Aquatic Therapy
Certificate Program
East Carolina University
Graduate Certificate Program
 Intended for graduate students or practitioners who are
or intend to become Recreational Therapists or other
allied health professionals desiring advanced training
 Designed to prepare individuals to utilize diverse
therapeutic aquatic skills in clinical settings
 Curriculum is highly experiential and includes
instruction in a traditional classroom as well as a
therapeutic pool
Graduate Certificate Program
 12 credit hour curriculum
 Requirements:
 RCTX 5000 Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic rehabilitation (3ch)
 RCTX 5001 Applied Techniques in aquatic Rehabilitation (3ch)
 RCLS 5100 Aquatic Facility Management (3ch)
 Choose elective course (3ch)
 Approved by Certificate Director
 Prior to Certificate completion, students will be required to be certified
in CPR and First Aid
Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic
Rehabilitation
RCTX 5000
Develop competencies in Halliwick, WATSU®,
Bad Ragaz, Ai Chi, Ai Chi Ne, and other aquatic
therapy techniques
Learn properties of water, principles of Aquatic
Therapy, and movement mechanics
Clinical design, treatment options, risk
management, safety, leadership and training, and
facility design and management
Applied Techniques in Aquatic
Rehabilitation
 RCTX 5001
 Review diagnostic categories of orthopedic impairments,
neurological impairments, development disabilities,
musculoskeletal disorders and cardiopulmonary disorders
 Identify strengths/needs of specific patient types
 Identify appropriate aquatic therapy interventions
 Demonstrate aquatic therapy interventions related to specific
land-based issues
 Discuss documentation, reimbursement and the continuum of
care in aquatic therapy
The Classroom
 RCTX 5000 and 5001 are taught at Vidant Medical Center’s
Regional Rehabilitation Center in Greenville, NC
 Online course work throughout the semester
 Weekends at the pool (approx. 3 weekends per semester)
 Experiential training for competent development of
intervention skills and aquatic therapy knowledge
 Great preparation for the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute’s
(ATRI) Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification.
Therapeutic Pool
 Located at the Vidant Medical Center’s Regional
Rehabilitation Center in Greenville, NC
 State of the art aquatic facility
 93 degree water
 Lift and ramp accessible
 Aquatic equipment available for various populations
Developing Competencies
Water Breath Dance
WATSU® Technique
Bad Ragaz Technique
Ai Chi Ne
Developing Trunk Stability
Facilitating Trunk Elongation
To Get Started..
 All students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program or a
non-degree graduate student with a bachelor’s degree.
 For those not enrolled at ECU, to complete an online
application, please visit http://www.ecu.edu/csacad/gradschool/Admissions-Information.cfm
 Non-degree earning students may enroll as a “non-degree”
earning student to complete the certificate program
For more information, contact:
 Wendy C. Whisner, MS, LRT/CTRS
Certificate Director
whisnerw@ecu.edu
 donna Mooneyham, MAEd, LRT/CTRS
Course Instructor
thepoolguru@captjerry.com