20 Courses to Future-Proof Your PT Career

For 20 years, HomeCEU has provided quality continuing education to therapy professionals.

As we celebrate this milestone during National Physical Therapy Month, we're looking toward the future. The healthcare landscape is constantly shifting, with rapid technological advances and new research emerging daily. How can you, as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, build a strong, lasting career in the profession you love without feeling overwhelmed? 

The key is to embrace lifelong learning and strategically build skills that will remain in demand for years to come. By focusing on specialized areas, you can enhance your expertise, increase your value, and approach the future with confidence. 

This guide highlights 20 continuing education courses designed to help you do just that. From mastering complex orthopedic injuries to understanding the nuances of trauma-informed care, these courses provide the foundation you need to thrive in the evolving world of physical therapy. 

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Specialize in high-demand orthopedic and manual therapies 

Musculoskeletal issues are a primary reason people seek physical therapy. Honing your skills in these core areas will ensure you remain an indispensable part of your patients' recovery journeys. 

1. Achilles Tendon Rupture: Therapy Considerations 

With Achilles tendon ruptures on the rise, staying updated on the latest treatment practices is crucial. This course explores the anatomy, diagnostic techniques, and evidence-based rehabilitation protocols for both surgical and nonsurgical management, ensuring you can guide patients to an optimal recovery. 

2. Communicable Diseases: Transmission, Prevention & Public Health 

Effectively differentiate, analyze, and treat carpal tunnel syndrome using evidence-based manual techniques. This course equips you with the therapeutic skills to provide targeted care for patients with this common nerve compression disorder. 

3. Rotator Cuff Injuries and Interventions: A Physical Therapy Perspective 

Disorders of the rotator cuff are the most common source of shoulder pain. This course gives you a solid, evidence-based understanding of examination and treatment to help individuals regain function, prevent further injury, and weigh conservative care against surgical options. 

4. Get Your Foot in the Door: Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation 

From athletes to office workers, foot and ankle injuries are incredibly common. This course provides current, research-backed insights into non-operative and post-operative rehabilitation for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, with video clips to help you immediately integrate key skills into your practice. 

Address Complex Conditions and Vulnerable Populations 

Developing expertise in niche areas allows you to serve patients with complex needs, setting you apart as a go-to practitioner. 

5. Assessments & Interventions for Children with ASD from Birth and Beyond 

Gain a deeper understanding of the most current diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). You'll learn to use family-centered frameworks to provide direct interventions and coach families, helping each child reach their greatest potential. 

6. Rehab Considerations with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) 

Move beyond the misconception that EDS and HSD are just joint hypermobility disorders. This course explores the multiple systems affected, helping you identify these patients and apply effective rehab strategies for long-term beneficial results without feeding into fear-avoidance cycles. 

7. Innovative Interventions to Treat Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

This course provides insight into the impairments associated with common intellectual and developmental disabilities in adults. Through case studies and videos, you will learn assessments and interventions that promote engagement, skill development, and quality of life for this unique population. 

8. The New Geriatric Patient: FUNctional Rehab for Balance and Fall Prevention Training 

Today’s aging population is more active than ever. This course dives deep into functional rehab and the kinetic chain to help you integrate the three systems of balance. You'll discover creative therapeutic exercises to reduce falls and improve stability in this growing patient group. 

Expand Your Expertise into Growing Practice Areas 

From sports medicine to postpartum care, these growing fields offer exciting opportunities to expand your services and attract new clients. 

9. Introduction to Golf Rehabilitation & Performance: 90% Mental, 90% Physical 

With 25 million Americans playing golf, there is a huge need for clinicians who understand the sport's unique physical demands. This course covers golf-specific biomechanics, evaluation techniques, and strategies to help golfers of any skill level recover from injury and improve performance. 

10. Management of Sports-Related Concussions: Staying Ahead of the Game 

Concussions are among the most complex injuries in sports medicine. This course provides a comprehensive guide to concussion management, from sideline evaluation and neuropsychological testing to rehabilitation techniques and return-to-play protocols. 

11. Nurturing New Beginnings: An Integrated Therapies for Postpartum Health 

Address the unique physiological and psychological needs of postpartum patients. This course offers a comprehensive overview of postpartum conditions, contraindications, and effective manual therapy techniques for both c-section and vaginal deliveries. 

12. Evidenced-Based Pediatric Yoga Tools for Children with Developmental Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Sensory Modulation Dysfunction 

Learn to adapt the principles of yoga to treat children with attention, sensory, and developmental disorders. This course provides evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies to impact functional goals related to breathing, strength, balance, and motor planning. 

Master foundational skills for modern healthcare 

In an interconnected and rapidly changing world, certain skills are universally valuable. These courses strengthen your ability to navigate public health challenges, ethical dilemmas, and complex diagnoses. 

13. Communicable Diseases: Transmission, Prevention & Public Health 

The threat of communicable diseases is constant. This course addresses common and emerging diseases, modes of transmission, and preventive measures to control their spread, empowering you to protect your patients and community. 

14. Getting Started with Wound Care Basics 

Many new health professionals feel uncomfortable with wound care. This course will educate you on how to complete detailed wound assessments, identify debridement methods, and choose basic dressings, giving you confidence in this essential skill. 

15. Components of Ethics for Physical Therapy Professionals 

Ethical behavior is a fundamental component of physical therapy. This course provides a broad overview of ethical principles, standards of conduct, and a decision-making framework for analyzing ethical issues, using case studies and specific APTA policies. 

16. Differential Diagnosis in Physical Therapy: Upper Extremity and Lower Quadrant 

With the rise of autonomous practice, differential diagnosis skills are more important than ever. This seminar teaches you to screen for diseases and syndromes that are not of musculoskeletal origin and determine the best course of action, whether it's treatment or referral. 

Embrace the future of rehabilitation 

Technological advancements and new therapeutic models are changing how we approach patient care. Stay ahead of the curve by embracing innovation. 

17. Latest Developments in Locomotor Training 

Rehabilitation research has made huge strides in improving walking ability. This course informs you of the latest developments in locomotor training, from new treatment paradigms to technological gadgets like robotics and advanced treadmills, and shows you how to implement them in your practice. 

18. Chronic Pain Management: Non-Opioid Therapies 

With chronic pain affecting one in five people, effective non-opioid therapies are essential. This course explores the complexities of pain, common non-opioid pharmacological therapies, and the integration of behavioral and cognitive principles to manage pain effectively. 

19. Understanding and Implementing Trauma-Informed Care for Clients in Pain 

Explore the principles of a trauma-informed healthcare system. This course reviews the impact of chronic pain and trauma, discusses professional boundaries, and explains polyvagal theory to help you promote better outcomes for your clients and yourself. 

20. Interprofessional Assessment and Treatment of Deficits from COVID-19 

Healthcare professionals are treating growing numbers of clients with the post-acute effects of COVID-19. This course introduces strategies for assessing and implementing treatment for compromised lung function and other physical and cognitive symptoms, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration. 

Build a career with confidence 

The future of physical therapy is bright for those who are prepared to adapt and grow. By investing in your skills, you’re not just earning CEUs. You’re building a resilient, rewarding, and future-proof career. Explore these courses and more to continue your journey of lifelong learning. 

Ready to take the next step? Discover HomeCEU’s dedication to excellence with CE courses developed for physical therapists, by physical therapists. Unlock unlimited access to hundreds of on-demand courses today.