International Diploma - MDT Programme

The Diploma Introduction

The Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® is awarded to participants who have qualified in accordance with the criteria approved by The McKenzie Institute International Board of Trustees and is designed to assess competencies in relation to the Diploma Curriculum.

Programme Outcomes

• Provide you with the highest level of competence in the theory and practice of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy of musculoskeletal disorders.
• Develop your skills in accessing, understanding and evaluating research relevant to Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.
• Enhance your understanding of your professional responsibilities, including legal, ethical and cultural issues.
• Enable you to promote critical analysis and clinical reasoning skills.
• Enable you to identify conditions that are suitable/unsuitable for mechanical therapy.
• Further develop your interpersonal and communication skills.

Attainment of the Diploma MDT will place you amongst the very best musculoskeletal 
clinicians worldwide.

Programme Overview

To gain acceptance into the Programme, you must first complete the Institute’s Education Programme, including a pass in the McKenzie Institute International MDT Credentialling Examination. Applicants must also be engaged in active clinical practice, hold registration in their respective country of residence, and be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

The Diploma MDT Curriculum consists of two Components: Theoretical and Clinical.

Theoretical Component

Comprises a Distance Learning module conducted by the University of Dundee, Scotland, in collaboration with The McKenzie Institute International. The module is over 1 semester and involves approximately 20 hours per week of self-directed learning. You will need to pass assessments in order to achieve success in this Component.

The Clinical Component

Consists of a minimum of 360 hours of clinical practice based on a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, and emphasising the importance of “the evidence” of the patient. You will be supervised by a qualified McKenzie clinician, known as a Clinical Educator (and appointed by The McKenzie Institute International), who will determine your proficiency over a series of formal and continuous assessments.

Currently the Clinical Component of the Diploma programme is offered in the USA, Scotland, Canada, Australia, Benelux, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden.

Programme Duration

Theoretical Component: One University Semester 
Clinical Component: 360 Hours

Note: Both components of the Diploma MDT programme must be completed within three years of commencement of the Theoretical Component.

Programme Details

Applications close: 19th October each year 
Course commences: January each year 
Maximum class size: 20 participants

Fully completed applications will be processed strictly in the order they are received.