Welcome to the Ola Grimsby Institute Manual Therapy Fellowship

For over 50 years, the Ola Grimsby Institute has been a global pioneer in orthopedic manual therapy education, empowering countless physical therapists across the U.S., South America, Europe, and Asia. Building on this rich legacy, we are proud to offer our newly streamlined 2-year Manual Therapy Fellowship, approved by AAOMPT/ACOMPTE, designed to elevate your clinical expertise to the highest level.

Program Overview

Our innovative 2-year Fellowship replaces the previous 1-year Residency and 1-year Fellowship model, delivering a comprehensive curriculum that covers:

•  Evaluation, Soft Tissue Work, Joint Mobilization, and Spinal Manipulation: Master advanced techniques from diverse global schools, tailored to individual patient needs.
•  Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progressions (STEP): Rooted in Norwegian Medical Exercise Therapy (MET), this integrated exercise curriculum ensures precise dosage, design, and progression for optimal outcomes.
•  Holistic Patient Care: Explore differential diagnosis, clinical reasoning, regional interdependence, movement systems, medical screening, pathology, imaging, nutrition, psychosocial influences, and chronic pain management.

With a focus on evidence-based practice and critical thinking, you’ll move beyond guesswork to deliver precise, impactful interventions.

Innovative Learning Experience
Leveraging a cutting-edge electronic database, our program offers self-paced learning, freeing up time for 100% lab-focused, hands-on training during three weekend campus visits per semester. Key components include:

•  150 Hours of 1:1 Clinical Mentoring: Personalized guidance from OGI faculty or clinical mentors.
•  440 Supervised Clinical Hours: Conducted at your work environment with ongoing faculty support via phone, email, or other methods.

Semester Structure
•  Semester 1: Begin with a Day 1 orientation, meet mentors, receive a personalized study plan, and master the digital learning portal.
•  Semesters 2-4: Immerse in intensive hands-on training, culminating in comprehensive written and practical exams.

Research and Advanced Credentials
Elevate your career with research opportunities, including literature reviews or case studies, subject to OGI approval. Publish your work by the end of year two, with potential progression to a Ph.D. via our third-year Clinical Specialization. In your first year, pursue the optional Doctor of Manual Therapy (DMT) degree, a stepping stone to:

•  FAAOMPT Credentials: Apply for Fellow status with the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT).
•  IFOMPT Recognition: Gain internationally respected U.S. membership.
•  APTA’s Highest Credential: The pinnacle of physical therapy education.

Tuition and Benefits
•  Tuition: $12,896, payable in four installments of $3,224.
•  Rebate: Past OGI program participants (Residency, COMT, Part I/II) receive a 25% discount, reducing tuition to $9,672 (four installments of $2,418).
•  Benefits: Upon completion, access advanced specialization and global recognition.

New Parallel Program: Seattle, January 2026
We’re excited to launch a parallel 2-year Fellowship in Seattle, starting with online meetings and hands-on sessions beginning in the second semester (January 2026). This program mirrors our current excellence, inviting therapists from partnering clinics and beyond to join a transformative journey. Secure your spot early!

How to Apply
Prerequisites: Active physical therapy license, practice in an orthopedic manual therapy outpatient clinic, two letters of recommendation, and APTA membership.

1.  Visit our Student Registration Portal to download and submit the Application Form.
2.  Receive and return the Enrollment Agreement via email.
3.  Make payments and begin your path to clinical mastery.

Contact Us
Ready to shape the future of manual therapy? Email us at office@olagrimsby.com or visit www.olagrimsby.com for more details. Follow us on Facebook for the latest updates!

AAOMPT Approved
As a Founding Fellow of AAOMPT, the Ola Grimsby Institute meets IFOMPT international standards, ensuring our Fellowship program is the gold standard in manual therapy education.

Course Dates and Cities:

Fellowship in Manual Therapy 2026 (Bellevue, Washington) January 10, 2026 – December 15, 2026

OGI Fellowship Program Outcomes

• 2015: 5 fellows in training enrolled, 5 graduated
• 2016: 19 fellows in training enrolled, 18 graduated
• 2017: 6 fellows in training enrolled, 5 graduated
• 2018: 5 fellows in training enrolled, 5 graduated
• 2019: 8 fellows in training enrolled, 7 graduated

–  Program is accredited through 2025

Survey results from past 5 years as of January 2020:

Have you interpreted and integrated current research of curricular relevance to the basic sciences present in the Fellowship Program? If so, how?

• 75% affirmative

Have you applied all goals and objectives taught in the OGI Fellowship program within your organization? Please state how.

• 50% affirmative

Are you implementing science and philosophy from various “schools of taught” in the field of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy?

• 100% affirmative

Are you continuing to assess values, reliability and validty of assessment procedures?

• 100% affirmative

Do you perform advanced orthopedic manual therapy assessments and special test procedures, understand and interpret radiology imaging, and blood panels, and how do you integrate this in the plan of care?

• 100% affirmative

Do you create and modify treatment techniques to comply with the individual patients, as to Soft Tissue Treatments, Stretching, Advanced methods of localization of biomechanical energy (locking techniques of extremities and spinal segments) for oscillations, articulations and manipulations?

• 100% affirmative

Are you implementing advanced, individual exercise progressions with reference to resistance, repetitions, speed, breaks, sets, concentric, and eccentric work, nutritional supplementation and exercise frequency?

• 100% affirmative

Do you assess the effect intervention and modifying it as indicated?

• 100% affirmative

Are you designing a research project and and developing a reserach hypothesis with a Phd?

• 100% negative

Are you teaching and mentoring advanced clinical skills in the field of Orthopedic Manual Therapy?

• 75% affirmative