ATRI Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification

Thank you for your interest in the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute’s Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise Certification. ATRI is a non-profit organization created to further the education of health care professionals working in the aquatic environment.

Who is the Certification For?  Competent, knowledgeable professionals in aquatic therapy, rehab and therapeutic exercise. The exam will test your ability to meet the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Standards to practice. The Standards are available on the ATRI web site and can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.atri.org/stflyer.htm. It will allow you to use the term “ATRI Certified” or the initials “ATRIC” after your name. The certification will not make you a therapist if you aren’t already one.

Onsite Exam Dates at ATRI Events:

Sunday, February 24, 2008 - Washington, DC (Fairfax, VA) - 1:00 pm Registration - Exam begins at 1:30 pm

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Chicago, IL (Rosemont, IL) - 1:00 pm Registration - Exam begins at 1:30 pm

Monday, June 30, 2008 - Fort Myers, FL - 5:30 pm Registration - Exam begins at 6:00 pm

Friday, July 4, 2008 - Fort Myers, FL - 8:30 am Registration - Exam begins at 9:00 am

Sunday, November 2, 2008 - Washington, DC (Fairfax, VA) - 1:00 pm Registration - Exam begins at 1:30 pm

Sunday, November 23, 2008 - Chicago, IL (Rosemont, IL) - 1:00 pm Registration - Exam begins at 1:30 pm

(Note: Dates/Times Subject to Change)

Click Here to Print Exam Registration Form

Click Here to Register for the ONLINE Certification Exam

Please Note: Once you have registered and paid for the Online Certification Exam, you will receive an e-mail from Linda Scott giving you the link to the online exam, your username and password, and some basic instructions to get you started on the exam. Every effort will be made to get this information to you as soon as possible. Linda's e-mail is Lscott255@yahoo.com - Please add it to your contact list.

Give the Online Certification Exam a Try. Click here for a Sample Exam - http://www.quia.com/quiz/1104395.html

ATRI Certified List. Names and e-mail addresses of those certified by ATRI.

The Exam. The exam will consist of approximately 110 to 130 written questions taken during three one-hour periods online (or three successive hours onsite at an ATRI Event). The questions will be made up of multiple choice and matching. Here is a sample question:

A client with MS working in an 82° F (28 C) pool will benefit most from:

a.  A thirty minute workout at 85% of heart rate reserve.

b.  A Watsu® session.

c.  A water walking program.

d.  Resistance training.

The exam tests the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Standards and includes knowledge regarding the following topics with the percentage of questions on the exam listed:
• Movement Mechanics and Science - 21%
• Aquatic Principles - 22%
• Aquatic Therapy Principles / Methods - 31%
• Professional Responsibility - 8%
• Safety and Risk Awareness - 14%
• Legal Considerations - 4%

Exam Fees. The fee to sit for the onsite exam is $255 (pre-registered). The fee to take the exam online is $255.   

Exam Preparation. Begin preparing by obtaining and reviewing the full definitions of the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Standards. The Standards are available on the ATRI web site and can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.atri.org/stflyer.htm.

Option 1 - No Study - If you’re confident about your knowledge in all aspects of the Standards, you can be confident about taking the examination without further preparation.

Option 2 - Self Study - A study guide, Essential Principles of Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation, is available as a guide to use for studying for the exam. It is a preview of materials presented on the exam and designed to go along with the following recommended study resources. These books are also a valuable addition to your professional library (books #2, 3 below). You may purchase Essential Principles first and go through the self-tests before deciding if you need the resource books. The resource books are needed if you want or need knowledge, not just a preview of testing.

1. Essential Principles of Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation – Study Guide (Sova)

2. Aquatic Fitness Professional Manual (AEA)

3. AQUATICS: The Complete Reference Guide for Aquatic Fitness Professionals (Sova)

These books are available through www.aqua-gear.com.

Option 3 – Hands-on Study – Since this certification is entry level, the ATRI course #1200-Intro to Aquatic Therapy and Rehab is recommended. Attending the ‘Intro” course on the first day of an ATRI Symposium or Specialty Institute, along with courses during the rest of the event, should be all you need for hands-on study and prerequisite hours.

Prerequisite. The prerequisite for this exam is 15 hours of Aquatic Therapy, Rehab and/or Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise education. It is preferable that the education is hands-on but online or correspondence courses also qualify.

Registration. To register for the exam, check the schedule of exam dates and sites listed to select those that will work best for you or register to take the exam online....Register Here

Confirmation.  A confirmation email will be sent within one week of your online registration.

For onsite exams, you must be on time for the exam. No visitors, books or notes are allowed. You may not transfer your registration to another person. Disruptive behavior or misconduct is not allowed. Water or a drink is allowed in the exam, food is not allowed.

Notification. If you take the exam online, you will get results and certificate (if successful) within 21 days.

If you take your exam onsite, your exam results will be emailed to the address on your registration form within four weeks after the exam date. To protect you, no scores will be given by phone or fax. To protect confidentiality, scores are never released to a third party. 

Cancellation/Rescheduling. The exam fee for online service is not refundable once the exam is begun.

The onsite exam fee less a $55 processing fee will be refunded to candidates who cancel in writing 21 days prior to the exam. No refunds will be made after that date.

ATRI has an onsite one-time-transfer-policy. Although refunds will not be issued after that date you may transfer your registration one time to another exam administration date. You must notify ATRI prior to the original exam date that you will not be present for that exam. Then send a written notification with a $25 check written to ATRI within 45 days after the original exam date.  If you miss this deadline you will forfeit your full exam fee. Give the date and location of the exam you will transfer to. You may not transfer your exam registration/fee to another person or to the online exam.

A rescheduled exam is not eligible for a refund.

Click Here to Register and Pay for Your Certification Renewal

Courses Available. Besides ATRI courses listed on our website, you can also earn continuing education units from other ATRI providers. Click Here for a List of ATRI Continuing Education Providers