Fundamentals of Hand Therapy Course

This course is a core course suitable for practitioners:

• with one to two years of post-graduate experience in treating upper limb conditions, refer to the pre-requisites below
• looking to acquire additional skills required for a position in hand therapy
• wishing to up-skill and learn current best-practice
• wanting continued professional learning (CPD hours)
• undertaking to complete the Accredited Hand Therapist credential.

Participants must be qualified as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist and have: 

• a minimum of 2 years post-graduate experience in a hand therapy setting, or
• a minimum of 1 year post-graduate experience in a hand therapy setting with a letter of endorsement from a professional supervisor.

We recommend the completion of the Introduction to Hand Therapy course.

These prerequisites are based on our:

• experience delivering this course to hundreds of participants over many years
• responsibility to ensure that participants have optimal opportunity for success and learning.

After this course, participants will:

• describe upper limb anatomy (bones, ligaments, tendons, nerves, vessels and the lymphatic system) across the lifespan
• describe the biomechanics and typical movement patterns of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and digits
• apply anatomy, biomechanical and diagnostic imaging knowledge to critically analyse upper limb dysfunction and formulate differential diagnoses
• apply knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain and psycho-social consideration to manage upper limb disorders
• apply knowledge of healing time frames to plan an appropriate assessment and intervention.

AHTA courses aim to meet Australian Quality Framework (AQF) Level 8 and are designed according to best practice education standards.

AQF8 is equivalent to a Post Graduate Certificate or Diploma, requiring you to analyse critically, transfer information to complex and novel problems and work autonomously. 

Courses are developed and presented by Accredited Hand Therapists.

All presenters have undertaken a four-stage presenter training program.

You MUST* attend a pre-course webinar on how to use Canvas, an online Learning Management System. You will receive the details for this pre-course webinar via email. 

You MUST* have a laptop or desktop for this pre-course webinar and the course. You cannot use an iPad or iPhone.

There are four compulsory pre-course modules:

• Digits – Intrinsic and extrinsic
• Elbow and shoulder
• Nerves and vascular and
• Wrist and forearm.

We recommend that you commence the pre-learning as soon as possible.

* If you do not attend the pre-course webinar or have the correct equipment, the AHTA will not be able to assist you at the course or the exam, as this will impact the learning time of others in the group.

The AHTA uses an online Learning Management System (LMS) called Canvas. Refer to 'Pre-learning.' 

This will be your ‘online textbook’ for all course content – including videos, pictures, written content, references, and links to other web pages. 

When you have registered for the course, you will be emailed a link to enrol.

Once you receive this link, you are encouraged to create login details, ready to use on the day. The Home Page includes important information, such as Course Information, Assessment, and Help and Support. The Modules tab is where you will find the course content, including any pre-learning. Announcements are where the course presenters can communicate with you before or during the course. Discussion allows course participants to ask questions or communicate with the presenters and other course participants.