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Program Overview

The Advanced Vestibular Certificate Program is a comprehensive didactic experience in vestibular physical therapy that prepares and certifies physical therapists to be frontline providers for patients experiencing balance, dizziness and abnormal proprioception.

Many patients start their vestibular episode of care in the emergency room or with a primary care physician and are referred to an otolaryngologist or a neurologist among five-six other medical practitioners before reaching a physical therapist to manage their symptoms. Delays in treatment and unnecessary consultations can result in less function, increased risk of falls and additional complications.

Graduates of the AVPT certificate program will be prepared to manage patients in the primary care setting or part of a team-based model within interdisciplinary settings to maximize clinical outcomes and patient function.

With rising health care costs and delays in treatment associated with managing balance and vestibular disorders, graduates of the AVPT Certificate Program will be well positioned to fulfill this emerging role as a frontline provider in vestibular disorders. Upon certification, participants will be uniquely qualified to achieve the Triple Aim of Healthcare:  improved patient health, improved patient experience and decreased per capita costs.

Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist (AVPT) Certification

The AVPT certification is delivered in a highly innovative format that allows participation from anywhere in the world, but still experience the University of Pittsburgh campus with limited travel. The hybrid format includes self-paced online coursework, synchronous virtual meetings via Zoom and four interactive weekend workshops. The content is delivered in four specific modules and arranged by content.Module 1:Advanced Vestibular Anatomy, VOR function, vestibular testing, outcome measures, differential diagnosis, vestibular perception and acute diagnosis and management. Module 2:Eye movement analysis, concussion, vision, neuropsychology, surgical management, pharmacological management, CNS impairments. Module 3: BPPV, PPPD, pediatric and older adult special considerations and psychological management.Module 4: History taking and interpretation of findings, advanced treatment techniques for physical therapists, exercise dosage, newest interventions, clinical cases, plus the video, practical and written examination.

Each module will consist of 12-16 hours of online presentations, required readings and a virtual journal club via Zoom. Participants will be required to complete the pre-requisite work prior to the weekend workshop. Each weekend workshop will provide 10-12 hours of interactive live presentations delivered through Zoom. At the completion of each weekend workshop, the participants will be required to complete a written examination on the content presented within the module.

Module 4 will require in-person participation on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh for an immersive skills and lab session and competency examination that will include a comprehensive written and practical component of content delivered within all four modules.

Each module can be taken independently, but participants must complete all four modules and successfully pass the competency examination to become certified as an Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist.

Our Upcoming 2022-2023 Cohort is Full!

The Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist program thanks you for your interest in our program, however the program is currently full for the 2022-2023 cohort. The application is now closed and will reopen March 1, 2023.

Dates of Weekend Workshops

  • Module 1:August 13 - 14, 2022 (Zoom Classroom)
  • Module 2:November 12 - 13, 2022 (Zoom Classroom)
  • Module 3:January 7 - 8, 2023 (Zoom Classroom)
  • Module 4:March 31 - April 2, 2023 (University of Pittsburgh, Campus Classroom)

Times

The typical schedule for the weekend workshops Modules 1-3 will be:

  • Saturday Sessions: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (EST)
  • Sunday Sessions:  8 a.m. - noon (EST)
  • In addition, there will be a pre/post module session on the Tuesday evening before and after each weekend session (7-8:30 p.m. EST).

The schedule for Module 4:

  • Friday March 31, 2023: 8 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. (EST)
  • Saturday April 1, 2023: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (EST)
  • Sunday April 2, 2023: 8 a.m - noon (EST)

Agenda and Learning Objectives

Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4

Note: CEU approval pending from physical therapy state board associations.

Speakers

Click here to learn more about the speakers below.

  • Yuri Agarwal, MD, MPH, FACS
    • Professor Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  • Bara A. Alsalaheen PT, PhD
    • Associate Professor of Physical Therapy College of Health Sciences at University of Michigan-Flint
  • Adolfo Bronstein, MD, PhD
    • Professor of Clinical Neuro-otology at Imperial College London
  • Amy Cassidy, DPT, NCS
    • Adjunct Physical Therapy Faculty School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Pittsburgh
  • Yoon-Hee Cha, MD
    • Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Minnesota
  • Sharon Cushing, MD, M.Sc
    • Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto
  • Megan Kenney, OTR/L
    • Adjunct Occupational Therapy Faculty School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Pittsburgh
  • Pam M. Dunlap, DPT, PhD, NCS
    • Post-Doctoral Associate in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Terry D. Fife, MD
    • Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine
  • Joseph M. Furman, MD, PhD, FAAN
    • Professor in the Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurology, Bioengineering, and Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Colin Grove, DPT, PhD, NCS
    • Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Courtney D. Hall PT, PhD
    • Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy East Tennessee State University
  • Regan Harrell, DPT, NCS
    • Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Janet Helminski PT, PhD
    • Professor in Physical Therapy College of Health Sciences Midwestern University
  • Susan J. Herdman PT, PhD
    • Professor Emerita Emory University School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Janene M. Holmberg, PT, DPT, NCS
    • Director Balance Rehabilitation at Intermountain Hearing and Balance Center
  • Carrie Hoppes, PT, PhD, NCS, OCS, ATC, CSCS
    • Associate Professor and Director of the Army-Baylor University Doctor of Physical Therapy program
  • Klaus Jahn, MD
    • Medical Director of the Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling and head of Neurorehabilitation at the DSGZ (LMU Munich)
  • Diego Kaski, MD, PhD
    • Head of the Centre for Behavioural and Vestibular Neurosciences within the Department of Clinical and Motor Neurosciences at the University of Central London
  • Jorge C. Kattah, MD
    • Professor in Neurology University of Illinois College of Medicine
  • Brooke N. Klatt, PT, DPT, PhD
    • Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Anthony P. Kontos, PhD
    • Professor in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Karen Lambert, PT, DPT, NCS
    • Vestibular Program Manager for the Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) for the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Administration (VA)
  • Thomas Lempert, MD
    • Professor of Neurology at Charité University Hospital and Head of Neurology at Schlosspark-Klinik
  • Julie Maggio, PT, DPT
    • Outpatient Physical Therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Francisco Carlos Zuma e Maia, MD, PhD
    • Preceptor in Neurotology at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Dara Meldrum, PT, PhD, MSc, BSc
    • Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at the Trinity College
  • Anne Mucha, DPT, NCS
    • Adjunct Physical Therapy Faculty School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Pittsburgh
  • Catherine V. Palmer, PhD
    • Professor in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh
  • Marousa Pavlou, PT, PhD
    • Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at King's College London
  • Michelle R. Petrak, PhD, PhD, CCC-A
    • Director of Clinical Audiology and Vestibular Research for Interacoustics
  • Alexander Ring, PT
    • Adjunct Research Fellow Curtin University and Murdoch University
  • Kathryn Schneider, PT, PhD
    • Assistant Professor and Clinician Scientist in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary
  • Michael C. Schubert, PT, PhD, FAPTA
    • Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University
  • Britta Smith, DPT, NCS
    • Physical Therapist Supervisor at Atlanta Medical Center
  • Patrick J. Sparto, PT, PhD, FAPTA
    • Professor in the Departments of Physical Therapy, Otolaryngology and Bioengineering
  • Jeffrey Staab, MD
    • Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo Clinic
  • Vicky Stewart, PT, PhD
    • Physiotherapist at the Gold Coast University Hospital Australia
  • Raymond Van Der Berg, MD
    • Associate Professor at Maastricht University Medical Center
  • Susan L. Whitney, DPT, PhD, NCS, ATC, FAPTA
    • Professor in Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology University of Pittsburgh
  • Dario Yacovino, MD
    • Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Medical School of Buenos Aires University
  • David S. Zee, MD
    • Professor Johns Hopkins University

Registration Fees

$650 per module

Note: Participants will be required to register for each module separately.

Application Process

Please note the application period is now closed and will reopen Spring 2023.

Pre-requisite Experience:

Certification is limited to licensed physical therapists.

Participants best suited for this experience are:

  • Licensed in good standing in country of origin. Will need to provide copy of license as proof.
  • Minimum of two years of post-professional vestibular rehabilitation clinical experience

Favorable consideration will be given to applicants with at least one of the following:

  • Graduate of an APTA accredited residency program
  • A certified ABPTS specialist

All candidates are required to submit a Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae demonstrating credentials and qualifications that meet or exceed the above admission requirements. The enclosed cover letter should indicate the participant's expectations of the program, desired learning objectives and opportunities for implementing new concepts into clinical practice.

 If a candidate does not meet the prerequisite admission requirements, s/he can submit evidence of the equivalent of the above criteria subject for approval by our AVPT Advisory Panel through an individual review process. Submit your request and justification with your cover letter in the application linked below. A phone interview may be required.

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations sent before the first of the month preceding the AVPT weekend, tuition will be refunded minus a $75.00 administrative fee. Cancellations sent after the 1st of the month, but before the 31st of the month preceding the registered weekend, tuition will be refunded minus a $125.00 administrative fee. No tuition will be refunded for requests sent after the 31st of the month preceding the weekend workshop.

Contact Us

Contact the AVPT team at advancedvestibularPT@pitt.edu with any questions related to the program.