2026 Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Fellowship Program - Physical Therapist

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Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Fellowship Program Overview & Mission

The Olympic Sports & Spine Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Fellowship Program is a 24-month clinical fellowship that is dually accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Accreditation Council for Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Education (ACOMPTE) through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). The mission of Olympic Sports & Spine's Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship is to develop expert-level orthopaedic and sports physical therapists within the subspecialty of orthopaedic manual physical therapy. The fellowship is distinguished by advanced clinical mentorship, rigorous scholarly engagement, and progressive skill acquisition, with an emphasis on evidence-informed practice, sophisticated clinical reasoning, and reflective professional development to enhance patient care and clinical excellence.

Grounded in advanced clinical education and expert clinical reasoning, the fellowship provides a rigorous, structured pathway for orthopaedic and sports physical therapists pursuing specialization in orthopaedic physical therapy. Fellows-in-training complete an integrated clinical and academic curriculum designed to prepare them for Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist (COMT), Spinal Manipulative Therapist (SMT), and Certified Dry Needling Specialist (CDNS) credentials through AspireOMT Institute, as well as eligibility for recognition as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

A new cohort begins each year on September 1.

Certifications and recognitions achieved by completing the fellowship program include:

• Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist (COMT) and Dry Needling Specialist (CDNS) certification through AspireOMT,
• Spinal Manipulative Therapist (SMT) certification through AspireOMT,
• Fellowship-trained in OMPT through ABPTRFE, and
• Fellow of AAOMPT (FAAOMPT)

Curriculum Summary

The orthopaedic manual therapy fellowship curriculum is intentionally structured to foster progressive professional development through the integration of advanced clinical practice and formal educational experiences. The clinical component includes immersive patient care responsibilities supported by a minimum of 150 hours of one-on-one clinical mentorship during direct patient encounters.

The educational curriculum comprises a comprehensive sequence of post-professional training, including a minimum of 126 hours of Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist (COMT) education, 168 hours of Spinal Manipulative Therapist (SMT) training, and 81 hours of dry needling instruction through AspireOMT Institute. Additional coursework includes 111 hours focused on exercise prescription and application within orthopaedic manual therapy, 72 hours dedicated to the clinical application of neurodynamics, 65 hours addressing applied pain science, 55 hours emphasizing advanced clinical reasoning, and 115 hours devoted to critical analysis and research within orthopaedic manual physical therapy.

Schedule Expectations

Fellows-in-training are employed by Olympic Sports & Spine and are expected to work the weekly hours outlined in their employment contract. A minimum of 150 hours of one-to-one clinical mentorship with an OMPT fellowship-eligible mentor is embedded within the fellow-in-training's patient care schedule across the duration of the program. Educational coursework is completed outside of scheduled clinical hours. Fellows-in-training should plan to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week to academic learning and related educational activities.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Option 1: Current American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Board Certification in Orthopaedic or Sports Physical Therapy
• Option 2: Graduation from an American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE)–accredited orthopaedic or sports residency program
• Eligibility for physical therapy licensure in the state of Washington by the program start date

Application Process & Questions

For additional information regarding the orthopaedic manual therapy fellowship or the application process, please contact:

Samantha Gubka residency@osstherapy.com

New cohorts begin annually on September 1. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.