ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN VETERINARY PHYSIOTHERAPY

Developed by Canine and Equine Physiotherapy Training (CEPT)

The course is approved by IRVAP .

Course Modules.

The course is designed as series of linked modules. You must study all the course modules, and then pass the final examination in order to gain the Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Physiotherapy. At this stage you will be a qualified veterinary physiotherapist.

There is an optional third year to study for an MRes in a veterinary physiotherapy-related subject with the University of Nottingham.

Course Outline for the First Year of Study.

The basic syllabus is divide into a series of overlapping modules. The sections take up differing lengths of time, which will be made clear in the detailed syllabus. These include, amongst other modules:

  1. Initial considerations for a veterinary physiotherapist
  2. Goals of physiotherapy
  3. Anatomy with relevance to physiotherapy, biomechanics and gait analysis
  4. Conditioning for sporting and working animals
  5. Physiotherapy post-surgery and for companion animals

The course is taught for one weekend per month from September to July, making ten taught weekends, with the exams on the eleventh weekend. There is also a requirement for home study, and three pieces of coursework. There is also an optional pre-course weekend in September covering basic sciences with an introduction to anatomy.

Course Outline for the Second Year of Study.

The second year places a heavy emphasis on practical techniques and experience according to the student's chosen speciality. This is achieved by the use of placements with experienced veterinary physiotherapists. There will be three taught weekends, with the remainder of the teaching being of up to 30 days of practical placements and a dissertation/project.

Optional Third Year of Study for a Masters Research (MRes).

Students who achieve a merit on the two-year course may apply to the University of Nottingham for a one-year research masters (MRes) in a topic related to veterinary physiotherapy. You also need to hold another degree e.g. BSc. This is run by the University of Nottingham and is separate from the CEPT AdvCertVPhys. Details may be found on the University's website here.

One-Year Course for Veterinary Surgeons

CEPT is currently developing a one-year course for Veterinary Surgeons. The course will cover all the aspects of the two-year course that are needed by a Veterinary Surgeon in order to gain the Advanced Certificate. Please contact CEPT via the enquiry form or directly.


Course Approval, Accreditation and External Examiners

By using university and specialist lecturers together with qualified training providers, the course brings the highest standards of education together. The final year examinations are also externally assessed by Fellows of the Higher Education Academy to ensure that they meet current academic requirements.

There is no 'Yardstick' or general council for veterinary/animal physiotherapy that sets standards of training at this time. The title 'Physiotherapist' is only protected when applied to human practice. Accreditation of courses in veterinary or animal physiotherapy is set by the body teaching it or sometimes by external bodies who do not necessarily have expertise in this field and, as such, standards can vary widely in terms of quality of content, delivery and assessment.

CEPT maintains a very high standard by using noted experts from institutions and universities nationwide. Practical training is delivered by a combination of Chartered Physiotherapists and other trainers, all of whom have specific experience in the field of veterinary physiotherapy; and who have proven standards in veterinary physiotherapy via qualifications acceptable to CEPT. CEPT has on its staff a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy* who monitors the standards of teaching throughout the course, and who works alongside an eminent retired professor of education to assess the standards of the course work and end-of-year examinations.

(*The HEA is a body which monitors and advises on academic standards in Universities and Colleges throughout the UK).

Professor George Brown, BSc, D.Phil., D.Odontology (Hon), retired Professor of the University of Nottingham is the current Chairman of the Board of Examiners and Course Evaluator. Professor Brown has wide experience of examining at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. He has recently retired from the Medical Education Unit of the University of Nottingham. He has published articles and texts on teaching, learning and assessment and directed research and development projects in higher education. He was the founder editor of the British Education Research Journal and he referees for medical and dental journals. He has worked closely with members of the dental, legal, medical, veterinary professions and other professions. In conjunction with members of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) he developed the training materials and quality assessment manual for the initial groups of quality assessors. He has been an advisor on higher education and curriculum development to universities, national and international agencies. In  2001 he was awarded a Honorary Doctorate in Odontology by the University of Malmo for his services to Dental Education in Europe. He continues to supervise research students and provide consultancies in the UK and abroad. Dr George Brown is also a Reader in University Teaching Methods at the University of Nottingham; he is also the national coordinator of academic staff training for the Committee of Vice‐Chancellors and Principals of the United Kingdom.

The course is approved by IRVAP (www.irvap.org.uk).

CEPT uses the facilities at Nottingham Veterinary School:

The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
The University of Nottingham
Sutton Bonington Campus
Sutton Bonington
Leicestershire
LE12 5RD
UK

Please note that the course is not academically affiliated with Nottingham Veterinary School nor the University of Nottingham.


How to Apply

Please direct all queries to CEPT using the enquiry form or our email at education(a)ceptraining.co.uk **

Use the enquiry form to find out more, or if you want to apply directly then please email your personal statement, full CV, and the details of two referees to Richard Payne at education(a)ceptraining.co.uk **

Applications from 10th June 2011 will be passed to the September 2012 entry.

All enquires must be sent to CEPT, not to Nottingham Veterinary School.

** CEPT antispam measure: please replace (a) with @ to generate our e-mail address.


   
 All material copyright Canine and Equine Physiotherapy Training (c) 2009 - 2011
  Site Map