Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate

About Arcadia’s Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate

Prepare to practice musculoskeletal physical therapy using current evidence.

• Courses utilize a hybrid model of online learning and manual skills laboratory sessions.
• The 12-credit program can be completed in one to three years.
• Combine with clinical mentoring in an Orthopaedic Residency
• The program is affordable and competitively priced.
• Students network and connect with nationally recognized faculty and peers.
• All Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate courses are 2-credits.
• Students can take two courses before formal application and matriculation.
• Arcadia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program is ranked in the top 15 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

The primary goal of this certificate program is to prepare clinicians to practice musculoskeletal physical therapy using current evidence. Consistent with this goal, the program is designed to provide sufficient content, knowledge and skills to prepare students to sit for the orthopaedic clinical specialization examination offered by the American Physical Therapy Association’s Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

The curriculum consists of six 2-credit courses. Two courses deal with general concepts relevant to the management of all musculoskeletal conditions. The remaining four courses are regional and each includes relevant anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, medical screening as well as current best evidence related to examination and intervention with emphasis on the most prevalent conditions for each region. The regional courses include a laboratory component for development of manual skills.

Laboratory Sessions: The courses in the program utilize a hybrid model of online learning with integrated manual skills laboratory sessions. The manual skills laboratory sessions will occur over 4 weekends per year. The program is highly interactive and capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge clinicians bring with them.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate program

Students may take two courses before formal application and matriculation. Acceptance into a course does not guarantee admission.

The following program-specific requirements must be met:

• Proof of graduation (transcript) from a physical therapist degree program accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education (currently CAPTE)
• Current state professional license
• Brief essay articulating goals and interest in the certificate
• Basic computer skills including Internet and e-mail.
• Computer system requirements that can be found at http://www.arcadia.edu/academic/arcadia-online-student-computer-requirements.

Tuition and Fees

2015-16 Tuition: $800 per credit

Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate Requirements

(12 credits)

The curriculum for the Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Certificate program consists of at six 2-credit courses. There is no required course sequence. A minimum of 12 credits is required.