Applicants need to have a keen interest in the treatment of pain, injury and soft tissue dysfunction. They need to be able to offer commitment to participation on this programme which has been designed to fit in with busy schedules.

There are no formal education requirements for participation on these physical therapy courses. Individuals with a prior qualification are free to enrol on any of the programmes.

You can enroll online by selecting the course and payment option which best suits your requirements on the right hand side of this page.

Alternatively you can contact us by telephone on 01 882 7777 (Dublin), 021 430 1222 (Cork), 091 530 888 (Galway), 074 912 1733 (Donegal) or 353 1 882 7777 (Belfast)

You may also download an enrollment form by clicking the 'Brochure' button above, and send completed forms to: National Training Centre, 15- 16 St. Joseph's Parade, Dorset Street, Dublin 7.

You may also contact us at anytime to discuss any queries you have or to arrange an appointment to visit our facilities.

All National Training Centre tutors are highly qualified individuals who hold a minimum of a Higher Diploma in Education and The Certiciate in Training and Continuing Education from NUI Maynooth. Many hold MSc.s in specialist fields. Our director, John Sharkey BSc., NMT, MSc., is an anatomist, exercise physyologist, neuromuscular physical therapist and a full member of the Medical and Science team of the Olympic Council of Ireland

In addition to following a strict code of ethics, all licensed Neuromuscular Therapists must be a member of a recognised professional body such as the Association of Neuromuscular Physical Therapists. Membership of this association allows a therapist's patients to benefit from health insurance payments. The combination of continuing professional development (CPD) and professional status will offer the reassurance which the public demand before a course of treatment commences. Patients will be able to verify the professional status of therapists using an on-line licensing register. Certificates awarded on successful completion are valid for life.

The cost of obtaining the National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy is €3,520.00 .

Fees can be paid by means of a deposit of €800.00 followed by eight monthly installments of €340.00 .

If the deposit is paid at least one calendar month prior to the course start date, the monthly installments are reduced to €310.00  per month, a discount of €240.00 .

A discount of €420.00  is available to individuals paying fees of €3,100.00  in full prior to course commencement date. Places on this programme are available on a first come first served basis.

This CCME course is an advanced Complementary Medical Educational (CME) programme involving Sports Massage and Soft Tissue Manipulation techniques including:

• Functional Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology   
• The Skeletal System
• Arthrokinematics
• The Muscular System
• The Blood and Circulatory System
• The Respiratory System
• The Nervous and Endocrine System
• Fascia and Myokinetic Chains and Links
• Overview of all other major systems applied to Physical Therapy
• Laws of European Neuromuscular Therapy
• Orthopaedic Sports Massage Techniques
• Postural Assessment and Range of Motion testing.
• Soft Tissue Release
• Myofascial Release
• Event Massage including pre and post event
• Positional Release
• Strain Counterstrain
• Muscle Energy Techniques
• Etiology, Formation and Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points.
• Neuromuscular Techniques
• Bodywork Nutrition
• Full Body Kinetic Chain Assessment
• Injury Scenarios and Differential Diagnosis
• Role of the therapist including professional conduct, ethical practice and setting up professional practice.
• Physical Therapy as a profession (Includes aspects of Clinical Practice)

Do I need to hold any other qualification in order to participate on this programme ?
No. As all physical therapy courses include primary anatomy and physiology, they are open to all.

What will I be qualified to do when I complete this course successfully ?
On successful completion you will be a fully qualified Neuromuscular  Therapist and as such will be professionally competent to offer treatment to relieve and elliminate pain, injury and dysfunction in muscle and soft tissue. Typically Neuromuscular Therapists will treat the type of everyday pain and injury most people experience at some stage of their lives such as back ache, restricted range of movement, chronic pain and muscular discomfort. Many graduates also work in a professional capacity with a variety of sporting teams.

What is the difference between Neuromuscular Physical Therapy and Physiotherapy ?
Physiotherapy is a broad based health care profession that has a special focus on acute musculoskeletal care of the physically active and also deals with a number of diverse medical fields, including oncology, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, rheumatology, respiratory and neurological illnesses and burn injury.

Neuromuscular Physical Therapy offers a special focus on chronic pain and injury including musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity but, unlike Physiotherapy, Neuromuscular Physical Therapy has a focus on the pathophysiology,  aetiology and treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points. Such specialisation allows students of Neuromuscular Physical Therapy  to examine these area in much greater detail than a student of physiotherapy. In fact there are no school's of physiotherapy in Europe that have yet formally embraced Myofascial Trigger Points  although many of our physioherapy colleagues have completed research in this area.

What are the differences between a Neuromuscular Physical Therapist and other physical therapists such as Osteopaths or Chiropractors ?
Practitioners of every stripe will have their own specific focus and a specific model for the treatment of pain and injuries, acute or chronic.

Osteopaths will have a focus on osteopathic principals and will offer, similar to a chiropractor, treatments such as high velocity thrusts.

The Neuromuscular Physical Therapist will utilise a sound knowledge of human anatomy (our director of studies is himself a gross anatomist) as a solid foundation for understanding pain with a special focus on chronic long standing injuries.

Will I be able to get a job in a pain/sports injury clinic
or in a hospital ?
Qualified Neuromuscular Therapists often work within multi-disciplinary injury clinics where therapists such as chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, Neuromuscular therapists etc. offer a variety of pain and injury solutions. This multi-disciplinary model normally consists of a great deal of cross referral whereby therapists refer patients to each other, depending on the therapists individual area of expertise, and, having determined which treatment model is likely to offer the best solution, decide collectively on the best approach. Individual therapists can establish a G.P. referral scheme in conjunction with a local medical practitioner whereby the doctor will refer patients with appropriate symptoms to the therapist and using the contra-indication skills gained through the qualification process, the therapist can refer their patients to the doctor when Neurmuscular and Physical Therapy may not be appropriate. Graduates who hold an existing medical qualification, in nursing for example, may find that they can combine their new skills with their existing skill set within the hospital environment.

Are there many jobs available for graduates at present ?
Most Neuromuscular therapists operate in a self employed capacity either as sole traders, as part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team, or with a variety of sporting teams. There are many opportunities for qualified therapists as individuals increasingly look outside of traditional medical disciplines for solutions to their health problems and as Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy is a complementary discipline and 100% science based, its appeal is broad. It must be pointed out that as with all professional qualifications at all levels, graduate appeal to patients will be result driven and their success from a business viewpoint will be in proportion to the time, effort and dedication they are prepared to offer their profession. Many National Training Centre graduates have started their careers on a part-time basis and have seen this aspect of their professional life overtake their full time career to become their primary or only occupation and source of income.

How much will I earn as a qualified therapist ?
The recommended fee for each 45 minute treatment session is €60.00. The number of sessions you decide to complete each week will be determined by your own commitment and the results you achieve. One of the best things about qualifying as a therapist is that you can decide how many hours a day you want to work and therefore regulate your own earning potential.

Will I need to get insurance ?
The National Training Centre's code of ethics insists that all Neuromuscular Therpay graduates who are actively working in the profession, hold a professional indemnity insurance policy which covers the therapist against legal action taken by a patient as a result of an injury received during treatment. Therapists who are working on private premises may also need to hold public liability insurance. The Association of Neuromuscular Physical Therapists (ANMPT), which all of our NMT graduates are entitled to join, has negotiated a very attractive professional indemnity block insurance policy which offers extensive cover with an annual premium of approx. €150.00

Is this qualification accepted internationally ?
Yes. Neuromuscular Therapists are free to offer their services worldwide. In some American states therapists are required to sit and pass a state licencing examination before being allowed to practice. The term Physical Therapist is a protected title by the Health Professions Council in the U.K. and can only be used by qualifeid Physiotherapists in that jurisdiction.

How long does this course last ?
The National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy is available as either a weekend or weekly study option. Due to holidays, bank holidays etc. the length of time between starting and finishing dates varies from course to course, however every weekend programme consists of fourteen tutorial weekends with an additional weekend for examinations, The Dublin Saturday course consists of twenty-eight tutorial days and two examination days while the evening programme in Dublin consists of forty-eight tutorial sessions and four examination sessions.

How much does this course cost ?
The National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy costs €3,520.00 (£3,075.00). There are no additional fees for exams, oils, towels, course notes etc. There is a €420.00 (£370.00) discount available to students who pay course fees in full prior to the course start date.

Can I pay by installments ?
Yes - students can opt to pay a deposit of €800.00 (£700.00) and eight installments of €340.00 (£296.88) if booking within one month of the course start date. If booking more than one month before the course start date the installments reduce to €310.00 (£270.63) per month.

Are there grants available to cover tuition fees ?
The National Training Centre is a FÁS approved training provider. National Training Centre’s approved Training Programmes and Trainers have been placed on the FÁS/EI National Register of Trainers.  The registration number of National Training Centre is 903336. Many of our students receive funding for part or all of their course fees through FÁS, the Department of Social Protection, Skillnets and local Employment and Development projects. Individual students must contact their local office to enquire about eligibility.

Do I have to participate in work experience ?
No. There is no requirement for work experience participation.

Can I move between day/evening and weekend courses and between venues ?
As the structuring of tutorial schedules contains differences between day/evening and weekend courses it is not possible to interchange. In some cases, and subject to availability, it may be possible to change from a day course to an evening course or visa versa. This change would be permanent when available. It may also be possible to change between venues, again subject to availability. Any requests for changes in venue or schedule must be made in writing to the Educational Committee of the National Training Centre and their decision is final.

Where is this course available ?
The National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy is available at the National Training Centre in Dublin, the Mardyke Arena, University College Cork, the National Training Centre in Galway , the National Training Centre in Donegal and Stranmillis University College in Belfast.

How will I be assessed ?
Students of the National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy are assessed through both written and practical examination at the end of each course. A small amount of final examination marks are achieved through continual assessment throughout the course.

What age group participate on this course ?
Students of all ages participate on the National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy.

What is the success rate ?
80% - to 90% of students participating on the National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy will successfully complete all of their final examinations on the first attempt. Of the remainder most will need to repeat one exam with a small number having to repeat more than one exam. Every individual's ability to succeed will be in direct proportion to the number of tutorials attended and the commitment and time and effort they are prepared to commit to their studies.

How much of the course is practical and how much is theory ?
The National Qualification in Neuromuscular and Physical Therapy comprises approximately 50% theory and 50% hands-on practical tutorials. Most tutorial sessions will contain both theory and practical aspects.