Manual therapy certifications
Manual therapy certifications usually take a series of weekend courses followed by a written and practical exam. They're also a common step toward an orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship.
| Certification | From | Upcoming dates | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist (COMT) | NAIOMT | 43 | Oct 24, 2026, New York, NY |
| COMT (Maitland-Australian) (COMT) | Maitland-Australian PT Seminars | 20 | Nov 7–8, 2026, Homer Glen, IL |
| Certification in MDT (Cert. MDT) | McKenzie Institute | 19 | Oct 22–25, 2026, Libertyville, IL |
| Certification in Spinal Manipulation (Cert. SMT) | AAMT | 15 | Oct 24–25, 2026, Atlanta, GA |
| Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) | Institute of Physical Art | 7 | Nov 6–8, 2026, Dallas, TX |
What each one takes
Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist (COMT)
Take NAIOMT's five COMT courses (lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine, upper and lower extremity) in any order, then pass the assessment exam. Each course has 14 hours of in-person lab plus 7 hours online. NAIOMT. See their courses on the map.
COMT (Maitland-Australian) (COMT)
Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy Seminars schedules COMT certification sessions alongside its MT course series. See MAPS for which MT courses come first. Maitland-Australian PT Seminars. See their courses on the map.
Certification in MDT (Cert. MDT)
Complete McKenzie Parts A to D (A first, D last), then pass the credentialing exam. The exam has its own dates on the map. McKenzie Institute. See their courses on the map.
Certification in Spinal Manipulation (Cert. SMT)
AAMT's spinal manipulation credential: 60 hours of hands-on thrust manipulation training in four courses, SMT-1 to SMT-4. AAMT. See their courses on the map.
Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT)
The Institute of Physical Art's certification, built on its Functional Mobilization and PNF course series. See IPA for the current course list and exam. Institute of Physical Art. See their courses on the map.
Upcoming courses that count toward these certifications
October 2026
- Thu–Sun, Oct 22–25, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part D: Advanced Cervical & Thoracic Spine & Extremities (Upper Limb) Price on provider site · Libertyville, IL Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Oct 23–25, 2026 · 3 days MDT Part A: The Lumbar Spine Price on provider site · Mesa, AZ Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Oct 23–25, 2026 · 3 days MDT Part B: The Cervical & Thoracic Spine Price on provider site · Atlanta, GA Details and registration
- Sat, Oct 24, 2026 COMT-3: Thoracic Spine Price on provider site · New York, NY Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Oct 24–25, 2026 · 2 days Spinal Manipulation 2 (SMT-2) $625 · Atlanta, GA Details and registration
November 2026
- Thu–Sun, Nov 5–8, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part C: Advanced Lumbar Spine & Extremities (Lower Limb) Price on provider site · Houston, TX Details and registration
- Thu–Sun, Nov 5–8, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part D: Advanced Cervical & Thoracic Spine & Extremities (Upper Limb) Price on provider site · Thomasville, GA Details and registration
- Thu–Sun, Nov 5–8, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part D: Advanced Cervical & Thoracic Spine & Extremities (Upper Limb) Price on provider site · Sacramento, CA Details and registration
- Thu–Sun, Nov 5–8, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part C: Advanced Lumbar Spine & Extremities (Lower Limb) Price on provider site · Cudahy (Milwaukee), WI Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 6–8, 2026 · 3 days MDT Part B: The Cervical & Thoracic Spine Price on provider site · Winston-Salem, NC Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 6–8, 2026 · 3 days FM I: Functional Mobilization I Price on provider site · 28 contact hrs · Dallas, TX Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 6–8, 2026 · 3 days FMUT: Functional Mobilization Upper Trunk Price on provider site · 24 contact hrs · Brooklyn, NY Details and registration
- Fri–Mon, Nov 6–9, 2026 · 4 days PNF: Functional Neuromuscular and Motor Control Training Price on provider site · 28 contact hrs · Fountain Valley, CA Details and registration
- Fri–Mon, Nov 6–9, 2026 · 4 days PNF: Functional Neuromuscular and Motor Control Training Price on provider site · 28 contact hrs · San Carlos, CA Details and registration
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 COMT-1: Lumbar Spine Price on provider site · Seattle, WA Details and registration
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 COMT-5: Lower Extremity Price on provider site · Annapolis, MD Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days MT-O: Evidence-Based Orthopedic Diagnostic Evaluation Seminar $650 · Homer Glen, IL Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days MT-1: Essential Peripheral Seminar $650 · Garden City, NY Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days MT-1: Essential Peripheral Seminar Skills Check Lab $300 · 17.5 contact hrs · Garden City, NY Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days MT-FMC: Motor Control Strategies to Maximize Rehabilitation and Function $675 · New York, NY Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days MT-3: Intermediate Spinal Seminar $695 · 28 contact hrs · Florham Park, NJ Details and registration
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 MDT Credentialing Exam Price on provider site · Atlanta, GA Details and registration
- Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days Spinal Manipulation 1 (SMT-1) $625 · Cincinnati, OH Details and registration
- Sat–Mon, Nov 7–9, 2026 · 3 days FMUE: Functional Mobilization Upper Extremities Price on provider site · 21 contact hrs · Bellevue, WA Details and registration
- Thu–Sun, Nov 12–15, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part D: Advanced Cervical & Thoracic Spine & Extremities (Upper Limb) Price on provider site · Berlin, VT Details and registration
- Thu–Sun, Nov 12–15, 2026 · 4 days MDT Part C: Advanced Lumbar Spine & Extremities (Lower Limb) Price on provider site · Manhasset, NY Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 13–15, 2026 · 3 days MDT Part B: The Cervical & Thoracic Spine Price on provider site · Fort Myers, FL Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 13–15, 2026 · 3 days PNF: Functional Neuromuscular and Motor Control Training Price on provider site · 28 contact hrs · White Plains, NY Details and registration
- Fri–Sun, Nov 13–15, 2026 · 3 days VFM: Visceral Functional Mobilization Price on provider site · 20 contact hrs · Elmhurst, IL Details and registration
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 COMT-4: Upper Extremity Price on provider site · Dallas, TX Details and registration
From each provider's public pages, checked October 24, 2026. Requirements, prices and exam dates change, so confirm with the provider before you register.
Other certifications
- Lymphedema and manual lymph drainage 154 dates
- Dry needling 103 dates
- Vestibular and concussion 29 dates
- Pelvic health 68 dates
- Sports, strength and running 32 dates
- Neuro, ergonomics and other 13 dates