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.

For practitioners with several years of experience as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist (not in hand therapy), we recommend the completion of the Introduction to Hand Therapy Course unless there is an existing comprehensive knowledge in hand and upper limb anatomy. A letter from an employer providing evidence of hand and upper limb experience and knowledge of upper limb anatomy will be required. 

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 analyse upper limb dysfunction and formulate differential diagnoses critically
• 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 meet Australian Quality Framework (AQF) Level 8 and are designed according to best practice education standards.

Courses are developed and presented by Accredited Hand Therapists.

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

There are four compulsory pre-course modules:

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

The modules are available in the portal approximately five weeks before the course.

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

To access pre-learning, please follow the steps below.

• Go to our website ahta.com.au
• Click on 'login', located in the top right-hand corner
• Enter your username and password and click 'login'
• Go to the 'My documents' tab
• Click on the'[COURSE NAME] Resources' to access the course materials
• Click on the 'events' tab to download your tax invoice.