Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Competency-Based Course

This intense, evidence-based, six-day course is designed for physical therapists, occupational therapists and MDs with experience treating patients/clients with vestibular deficits. The course consists of lecture and laboratory sessions with additional self-study sessions. All participants will be expected to demonstrate a
variety of skills to the faculty including 1) the oculomotor examination with emphasis on the identification of nystagmus and canal involvement, 2) balance, gait, fall risk and functional assessments, 3) appropriate treatment procedures for BPPV affecting posterior, anterior and horizontal canals for both cupulolithiasis and canalithiasis, 4) treatment procedures for unilateral and bilateral peripheral vestibular disorders, and 5) treatment procedures for central vestibular disorders including traumatic brain injury and stroke. Emphasis will be on utilizing assessment results to develop an effective treatment plan. The course will include written, video and practical examinations. Before enrolling in this course, it is required that participants have experience treating people with vestibular deficits and have completed a previous vestibular course.

Two certificates may be given in this course: one for attendance (CEUs) and one for achievement. It is our intent that the certificate of achievement signifies that, at the time the course was given, the student demonstrated proper performance of certain skills (based on practical exams) and understood basic information (based on the written and video exams) related to vestibular rehabilitation. The granting of the certificate of achievement in no way certifies that the student retains those skills and knowledge or applies them appropriately in the future.

Audience: This course was designed specifically for physical therapy and occupational therapy professionals. Other medical professionals may participate; however, we do give preference to physical and occupational therapists and MDs. We reserve the right to cancel a non-PT, non-OT or non-MD healthcare professional’s registration if we have a lengthy waitlist or overbooked course.

This course is not appropriate for physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, speech therapists, or athletic trainers.

For all registrants, especially if you are a not a PT, OT, or MD and you gain placement in the current year’s course, you are advised to delay arranging air travel until you have received separate, written confirmation from our staff that your placement has been confirmed and approved by our course director.

Level of Learner: Intermediate. Participants must have a minimum of one year of experience working with patients with vestibular dysfunction and should have taken and completed a course on vestibular rehabilitation.

Course Prerequisites: Although there are no required pre-course reading materials, it is strongly recommended that participants have a working knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the vestibular system. If participants would like to review vestibular rehabilitation prior to attendance,
the textbook Vestibular Rehabilitation, 4th Edition by Dr. Susan Herdman and Dr. Richard Clendaniel is available through multiple online bookstores and sites.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to identify the following:

1. Explain in lay terms the anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system.
2. Recognize and state the clinical significance of diagnostic studies and lab data.
3. Recognize and state the clinical significance of physical assessment and interview data obtained from medical records.
4. Identify from the medical records the signs, symptoms and co-existing problems of the client.
5. Recognize the significance of therapeutic regimes including medications, diet, and surgical procedures for the patient and for vestibular rehabilitation. 
6. Recognize disorders that may affect the vestibular system but are not appropriate for treatment by physical therapists
7. Perform and give rationale for appropriate evaluation procedures.
8. Interpret evaluation findings appropriately.
9. Based on evaluation findings and medical records, formulate and give rationale for plan of care.
10. Perform appropriate therapeutic procedures.
11. Demonstrate appropriate post-therapy evaluation and discharge planning.

• Richard Clendaniel, PT, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC
• Michael Schubert, PT, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
• Jennifer Christy, PT, PhD, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
• Laura Morris, PT, NCS, Endeavor Health, Chicago, IL
• Wendy Schoenwald, PT, OCS, WWS Physical Therapy PA, Doylestown, PA
• Courtney Hall, PT, PhD, James H. Quillen VAMC, Johnson City, TN
• Susan Whitney, DPT, PhD, ATC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
• Jeffrey Hoder, PT, DPT, NCS, Duke University, Durham, NC
• Carrie Hoppes, PT, PhD, The Geneva Foundation, Schertz, TX
• Kristen Janky, AuD, PhD, Boys Town Nat Res Hospital, Omaha, NE
• Lisa Heusel-Gillig, PT, DPT, NCS, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
• Eric Anson, PT, PhD, University of Rochester Med Ctr, Rochester, NY
• Sheelah Woodhouse, PT, BScPT, National Dir. Vestibular Rehab., LifeMark Health, Canada
• Janene Holmberg, PT, DPT, NCS, Intermountain Hearing & Balance Ctr, Salt Lake City, UT
• Karen Lambert, PT, DPT, NCS, Hearing Center of Excellence, Depts of War and Veterans Administration

Course Fees:

*Medical Physicians & OTs: MDs, please note that CMEs are not given for this course. OTs, please note that you must receive accreditation through your professional accreditation agency.

Included within the price of tuition:

• Single: Single room lodging (6 nights/7 days), 3 meals per day, daily snacks, course instruction, access to online course materials, 3-ring binder with lab sessions.
• Double: Shared lodging with another course participant (6 nights/7 days), 3 meals per day, daily snacks, course instruction, access to online course materials, 3-ring binder with lab sessions.
• Day only: Lunch meal, daily snacks, course instruction, access to online course materials, 3-ring binder with lab sessions.
   

• Course materials will not be printed for participants, with the exception of those materials required for laboratory sessions.
• In the week prior to the course, you will receive electronic access to course lectures & readings through an online platform provided by Duke University.
• During the course, Wi-Fi will be provided in order to access the week’s lectures and readings. You are encouraged to bring a personal laptop or tablet in order to view these materials.
• Participants who prefer a hard-copy of the materials, should print these prior to the course and bind them with a 3” 3-ring binder, and bring them to the course

Instructions and Policies:

• All registration must occur using the online registration/payment portal (coming the week of November 23, 2026). Paper registration will not be accepted.
• Full payment is due at time of online registration and may be made by credit card or check.
• Partial payments, “down payments,” or pre-payments are not accepted.
• Cancellations prior to February 1, 2027 will result in a full refund, less $350.00 per person/cancellation. Refunds will be issued within 30 days of the course’s end date.
• Cancellations on or after February 1, 2027 will result in loss of full tuition
• Cancelled or bounced checks will result in a $250.00 charge.
• Checks must be received within 10 business days of your registration, or your spot in the course will be forfeited.

FOR ALL REGISTRANTS, YOU ARE ADVISED TO DELAY ARRANGING AIR TRAVEL UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SEPARATE, EMAIL CONFIRMATION FROM RICHARD CLENDANIEL, PT, PHD, THAT YOUR PLACEMENT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

Course Location and Accommodations:

• Hotel accommodations at the Emory Conference Center Hotel are included within the price of a single or double tuition for 6 nights/7 days.
  Check-in is at 4:00 PM EST on the Sunday, March 7, 2027, prior to the first lecture on Monday morning.
  Checkout is between Noon – 2:00 PM EST on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
• The hotel reservation will be made for you by our office.
• Your hotel confirmation will arrive via email directly from the Emory Conference Center Hotel at least 4 weeks prior to the course date

• If you need an additional night at the hotel either before or after the course, please contact the Conference Center directly to make these additional arrangements.

  Emory Conference Center and Hotel 1615 Clifton Road, NE
  Atlanta, GA 30329
  T: (404) 712-6000
  F: (404) 712-6025
  http://www.emoryconferencecenter.com/ 

Flight Information: 

Flights into Atlanta will arrive at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which is located 25-30 minutes from the Conference Center. Please do not schedule a departure flight from Atlanta before 6:00 PM on the final day to ensure adequate time to arrive at the airport.

Ground Transportation:

In addition to Uber, Lyft and taxis, there are airport shuttle vans from the airport to the Emory Conference Center Hotel (stopping at other hotels as well).