The Education System Curriculum

The process of achieving the Diploma of Advanced Manipulative Therapy starts with the Level 1 course and exam.  The course is the only one in the curriculum which is not mandatory prior to taking the exam.  The Level 1 course is intended to provide students with the skills to apply clinical reasoning to perform basic subjective and objective musculoskeletal assessments, developing skills to generate a provisional differential diagnosis and treatment plan for musculoskeletal patients.  If a therapist feels that he/she is practising at that level, then the exam can be challenged.  Contact is made through the National Orthopaedic Division ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  The exam will be mailed to a preceptor chosen by the candidate, and completed by the candidate under supervision within a specified time frame.  Once this exam has been successfully completed, the therapist can continue through the curriculum (see Flowchart).

The courses build on each other, but it is permissible to take a Level 3 course following the Level 2 of the same quadrant before completing the other Level 2 quadrant.

The flowchart represents a new process for the Orthopaedic curriculum in Canada, as of September 2009, and applicable for the exams starting in 2011.  The most significant change is the removal of the Intermediate diploma, with the exam format after the Level 3 courses modified to a practical exam only.  You can refer to the full explanation at the National Ortho Division website: www.orthodiv.org

Online components

Also in the new system is more focus on web-based learning, and shorter class time requirements for some courses.  The address for this website is www.orthodived.ca. This is a password secured site that is going to be used to deliver information to both Instructors and students. When students log into the website they will be able to access online material for the diploma level system courses. Currently the information posted is related to the level 3 courses, mentorship and the Orthopaedic Division examinations. Content for the other levels will be added in the future. Students can access the site by obtaining the login information and password from the instructor of the course they are taking.