GLA:D Back Clinician Information
Upcoming training for clinicians
The next training session for clinicians to learn how to provide the GLA:D® BACK program will be October 21 & 22, 2023.
The training is offered virtually via Zoom. Day one of the training runs from approximately 7:45am until 2:30pm. Day two of the training runs from 7:45am until approximately 3:30pm.
The price for the weekend training course is $540 CDN. The link to register is: https://marketplace.ualberta.
For clinicians who completed the course for the pilot project in 2019, recertification to continue to provide GLA:D Back is required at a reduced fee of $270. The registration link if this applies to you is: https://marketplace.ualberta.
Who is eligible to become a GLA:D Back Provider?
Eligible GLA:D Back clinicians include physiotherapists, chiropractors and occupational therapists licensed in Canada. Each individual must have a minimum of 2 years of FULL TIME clinical experience in Canada including working with a chronic musculoskeletal population. If you are a kinesiologist or certified exercise physiologist who is already a certified GLA:D Hip & Knee clinician, you are also eligible to register for the course directly, as you have already met eligibility criteria through GLA:D Hip & Knee.
Other professionals may have the qualifications and experience to be eligible to provide the program and need to demonstrate this experience to the GLA:D Back Canada team. These professionals include:
- certified exercise physiologists (CSEP-CEP),
- kinesiologists with extensive experience working in rehabilitation clinics.
If you believe you have the relevant additional training and experience you will need to apply to take the course by providing a:
- CV that provides details on clinical work including clarification of the hours (e.g. full time or part time 20 hours per week),
- letter/job description that clearly outlines clinical experience,
- letter from their manager describing how you will work with this chronic musculoskeletal population within your employment situation.
Through this documentation each individual needs to demonstrate that they have:
- at least 2 years of FULL TIME independent clinical experience working with individuals with chronic disease, including working with individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions
- Note that time as a student or volunteer does NOT count towards this time requirement
- experience leading group education and exercise sessions.
Documentation needs to be sent to gladback@ualberta.ca.
The application will be reviewed by the GLA:D Back Canada team and the individual notified of their acceptance to register for the training course. Please do not register for a training course until you have received this notification.
Job descriptions/qualifications that do not typically meet the criteria are:
-
- Osteopathic training
- Athletic Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- individuals working under the direction of another health care practitioner (e.g. PTAs)
- individuals who run group based programming only (e.g. aerobic instructor, yoga instructors)
- individuals working exclusively with a younger/healthier clientele (e.g. sports or strength/conditioning instructors)