Virtual Upper Limb & Hand Therapy Fellowship
Clinical mastery and CHT exam preparation in one integrated program.
From Generalist to Specialist
A 12-month, post-professional fellowship for occupational and physical therapists specializing in upper limb and hand rehabilitation.
Offered in synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid pathways to fit your clinical schedule.
Open to therapists worldwide.
Now enrolling for the January cohort.
* You will receive an admissions decision by email within 48 hours.
If you do not see it, please check your spam folder or contact Mirella at mirella@virtualhandfellowship.com
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Program Overview
Structure & Accreditation
• 48-week upper limb and hand therapy curriculum delivered within a 12-month enrollment period
• Option to extend access to course materials for up to 18 months
• Designed as a post-professional program for licensed occupational and physical therapists
• Awards 21.7 AOTA-approved CEUs upon successful completion (Virtual Hand to Shoulder Fellowship, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider)
Learning format & core resources
• Available in synchronous, asynchronous, or hybrid pathways
• Weekly learning objectives and quizzes to reinforce key concepts
• Comprehensive lecture library with video and audio recordings
• Downloadable lecture outlines and reference materials
• Access to membership with a mobile app, supporting flexible study across devices and supplemental microlearning resources between clinical demands
Mentorship, community, and clinical reasoning
• Structured progression from foundational sciences to complex clinical reasoning
• Remote clinical mentorship to support integration of learning into practice
• Access to mentorship resources (e.g., guided templates, clinical reasoning tools, and implementation support)
• Regular opportunities for case-based discussion and Q&A with faculty
• Monthly Clinical Corner sessions featuring real patient cases and advanced clinical decision-making
CHT exam preparation
• CHT exam preparation integrated throughout the curriculum rather than as a separate course
• Dedicated focus on exam-style questions and content areas aligned with the CHT test blueprint
• Four CHT-style practice exams to support exam readiness, self-assessment, and targeted review
Hands-on and advanced learning opportunities
• Optional live weekend labs for applied orthotic fabrication and clinical skills*
• Optional virtual labs for learners unable to travel*
• Opportunities to observe and discuss complex clinical cases with experienced hand therapists and guest presenters
*Additional fees may apply for optional lab components.
Curriculum Design
Trimester I: Foundations
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Shoulder Anatomy & Biomechanics
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Elbow Anatomy & Biomechanics
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Wrist & Hand Anatomy & Biomechanics
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Neuroanatomy & Physiology
Trimester II: Pathology 101
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Pathology & Pathomechanics
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Clinical Exam
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Interventions, Procedures, & Rehab
Trimester III: Complex Pathologies
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Pathology & Pathomechanics
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Clinical Exam
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Interventions, Procedures, & Rehab
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Each trimester is a prerequisite for the next.
This scaffolded approach allows for the development of critical thinking skills.
Cohorts begin in January, April, and September
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*Application Required
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Recommended Text:
Skirvin, Osterman, Fedorczyk, Amadio, Feldscher, and Shin (eds). Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2021. *VHSF holds no financial interest in the recommended memberships or purchase of required text.
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The Virtual Hand Therapy Fellowship is intentionally designed as a progression from foundational knowledge to clinical mastery. Each stage builds on the previous one to support both high-level clinical practice and CHT exam preparation.
1. Knowledge
Fellows begin by consolidating and expanding their foundational understanding of upper limb anatomy, biomechanics, tissue healing, and physiology. Through structured lectures, guided readings, and formative assessments, therapists develop a coherent framework for interpreting clinical presentations and exam questions. The goal in this stage is not memorization, but organized, retrievable knowledge.
2. Confidence
As knowledge becomes more integrated, fellows apply it to case-based learning, structured discussions, and weekly learning activities. They begin to recognize patterns, anticipate clinical problems, and select appropriate interventions with increasing assurance. Confidence at this stage reflects the ability to justify decisions with sound rationale, both in the clinic and in response to CHT-style questions.
3. Competence
Competence emerges as fellows consistently translate knowledge and confidence into effective, patient-centered care. Through mentored clinical reasoning, progressive case complexity, and repeated opportunities for self-assessment, therapists refine their evaluation strategies, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome monitoring. Competence here is defined as reliable, reproducible performance across common and complex upper limb conditions.
4. Mastery
Mastery is not the absence of questions, but the ability to ask more sophisticated ones. In the final stage, fellows are challenged to synthesize evidence, clinical experience, and patient-specific factors to manage nuanced and atypical presentations. They learn to critically appraise interventions, mentor others, and contribute to advancing practice in their settings. This level of thinking prepares therapists not only to sit for the CHT exam, but to practice as specialists in upper limb and hand rehabilitation.
"We've been educated as generalists.
Our mission is to educate you as specialists."
Mission
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To advance expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and management of patients with upper extremity and hand impairment and disability.​
2
To develop leaders in the field who help bridge the gaps between practice patterns utilizing evidence-based practice and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.
3
To prepare physical and occupational therapists to sit for the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) examination.​
"We've been educated as generalists. Our mission is to educate you as specialists."
- Virtual Hand to Shoulder Fellowship
Virtual Hand to Shoulder Fellowship, LLC
Bridging a Knowledge Gap in Upper Extremity & Hand Rehabilitation
