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Selection Procedure for the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) Programme

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary field of veterinary medicine that in recent years has become an integral component of the therapy of animals with orthopaedic and neurological diseases.

The training of qualified professionals in the field of physical medicine helps to improve the healing process of dogs after surgery or trauma and makes a significant contribution to rehabilitation and trauma prevention among working dogs and in dog sports. As our graduates learn to develop standardised programmes for dog rehabilitation, they play an important role in guaranteeing quality in the field of physical medicine while making an important contribution to animal welfare through optimal pain management in the context of physical medicine and animal-optimised training.

The Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) programme is a collaborative project between the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the University of Tennessee. The course curriculum follows the training programme of the Canine Rehabilitation Certificate Program at the University of Tennessee. The course is therefore regarded as an international training programme that concludes with official University of Tennessee certification as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. Participants who have successfully completed the entire curriculum are also awarded a certificate and title as “Akademische Expertin/akademischer Experte für veterinärmedizinische Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation für Hunde” (Academic Expert in Veterinary Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Dogs) in accordance with § 87a (1) of the Austrian Universities Act (Universitätsgesetz).

The Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) programme is aimed at the following target groups:

  • persons with a degree in veterinary medicine
  • students of veterinary medicine studying in at least the 10th semester

In the Republic of Austria, activities reserved for veterinarians, including but not limited to the examination of animals as well as diagnosis and treatment in accordance with § 4 of the Veterinary Practitioners Act (Tierärztegesetz), may only be carried out by veterinarians.

Any physiotherapy performed by laypersons can therefore only be provided in a supportive capacity as part of the diagnosis and therapy carried out by the veterinarian under his or her supervision. On 7 March 2014 (BMG 74120/0005-II/B/10a/2014), the Federal Ministry of Health expressly pointed out that independent medical treatment can only be provided by veterinarians; other persons, including those who may have undergone sound training, can only be called upon to assist in the treatment. A mere referral for treatment is not possible.

Application

Applications should be sent exclusively by e-mail to ULGPhysiotherapie@vetmeduni.ac.at. The following documents must be submitted along with the application:

Application form and confirmation of knowledge of the Veterinary Practitioners Act and of the legal situation in Austria (in German only):
Application form including information about and explanation of the Veterinary Practitioners Act for download (doc, 38 KB)

  • Application period: 1 October 2022 – 31 January 2023
  • Course starts: 1 March 2023 (e-learning modules)
  • Classroom teaching: 7 August – 12 August 2023
  • Final exam: tentatively in August 2024
  • Course fee: for participants from EU member states who have an internationally recognised tax number and for participants from non-EU countries: €7,495 (includes exam fee, goniometer and Gulik tape measure); for participants from EU member states who do not have an internationally recognised tax number: €7,495 (includes exam fee, goniometer and Gulik tape measure) + VAT of the respective country + (currently) €21.20 students’ union membership fee per semester

Curriculum

 

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