Dry Needling Foundation Course
18 Hours CE/CPD | Online Course with Paul Townley PT MSc
Dry needling has become an important skill within modern musculoskeletal rehabilitation, particularly when working with myofascial pain, trigger points, soft tissue restriction, and movement dysfunction.
Dry Needling Foundation Course is a comprehensive online CE/CPD course designed to provide rehabilitation professionals and athletic trainers with a structured introduction to trigger point therapy dry needling.
Presented by Paul Townley PT MSc, the course combines clinical reasoning, safety awareness, contraindications, patient selection, palpation skills, and step-by-step practical instruction across the major muscle groups.
Course Overview
This 18-hour CE/CPD course provides a practical foundation in trigger point therapy dry needling for qualified professionals where dry needling falls within their scope of practice.
The course introduces key concepts in myofascial pain and trigger point assessment before progressing into safety, contraindications, clinical reasoning, and practical needling techniques.
With professionally produced video instruction, a fully illustrated course text, and detailed demonstrations covering major muscle groups, the course is designed to help practitioners build a safer, more structured, and clinically informed approach to dry needling.
What You Will Learn
Topic Focus Trigger Point Foundations Myofascial pain, trigger point behaviour, and clinical relevance Assessment and Palpation Locating trigger points and interpreting tissue response Needling Safety Contraindications, precautions, risk awareness, and safe application Clinical Reasoning Case history, differential thinking, and patient selection Practical Needling Techniques Introductory dry needling approaches and step-by-step applicationCourse Content
The course is structured to build confidence gradually, beginning with trigger point theory and clinical reasoning before moving into practical needling instruction across major muscle groups.
Course Area Practical Emphasis Trigger Point Theory Understanding trigger points, referred pain, and myofascial dysfunction Clinical Assessment History taking, palpation, clinical reasoning, and treatment planning Safety and Contraindications Understanding risk, precautions, and safe clinical decision-making Needling Technique Developing foundational handling, positioning, and practical technique skills Muscle Tutorials Step-by-step demonstrations covering major muscle groupsWho This Course Is For
This course is intended for rehabilitation professionals and athletic trainers where dry needling falls within their professional scope of practice.
It is particularly suitable for clinicians seeking a structured foundation in trigger point therapy dry needling, including safety, contraindications, assessment, clinical reasoning, and practical needling application.
Important: If you are unsure whether dry needling falls within your professional scope of practice, please consult your local licensing board or regulatory authority before enrolling in this course or performing dry needling techniques in clinical practice.
About Paul Townley PT MSc
Paul Townley is an experienced neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapist and dry needling educator with more than 20 years of clinical experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, manual therapy, and elite sports consultancy.
He holds an MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and has professional memberships with MACP and IFOMPT. His teaching combines practical dry needling instruction with a strong emphasis on clinical reasoning, safety, assessment, and evidence-informed practice.
Included With This Course
Included Details Video Instruction Approximately 5 hours of expertly produced online video training Course Text Fully illustrated 180-page course text Companion Course Additional learning support and structured course reinforcement Muscle Tutorials Step-by-step tutorials for major muscle groups Subtitles English, French, German, and Spanish subtitles included Final Exam and Certificate Online exam and certification for 18 hours CE/CPD Lifetime Access Study at your own pace and revisit the material anytimeCE Finder
This course has been approved for continuing education by numerous professional boards and associations worldwide. Scroll sideways to find your board or association.
Course: Dry Needling FoundationsApprovals Listed: 45
CE Broker Provider: #20-1132170 Scroll right to view all approvals in alphabetical order → Alaska Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Arizona Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Arkansas Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Approved Hours
18 British Acupuncture Council Approved Hours
18 Canadian Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) Approved Hours
7.2 CEU/CPD Self-Cert Approved Hours
18 Chinese Medicine Board of Australia Approved Hours
18 College of Acupuncturists of Alberta Approved Hours
18 College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncurists of British Columbia Approved Hours
18 College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncurists of Ontario Approved Hours
18 Connecticut Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Florida Board of Acupuncture Approved Hours
18 Florida Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Georgia Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Georgia Composite Medical Board (Acupuncturists) Approved Hours
18 Hawaii Board of Acupuncture Approved Hours
18 Hawaii Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Idaho Physical Therapy Licensure Board Approved Hours
10 Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Physical Therapy Committee Approved Hours
10 Iowa Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Kansas Board of Healing Arts (Physical Therapy) Approved Hours
10 Maine Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professions (Physical Therapy) Approved Hours
10 Michigan Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Mississippi Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Missouri Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Montana Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Approved Hours
18 Nebraska Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners Approved Hours
10 North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Oregon Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Rhode Island Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 South Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 South Dakota Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Tennessee Board of Acupuncture Approved Hours
18 Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Texas Board of Physical Therapy (TPTA / TBPTE) Approved Hours
10 Utah Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Vermont Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Virginia Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10 Washington Board of Acupuncture Approved Hours
18 Wyoming Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
10
Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.
Trigger Point Dry Needling - IMS
Professional Reviews & Feedback
The reviews below represent feedback provided by students and practitioners through Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me.
★★★★★ 4.8 average rating across reviews collected via Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me“A very clear and clinically useful course. The explanations around trigger points, needling rationale, and safety were excellent.”
Adrian L., PT“The course helped me understand dry needling within a broader neuromuscular and clinical reasoning framework.”
Monique S., DC“Excellent content for practitioners who want a more structured understanding of IMS and trigger point dry needling.”
Brent C., ATC“The anatomy review was detailed and highly relevant. I appreciated the careful emphasis on safe clinical application.”
Elaine R., MD“A strong professional course. The material was practical, well organised, and presented with appropriate clinical caution.”
Jonathan M., PT, DPT“The IMS principles were explained in a way that connected well with everyday musculoskeletal practice.”
Nadia H., DC“I found the discussion of trigger point physiology and referred pain especially useful for assessment and treatment planning.”
Russell T., ATC“The course strengthened my understanding of where dry needling may fit within a wider rehabilitation approach.”
Priya D., MD“Excellent explanations, strong visuals, and a sensible clinical tone throughout.”
Graham W., PT“The safety and anatomical precision sections were particularly valuable. This was a very worthwhile course.”
Celeste A., DC“A clear, practical, and professionally presented course for clinicians working with persistent myofascial pain.”
Marcus F., ATC“The course helped clarify the differences between dry needling concepts and other needling traditions.”
Leah P., MD“Very useful for integrating trigger point dry needling into a responsible clinical decision-making process.”
Simon K., PT, DPT“The course gave me a better appreciation of patient selection, precautions, and clinical reasoning.”
Alicia V., DC“The explanations were concise but thorough. I especially valued the focus on anatomy and tissue safety.”
Derek N., ATC“A professional and well-paced course. The material was clinically relevant without overclaiming outcomes.”
Marina G., MD“The material helped me connect trigger point presentation with neuromuscular dysfunction more clearly.”
Evan B., PT“Very helpful for reviewing indications, precautions, and the reasoning process behind needling decisions.”
Tessa J., DC“The course improved my confidence in discussing dry needling concepts with athletes and clinical colleagues.”
Kyle O., ATC“Clear, structured, and clinically grounded. The safety-first approach was exactly what I was looking for.”
Rachel Y., MD“The content was detailed enough for clinical use but still easy to follow. Excellent continuing education.”
Harriet E., PT“A useful course for clinicians wanting to understand IMS from both an anatomical and functional perspective.”
Dominic U., DC“The clinical examples helped connect the theory to real treatment decisions.”
Fiona Q., ATC“A thoughtful and professionally delivered course. The emphasis on scope, safety, and clinical judgment was very important.”
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