Frequently Asked Questions

All cancellations must be submitted to the IPA in writing. Please explain the circumstances of the cancellation in a fax or e-mail to ensure a timely response. For cancellations up to 14 days prior to the course there is $100 penalty: $50 is non-refundable and non-transferable administrative processing fee, and $50 is transferable to another course offered by the Institute within 12 months of the date of the course for which you were originally registered. Only one transfer per deposit is allowed. For cancellations less than 14 days prior to the course, there are no refunds.

Registering online is a quick and efficient way to register for courses. A credit card is required to complete the registration (either full payment or a credit card guarantee). You will receive an email that is auto generated by the website which will contain registration confirmation, as well as course and local information. If you do not get this email, contact our office via email(info@instituteofphysicalart.com)or phone and we will make sure you are properly registered and recieve the information you need for your course!

The Institute of Physical Art will reimburse you if we have to cancel a course due to low enrollment, weather, or an emergency situation. If you are on the waiting list of a course and do not get in, we will not charge your credit card; if you paid by check we can send the check back to you or hold it as a credit for a future course.

Several years ago, the APTA did attempt to do a national approval process. It did not work out and they determined that state chapters would create their own guidelines for course approval. Many states require that PTs complete a certain number of continuing education hours in order to retain their licenses; but not all of those states require that the courses themselves be approved. However, in the states that require both CE units for PT licensure renewal and approval of CE courses (such as DC, FL, IL, MD, MN, MS, TX, and VA) all IPA courses are approved yearly. IPA has never been denied for continuing education credit in its 28 years as a continuing education provider.

Please check with your state chapter to determine what needs to be done for approval. Should you need any additional information, we will provide you with any information necessary.

The only way to hold a spot is with a credit card guarantee or payment for the course. As soon as you have registered for a spot in the course, the cancellation policy is in effect.

The Institute makes two half price spots available in each course for second time participants. These spaces are first come, first served. Please register early if you want one of these spots!

IPA courses are lab intensive so your absence means that your lab partner will not have anyone with whom to work. Please carefully consider any obligations you may have prior to registering for a course. In some cases exceptions may be made, however, you may not receive a completion certificate until the hours missed are made up at a future course. If you do need to leave early, please e-mail or fax your request and the Directors will review it.

If you are unable to complete a course the hours missed may be made up at future course. Please let us know where you would like to make up those hours and we will inform the instructor that you will be there. We try to maintain even numbers in all of our classes so if you would like to participate in labs you will need to bring a lab partner. This individual does not need to be a physical therapist. You will also need to bring your course manual with you.

The best way to start is by volunteering as a lab assistant. In general, you need to have taken a course twice before you can be considered for lab assisting as this helps to ensure that you know the material well enough to assist others during labs. In addition, we ask that you take a minimum of 3 IPA courses before starting to lab assist. If you are interested in volunteering as a lab assistant please send a letter of intent with your CV to the Institute. All lab assistants need to submit proof of liability insurance prior to the course for which they are lab assisting. Lab assistants have the potential to move into paid teaching positions at the discretion of the Directors. Therapists who have completed the Functional Manual Therapy Certification are given preference for teaching positions so becoming certified is one of the best ways to join our faculty.