PTA Certification

CMSK Certification Overview

Certification in Musculoskeletal Therapy — Your Path to Clinical Excellence

What is CMSK Certification?

4 Courses

44 Total Hours

1 Oral Practical Exam

The Four CMSK Courses

Four courses plus a virtual practical exam lead to your CMSK certification

Program Structure: 4 courses (11 hours each: 8 hours in-person + 3 hours online) followed by 1 virtual practical exam. Complete all to earn your CMSK Certification.

Therapeutic Exercise & Neuro Re-ed: Spine

Enhance your clinical judgement in utilizing and progressing therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular re-education for the cervicothoracic and lumbopelvic regions.

11 Hours Total 8 In-Person + 3 Online

Therapeutic Exercise & Neuro Re-ed: Peripheral

Progress therapeutic exercises and neuromuscular re-education interventions for the shoulder girdle, hip, knee and ankle/foot regions.

11 Hours Total 8 In-Person + 3 Online

Joint/Soft Tissue: Spine

Improve hands-on manual therapy skills including traction, graded joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization for the cervicothoracic and lumbopelvic regions.

11 Hours Total 8 In-Person + 3 Online

Joint/Soft Tissue: Peripheral

Master manual therapy skills including traction, graded joint mobilization, and soft tissue mobilization for shoulder girdle, hip, knee, and ankle/foot.

11 Hours Toal 8 In-Person + 3 Online

VIRTUAL EXAM

Virtual Oral Practical Exam

Demonstrate your mastery through a comprehensive virtual oral practical examination. Successfully passing earns you the CMSK credential.

Virtual Format CMSK Credential

CERTIFICATION

CMSK Certification for PTAs

Upon successful completion of all courses and the virtual practical exam, you’ll earn your Certified Musculoskeletal (CMSK) credential.

Professional Credential Career Advancement

2025-2026 CMSK Schedule

Portland, OR Location

Current Cohort Schedule

C-302: Therapeutic Exercise & Neuro Re-ed: Spine

April 25, 2026

C-303: Therapeutic Exercise & Neuro Re-ed: Peripheral

April 26, 2026

C-304: Joint/Soft Tissue: Spine

September 26, 2026

C-305: Joint/Soft Tissue: Peripheral

September 27, 2026

C-330: Virtual Oral Practical Exam

November 7-8, 2026

Upcoming CMSK Courses

C-304 PTA Joint/Soft Tissue: Spine

Access complete course syllabi here. Course Details This course is 1 day on-site (8 hours) plus 3 hours… View Full Description

Portland, OR

09/26/2026

Kat Burns, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

C-305 PTA Joint/Soft Tissue: Peripheral

Joint/Soft Tissue Peripheral: This course is designed for the Physical Therapist Assistant to enhance their clinical judgement and… View Full Description

Portland, OR

09/27/2026

Kat Burns, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Meet Your Instructor

Learn from an experienced FAAOMPT clinician and educator

Kat Burns, PT, DPT, COMT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist | Fellow of AAOMPT

Hello! My name is Kat Burns and I graduated with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2014 from Ithaca College. I became a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist (OCS) through Therapeutic Associates’ residency program in Eugene, OR, and went on to complete my Fellowship through NAIOMT, becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT).

As part of my specialty, I pursued further breathing education and became a Certified Breathing Behavioral Analyst through Breathe Your Truth (BYT). I have also done certification through the International Schroth Three Dimensional Scoliosis Therapy (ISST). I really enjoy working with patients one-on-one, teaching continuing education courses, and mentoring therapists.

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