Requirements

To be eligible to apply to become an AHT, you must be three years post-graduate Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, an AHTA Associate Member or hold a current Membership of an IFSHT recognised Association.

There are two options or pathways for Accreditation. Applicants choose one pathway: either Experiential or Academic. For an overview of the requirements of both pathways, you may view the video or read the information below.

Experiential pathway

1. Certificate of attainment in four (4) approved core courses

2. Certificate of attainment in two (2) approved elective courses or Certified Hand Therapist CHT (USA)

4. Minimum forty (40) hours of mentorship

5. Minimum 3600 clinical hours in hand therapy

6. All of the above (1 – 4) within a 5-year time-frame*

* Refer COVID-19 and parental leave pages on our website.

NOTE: Completion of a modalities course is no longer an essential requirement for the AHTA AHT credential for either Occupational or Physiotherapists.

Academic pathway

1. Completion of Masters in Hand and Upper Limb Therapy. Click here for a list of courses available.

3. Minimum forty (40) hours of mentorship

4. Minimum 3600 clinical hours in hand therapy

5. All of the above (1 – 3) within a 5-year time-frame*

* Refer COVID-19 and parental leave pages on our website.

NOTE: Completion of a modalities course is no longer an essential requirement for the AHTA AHT credential for either Occupational or Physiotherapists.

Approved courses

Core

AHTA Fundamentals of Hand Therapy
AHTA Advanced Open Trauma
AHTA Advanced Closed Trauma
AHTA Orthotic Fabrication Mobilisation

Elective

AHTA Orthotic Fabrication - Immobilisation
AHTA Arthritis Course
AHTA Elbow Course
Assessment and Treatment of the Wrist Course - K. Fitt & C. Goodwin
Pain Management Course: AHTA and the University of Sydney
Approved university modules (shown in the table below)

University	Unit/Subject Code	Unit/Subject Name
Auckland University of Technology	RHAB818	Pain: Mechanisms and Management
Auckland University of Technology	RHAB 806	Hand & Upper Limb Therapy
University of Melbourne	RADI90010	Radiology for Physiotherapists
University of Derby	7OT523	Hand Injuries: Mechanisms and Interventions

Other

If you wish to submit a request to the Credentialing Council to have the relevant Academic Course/s approved by completing the Application for Credit of AHT Electives form to the AHTA office.