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Physical Therapist

CNS CERTIFICATION

CERTIFIED NEURO SPECIALIST

The CNS® (Certified Neuro Specialist) Certification Course is an advanced-level continuing education course that covers evidence-based interventions for the stroke and brain injury populations.
This is a hybrid course that takes place online (SELF-STUDY, 20 hours) and in-person (LAB, 10 hours). Course participants have indefinite access to the SELF-STUDY portion of the course.

 

CNS is an internationally-recognized certification available to healthcare professionals from all nations. Specialists are equipped with certifiable knowledge and skills to provide effective interventions based on current, high-level evidence. Participants of the course will receive hands-on education on treating multiple systems, including the physical, cognitive, perceptual, psychosocial, and environmental systems. Moreover, participants will be introduced to new technologies and devices in neurological rehabilitation such as EMG technology and virtual reality.

Certified Neuro Specialist: Benefits

COURSE CONTENT

The CNS Certification Course emphasizes current, evidence-based interventions and strategies for neurological rehabilitation.
Participants will engage in a variety of hands-on workshops. Topics include the following:

  • Neurological Foundations

  • Evaluation Tools, Clinical Measures, & Imaging

  • The Physical System: Motor Control & Movement

  • The Perceptual System: Sensation, Vision, & Communication

  • The Cognitive System: Attention, Memory, & Executive Functions

  • The Psychosocial System: Emotion, Social Cognition, & Mental Health

  • The Environmental System: Home, Work, & Community Integration

  • Technologies & Devices: Orthotics, EMG, & Virtual Reality

Certified Neuro Specialist: Text

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

  1. Complete the CNS Certification Course:

    • SELF-STUDY: 20-hours of online content (self-paced)

    • LAB: 10-hours of hands-on learning activities (in-person)

  2. Complete the CNS Certification Exam (scheduled on your LAB date), and receive a passing score of 80%.

  3. The initial CNS Certification is granted for a five year period. Re-certification is required every five years.

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After the initial five year certification period, renewal is required to maintain certification status every five years. Individuals must provide documentation of the following continuing education (CE) requirements (24 hours total):

  • Minimum of 8 hours from any CNS-Advanced Course.
    Note: Practitioners who complete any CNS-Advanced Course will earn the designation "CNS-Advanced."

  • Remaining 16 hours of continuing education may be completed from any course related to neurological conditions or deficits.

  • If audited, applicants must submit evidence of continuing education hours. Approved documentation may include continuing education transcripts, letters, or certificates from organizations, courses, seminars, workshops, etc.

Certified Neuro Specialist: Text

CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the certification course, participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of upper motor neuron conditions using standardized assessments.

  • Develop best-practice intervention strategies across various systems: motor, sensation, cognition, language, psychosocial, and environment. 

  • Combine remedial and compensatory strategies to improve functional, biomechanical, and neurological outcomes.

  • Design comprehensive treatment plans that utilize innovative technologies and devices in clinical practice.

HOURS/UNITS (CEU)

30 contact hours (3.0 AOTA CEUs) for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants via the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider Program; please see the list of participating states at www.aota.org.

30 contact hours for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants through California Education Connection (Approval Number: CEC-1066) in the State of California and other states where pre-approval is not required. Please verify with your individual State Board for CEU/PDU eligibility.

The American Physical Therapy Association does not pre-approve continuing education courses. The Neuro Specialist Institute only seeks pre-approval from the Physical Therapy State Board for its host state. Individual participants are responsible for submitting documentation to their individual State Board for license renewal.

Important: This course involves 20 hours of Self-Study (i.e. "home study"); some State Boards limit the amount of home study hours participants may earn during their license renewal period.

The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

CONTACT HOURS: 30.0 hours

AOTA COURSE APPROVAL ID#: 02708
CA PT/PTA APPROVAL#: CEC-1066

FLORIDA BOARD OF OT#: 20-1245736 (CE Broker#: 50-44998)

FLORIDA BOARD OF PT#: CE25-1239706 & CE24-1225036

TEXAS TPTA APPROVAL#: 79365TX

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TARGET AUDIENCE

The certification course is intended as an advanced-level course for occupational therapists (OT), occupational therapy assistants (OTA), physical therapists (PT), and physical therapist assistants (PTA).
Other healthcare professionals interested in neuro-rehabilitation are welcome to attend (professional license and degree from an accredited college or university is required). Please verify with your State or National Board for CEU eligibility.

Certified Neuro Specialist: List

COURSE SCHEDULE

Fee: $875

Registration includes:
20 Hours of SELF-STUDY (Online, Indefinite Access)

10 Hours of LAB (In-Person)

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Please sign up for one of the following LAB dates.

Please allow up to 24 hours to verify your license and process your registration; you will receive a confirmation e-mail.

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Before registering and submitting payment, please review the following:
Important Information & Disclaimers, Terms & Conditions, and Privacy Policy.

By registering and submitting payment, you have agreed to all of the aforementioned items.

Sat, August 2, 2025

8:00 AM - 6:30 PM (Eastern) 
Orlando, FL

$875

Course Brochure

Venue: Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827

Venue Information:
Conveniently located inside the Orlando International Airport (MCO),
at the Hyatt Regency. Near The Walt Disney World Resort: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot Theme Park, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios, Legoland, and more!​

 

​$11.00 Self-Parking
$14.00 Valet Parking

Saturday, Nov 8, 2025

8:00 AM - 6:30 PM (Pacific)
Los Angeles/Orange County, CA

$875

Course Brochure

Venue: Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim/Garden Grove
12021 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Venue Information:
Located in sunny Southern California at the Delta Hotels by Marriott. Near Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. Also convenient to Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Legoland California, SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, and more!​

 

Complimentary Day Parking
$29.00 Overnight Parking 

Certified Neuro Specialist: Schedule

IMPORTANT INFORMATION & DISCLAIMERS

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

  • Full course attendance (SELF-STUDY & LAB) is required to earn the CNS designation.

  • Participants must complete the SELF-STUDY (20 hours) before the In-Person LAB (10 hours).

  • Labs must be completed in-person and may not be completed remotely. Participants must sign in and out each day.  

  • Hands-on participation is required for all labs. Participants must demonstrate proficiency in all labs (as measured by a competency checklist) to meet the CNS certification standards. The CNS Certification Course is an advanced-level course; participants  will be expected to develop, design, and integrate complex treatment protocols by the end of the course.

  • Participants must complete a final assessment (CNS Certification Exam) within 7 days of their scheduled lab date.

CERTIFICATION EXAM

  • There are NO extra fees for the CNS Certification Exam.

  • Participants must receive a passing score of 80% to obtain the CNS designation and earn continuing education credits.

  • Participants will have access to the web-based certification exam immediately after the in-person lab; participants must pass the exam within 7 days of their scheduled lab date.

  • Participants who do not pass the exam on the first attempt will have an opportunity to remediate on the same day.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, ACCOMMODATIONS, & VENUE

  • The Neuro Specialist Institute adheres to all Federal, State, and County regulations for hygiene and social distancing.

  • To attend our in-person courses/labs, participants must adhere to all Federal/State/County regulations; comply with safety protocols set by the venue; and sign a liability waiver (see sample).

  • Due to Covid-19, the course location/venue is subject to change in order to meet evolving regulations.

  • The Neuro Specialist is not responsible for any attendee expenses including, but not limited to, travel and lodging.

CANCELLATION & POSTPONEMENT POLICY

  • Participants will have immediate access to digital content for the SELF-STUDY component of the course. Therefore, all sales are FINAL and participants are not eligible for any refund.

  • Postponement: If participants wish to postpone their LAB date, they must notify The Neuro Specialist Institute in writing at least 90 days prior to their lab. A $150 postponement fee will apply. Postponement is not guaranteed and is dependent on availability. The Neuro Specialist Institute is unable to accommodate postponement requests made after the 90-day period.

  • No-Shows: Registrants who do not attend their scheduled LAB will forfeit their course fee, and are not eligible to complete the certification process.

  • To initiate the postponement process, please contact The Neuro Specialist Institute at info@neurospecialist.org.

DISCLAIMERS

  • CNS® is a certification mark that is federally registered and protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). All rights reserved.

  • The “CNS” designation indicates that a healthcare practitioner has completed advanced-level training in neurological rehabilitation through a series of workshops/seminars, and has successfully passed a certification examination. Certification indicates that a person has met the specific requirements of the certification process, but is not a guarantee of any treatment processes, results, or outcomes. The “CNS” designation does not expand a professional’s scope of practice. It does not qualify a healthcare professional to offer or provide professional services without appropriate licensure or credentials.

  • The Neuro Specialist Institute shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, or otherwise, whether an action in contract or tort and shall further not be liable for any lost profits, or direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses).

  • The Neuro Specialist Institute reserves the right to screen applicants prior to registration in order to determine if they meet professional, legal, and ethical requirements. Only applicants in good standing (not subject to any sanction, suspension, or disciplinary censures) and without history of any legal/ethical/academic disciplinary actions will be given consideration to take any course by The Neuro Specialist Institute.

Important Info

CNS WAITLIST

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