academy) ☐ Other Professional Membership Dues ☐ Other: Indicate other fees. | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA |
| Tuition (if applicable) | $ 12,000.00/15,000.00 | $ NA | $ NA | $ 12,000.00/15,000.00 |
| Curriculum Costs (not included in tuition above) | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA |
| Required textbooks, software, apps (not included in program fees) | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA |
| Application Fees (program assessed above and beyond RF-PTCAS) | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA |
| Conference Registration Fees (not included in fees above) | $ 600.00 | $ NA | $ NA | $ 600.00 |
| Travel Costs (for program education requirements and conference attendance, if applicable) | $ 3,000.00 | $ NA | $ NA | $ 3,000.00 |
| Parking/Mass-Transit Fees | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA | $ NA |
| Mentoring Fees | $ Enter amount. | $ Enter amount. | $ Enter amount. | $ Tally row amounts. |
| Malpractice Insurance | $ 200.00 | $ NA | $ NA | $ 200.00 |
| Other program costs not included above: Yes | $ 100.00 CI Credentialing Course | $ NA | $ NA | $ 100.00 |
| Total Program Costs | $ 15,900.00/18,900.00 | $ NA | $ NA | $ 15,900.00/18,900.00 |
Program Sponsored Financial Assistance
The program will provide any financial assistance provided to participants.
| Type of Financial Assistance | Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary Paid by Program | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Student Financial Aid (for tuition fee programs only) | $ available if student qualifies | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Graduate Assistantship(s) | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Other Assistantship(s) | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Scholarships | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Travel Costs/Stipends | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Student Financial Aid (for tuition fee programs only) | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| ABPTS Board-Certification Examination Fees | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Other financial assistance not included above: List other financial assistance. | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Total Financial Assistance | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Orthopaedic Manual PT Fellowship program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply skills of self-reflection and information literacy to the orthopaedic manual physical therapy practice.
- Consult with peers, colleagues, other healthcare professionals, community agencies, legislative, legal and/or regulatory organizations in a collaborative manner for orthopaedic manual physical therapy patient/client management.
- Demonstrate advanced clinical competencies through the use of evidence-based practice relevant to patient client management in orthopaedic manual physical therapy.
- 93% graduation rate – 10 year graduation rate (2010-2020) per USAHS internal data collection
- 100% of graduates have become AAOMPT Fellows – Based on all USAHS graduates of the program as of 2021
- Demonstrate service as consultant, educator, clinical instructor and patient advocate for orthopaedic manual physical therapy.
- Demonstrate independent ethical and moral decision making in orthopaedic manual physical therapy practice which is in the best interest of the patient.
- Create a professional development plan for leadership to contribute to the advancement of the orthopaedic manual physical therapy profession as a healthcare leader through professional and community contributions.
- Demonstrate independent decision making through advanced clinical reasoning and critical thinking patient values and current evidence in orthopaedic manual physical therapy practice.
Upcoming PT Events
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