Advanced Certification · Residency-Aligned
CERTIFIED
ORTHOPEDIC MANUAL
THERAPIST (COMT)
Advanced orthopedic training informed by our accredited residency curriculum - designed for clinicians seeking structured, specialist-level development with flexibility.
This is not generic manual therapy education. It's structured, reasoning-driven development aligned with the highest standard in our ecosystem — and one of only two COMT programs in New England.
184 Contact Hours
Hybrid · Virtual + Labs
14–24 Months
Licensed PTs
1 of Only 2 in New England
Program Outcomes
100%
OCS pass rate among participants who sat for the exam
9.5/10
Average participant rating for clinical impact
5.0
Overall program rating from verified participants
100%
OCS pass rate among COMT participants who sat for the exam
9.5 / 10
Average rating for impact on clinical practice
184 HOURS
Residency-informed contact hours
1 OF 2
COMT programs in New England
Who This Is For
Advanced Orthopedic Training, Without Pressing Pause
COMT exists for the clinician who wants structured, advanced orthopedic training without stepping away into a full residency. It's informed by our residency curriculum, on a schedule built around a full-time caseload.
Specialist-level development without pressing pause on your career or your paycheck.
Without the Residency
PTs seeking advanced orthopedic training without committing to a full residency.
While Working Full-Time
Clinicians balancing full-time clinical work with serious professional development.
Toward the OCS
Therapists pursuing OCS preparation through structured education.
Toward Leadership
Professionals aiming for clinical leadership or advanced roles.
What makes Highbar's COMT different
We don't lead with the tool — we lead with the why.
There is no national accrediting body for COMT programs. Most providers build to whatever standard they choose. We chose to build ours around our ABPTRFE-accredited orthopedic residency — informed by its curriculum, built on the same clinical-reasoning philosophy, and taught by many of the same faculty. COMT participants share selected coursework and weekend labs with residents.
That’s the real distinction. Nationally, a COMT is often a technique-accumulation course — a stack of manual skills to collect. Here it’s the opposite: manual therapy is taught inside a framework of clinical reasoning, examination specificity, and efficient decision-making. The goal isn’t more techniques. It’s precision — knowing when to intervene, how, and why.
You’re not buying a certificate. You’re entering a program built to change how you think, examine, and treat.
Program structure
What Completing This Actually Looks Like
184 contact hours, delivered in a blended model built around a working clinician's life. Self-paced virtual coursework you complete on your own schedule, paired with mandatory in-person weekend lab intensives where the hands-on work happens. Most participants finish in 14–24 months while working full-time throughout.
Curriculum Highlights
Advanced therapeutic pain management
Lumbopelvic, cervicothoracic, upper extremity, and lower extremity specialist coursework
Residency-informed examination, differential diagnosis, and complex case management across the spine and extremities
Advanced manual therapy — HVLAT, LVLA, mobilization with movement
Capstone / competency assessment
How It's Delivered
Self-paced virtual coursework — video curriculum plus live case reviews with faculty, on your own schedule
Mandatory weekend lab intensives — in person, where the hands-on work happens
12–24 months to complete, working full-time throughout
Capstone assessment to demonstrate competency
Included at Completion — No Additional Cost
OCS Prep Course access — — all domains of the ABPTS OCS exam, with case-based practice, question banks, and review sessions
The COMT designation — a credential that signals residency-informed clinical competency
Format
Hybrid — self-paced virtual modules plus multiple in-person lab weekends
Total hours
184 contact hours
Typical timeline
14–24 months, alongside a full-time caseload
CEU approval
APTA Massachusetts — recognized in all New England states
In-person labs
Highbar Physical Therapy, Cranston, RI
Who can attend
Licensed physical therapists in good standing
Credential earned
COMT — Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist
Included
OCS Prep Course access upon completion
Investment
$4,800 for external clinicians · full salary for internal participants
From clinicians who completed it
Rated 5.0 Out of 5
100% OCS pass rate among exam-takers. 9.5/10 for clinical impact.
5.0
Verified program participants
"I'd been in outpatient PT about 5 years and was looking to refine my manual skills and elevate my evaluation approach — this course did exactly that. It's a long commitment, but broken into manageable sections, and I'm so glad I took it. The change shows in my confidence as a primary MSK provider and in my patients' outcomes."
Kathleen Rafanelli, PT, DPT
COMT Graduate · April 2026
"Lectures were rich with relevant, evidence-based information I could apply immediately to my practice. The self-paced format with intermittent deadlines kept me from falling behind. A+ to the faculty for a program that has elevated my practice."
COMT Graduate
"Completing your PT education prepares you to be a general practitioner. Completing a COMT program or a residency prepares you to be an excellent one. I don't see how you work as a competent orthopedic PT without this kind of training."
COMT Graduate
How enrollment works
Two Ways In. They Work Differently.
Full salary while training is a compensation structure, not a discount.
COMT is open to both Highbar clinicians and external PTs, and the two paths work differently enough to spell out clearly. Highbar clinicians complete COMT on full salary — developing at a specialist level without sacrificing financial stability. External clinicians enroll at $4,800 tuition.
That’s what a teaching practice looks like from the inside, and it’s one of the more honest reasons to consider working at one.
How It's Delivered
01
Highbar clinicians (internal) — you complete COMT on full salary. Not a waived fee: paid time to train at a specialist level.
02
External clinicians — tuition-based enrollment at $4,800, including OCS Prep Course access at completion.
03
Employer reimbursement — we provide a detailed receipt and full course documentation for a CE stipend request.
04
Prospective hires — this is part of the offer, not an add-on. See careers →
COMT or residency?
Two Paths, Different Levels of Immersion.
The residency is our most comprehensive, immersive, and mentored pathway. COMT is a flexible, advanced certification informed by that same curriculum foundation — built for clinicians who want structured professional development without stepping away from full-time practice.
You're on this page
COMT
An advanced, structured certification delivered around a full-time caseload.
Format
Self-paced virtual coursework plus mandatory weekend lab intensives
Timeline
14–24 months, working full-time throughout
Accreditation
Residency-informed. Not itself ABPTRFE-accredited
Cost
$4,800 external · full salary for internal participants
How to start
Enroll directly — no application cycle
Best if
You want specialist-level depth without stepping away from your career or your paycheck
Curriculum
Informed by the residency curriculum; includes selected shared coursework and labs
The other path
Orthopedic Residency
The deepest, most selective commitment in the Highbar ecosystem.
Format
Immersive, with intensive one-to-one mentorship throughout
Timeline
14 months, full-time residency placement
Accreditation
ABPTRFE-accredited · 100% OCS pass rate
Cost
Salaried position
How to start
Application through RF-PTCAS, annual cycle
Best if
You can restructure your working life around training and want maximum immersion
Curriculum
Our full accredited curriculum, fully integrated into daily mentored practice
Still weighing it? Don’t force the decision on this visit. A 20-minute conversation with a member of our clinical faculty will get you further than another hour of reading.
Frequently asked questions
Before You Enroll
How long does the program take?
Most participants complete COMT over about 12–24 months, depending on pace, sequencing, and scheduled in-person labs.
Is this a residency?
COMT is not a formal ABPTRFE-accredited residency, but its scope and rigor are residency-informed – it’s informed by our accredited residency curriculum, built on the same clinical-reasoning philosophy, and taught by many of the same faculty – but it is not equivalent to the residency, delivered in a format accessible to working clinicians.
What does the COMT credential mean to employers?
It signals that you’ve completed 184 hours of advanced orthopedic clinical education and demonstrated competency through a capstone assessment — distinguishing you from clinicians with standard CEU credits.
What's included in OCS Prep access?
COMT graduates get access to Highbar’s OCS Prep Course — all domains of the ABPTS OCS exam, with case-based practice, question banks, and review sessions — included at no additional cost.
Can I do this while working full-time?
Yes. Virtual modules are fully self-paced; in-person labs are on weekends. Most participants work full-time throughout.
How does enrollment work for internal vs. external clinicians?
Highbar clinicians complete COMT on full salary; external clinicians enroll at $4,800 tuition. See how the two paths work →
Enrollment
Ready When You Are
Rolling enrollment — you begin the virtual coursework as soon as you register, and join the next scheduled lab weekend.
- 312 contact hours of residency-aligned orthopedic education
- OCS Prep Course access at completion, included at no additional cost
- Taught by board-certified OCS clinicians who treat patients in Highbar clinics every week
- Full documentation provided for employer CE reimbursement
Enroll
$4,800
Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) Program
- 184 contact hours
- OCS Prep Course access included
- COMT designation on completion
✅ APTA MA approved
🔒 Secure registration
Not ready to decide today? Schedule a call →
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REGION-FOCUSED CERTIFICATIONS
8-WEEK TRACKS · 5 SPECIALTIES
Go deep in one region over 8 structured weeks. Five specialty tracks with a hands-on weekend lab.
- Free for Highbar clinicians
$449
Weekend Lab Intensives
2 days · regional focus
Two full days of hands-on regional skill work, built for immediate Monday-morning carryover.
- Free for Highbar clinicians
You're Not Buying a Certificate
312 hours built to change how you think, examine, and treat — with OCS Prep Course access waiting at the end of it.