Vestibular Rehab Certificate for Clinicians: Foundation and Clinical Application

Training

INSTRUCTORS

Colleen Sleik PT, DPT, NCS

Jack Cervantes PT, DPT, OCS

Differential diagnosis in dizziness is key to effective treatment. The online portion of this hybrid course will provide the clinician with the foundational knowledge to improve understanding of vestibular function and the effects of vestibular dysfunction in patients presenting with dizziness, imbalance, and falls. The live weekend course focuses on training and refining clinical skills in assessment and treatment, differential diagnosis through large and small group activities, review of nystagmus videos, treatment progression labs, and case study analysis. This course will prepare the clinician through education and practice, to perform an efficient examination and develop an effective, evidence-based treatment plan for patients with dizziness. Approved for 22 contact hours for PT and OT, NYAPTA 24 contact hours

Course covers:

  • Pathophysiology of dizziness originating in the peripheral and central vestibular systems as well as cervicogenic causes
  • Recognizing and interpreting nystagmus videos
  • Principles of assessment and differential diagnosis of dizziness
  • Lab time for performing oculomotor exam, neuro screen, positional testing, and vestibular-specific functional outcome measures
  • BPPV: assessment and treatment techniques with instructor feedback
  • Clinical practice guidelines for peripheral vestibular hypofunction and translating that to treatment
  • Vestibular rehab lab to practice treatment, dosing, and activity progressions
  • Education on advanced practice vestibular topics

Instructional Methods: Demonstration, skills-check, large and small group discussion, video, case analysis

Educational Level: Intermediate; Delivery method: Live 

Learning Objectives

1. Develop skills to perform canalith repositioning maneuvers for posterior, horizontal, and anterior canal BPPV with proper technique.

2. Apply differential diagnosis in clinical decision-making utilizing special tests and screening assessments.

3. Develop vestibular rehab treatment plan for patients with vestibular hypofunction based on clinical practice guidelines.

4. Develop personalized evaluation template for utilization in patient care.

5. Apply vestibular evaluation template to case studies to improve confidence in utilization and clinical practice.

6. Apply vestibular rehab techniques to patients with central and cervicogenic dizziness.

7. Recognize that there are other causes of dizziness and list indications for referral to a clinician with further training in this area. A yellow and black logoDescription automatically generatedA green and black logoDescription automatically generated

Approved by the Wisconsin APTA for 22 contact hours (2.2 CEU’s) and New York APTA for 24 contact hours (2.4 CEU’s). Focus on Function Physical Therapy, PC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID#0000006328. This course is offered at 2.2 CEU’s, intermediate educational level, foundational knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Saturday 8am-5:30pm Sunday 8am-3:15pm
8:00-8:30 Introduction, vestibular anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology (.5 hour)

8:30-9:00 Nystagmus and goggles (videos) (.5 hour)

9:00-9:15 Red flags, contraindications, and precautions, c-spine clearing (.25 hour)

9:15-10:15 Posterior canal BPPV (1 hour)

10:15-10:30 Morning break

10:30-11:30 Horizontal canal BPPV (1 hour)

11:30-12:00 Anterior canal BPPV (.5 hour)

12:00-1:00 Lunch on own

1:00-2:00 Differential diagnosis (1 hour)

2:00-2:30 Vestibular hypofunction exam (.5 hour)

2:30-3:30 Case studies: differential diagnosis (1 hour)

3:30-3:45 Afternoon Break

3:45-4:30 Functional outcome measures in vestibular rehab (.75 hour)

4:30-5:00 Group discussion and individual work on creating personalized evaluation template (.5 hour)

5:00-5:30 Case studies (.5 hour)

 8:00-8:30 Review: BPPV diagnosis, treatment, differential diagnosis (.5 hour)

8:30-9:00 Vestibular hypofunction Clinical Practice Guideline (.5 hour)

9:00-10:30 Vestibular Rehab treatment: hypofunction, central, cervicogenic dizziness (1.5 hour)

10:30-10:45 Morning Break

10:45-11:15 Group discussion and individual work on developing plan of care template (.5 hour)

11:15-12:00 Case studies (.75 hour)

12:00-1:00 Lunch on own

1:00-1:30 What if treatment is not progressing? (.5 hour)

1:30-3:00 Advanced Practice Topics (1.5 hours)

3:00-3:15 Q&A (.25 hour)

When

Oct 4 - 5, 2025

Location

Waukesha
Wisconsin
United States

Info

Instructor: Colleen Sleik PT, DPT, NCS and Jack Cervantes PT, DPT, OCS / Focus on Function Physical Therapy, PC
Email:
Website: https://www.vestibularpt.com/bundles/Vestibular-rehab-certificate-for-clinicians-carroll-university

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