Due to the safety concerns provided by the current pandemic, it is a challenge to provide multi-day in-person needling courses across the country.  In response to these challenges we have adjusted the UBC Gunn IMS certification course to include both online and in-person components. The online components of training will be run throughout the winter and the in-person components are planned for the spring at our currently scheduled locations (subject to ongoing circumstances with the pandemic). In reformatting the course this way, the risk of disruption to training schedules is minimized and learning components that are not required to be done in person can be completed remotely.

The reformatted course is comprised of three parts – Part 1A, Part 1B and Part 2, and will cover all the material that was covered in the traditional UBC Gunn IMS Certification Course.

• Part 1A (online $1025) will run over the winter. It will include lecture material, training in the Gunn IMS neuropathic assessment, completion of the anatomy and theory exams, and the submission of a case study. This allows students to complete all the assessment requirements for certification, other than needling, over the winter.
• Part 1B (in-person $1100) is scheduled for the spring. It will include two days of assessment and dry needling skills.
• Part 2 (in-person $1100) will occur approximately two months after Part 1.  It will include two additional days of assessment and dry needling skills.

Courses are currently scheduled to take place in Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and the Greater Toronto Area (Burlington). Please see our course schedule for more information or apply here for training.

We are still accepting applications for the following Part 1 courses:
Burlington, Ontario - October 10-13
Vancouver, BC - October 22-25
Regina, Saskatchewan - November 7-10
Edmonton, Alberta - November 19-22

UBC Gunn IMS COVID-19 safety protocols have been developed to allow our courses to run while allowing for physical distancing and safe practices. The protocols have been developed according to principles established by Canadian health authorities, provincial health ministries and the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

All UBC Gunn IMS COVID Safety Protocols have been submitted for review by the UBC Faculty of Medicine approval process for re-entry for in-person education activities and have been approved by UBC Faculty of Medicine Safety & Risk Services.

Considerations made relating to COVID safety on our courses include:

• Medical masks will be worn at all times by all course attendees
• When course attendees are within 2 metres of each other, medical masks and faceshields will be worn (all PPE will be provided to course attendees by UBC Gunn IMS)
• Provision of well-ventilated teaching spaces
• Observation of maximum allowable number of people in teaching spaces as per local health authorities
• Daily COVID screening per local health authority self-assessment guidelines

Learn more about our certification course or apply now for training

Updated May 9, 2020 - Added downloadable checklist

Can I treat patients with Gunn IMS right now during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Currently there are many health advisories in place outlining when physiotherapy and medical services requiring direct patient contact are appropriate, including the appropriate use of PPE. We all need to review the relevant federal, provincial and licensing college regulatory statements and act in a socially and professionally responsible manner - that is our individual responsibility as health practitioners. Once we have complied with the advisories related to providing direct patient care, either as physicians or physiotherapists, in a general sense, we then need to consider any dry needling-specific issues.

If I deem Gunn IMS treatment to be both indicated and appropriate for my patient, is it possible to provide COVID-free interaction surfaces (plinth, skin, gloves)?
Yes. Standard Gunn IMS protocol is that we disinfect the plinth surface between every patient with appropriate disinfectant, practitioners wash their hands and wear gloves disinfected with hand sanitizer, the patient's skin is disinfected with alcohol swabs, and the needles are sterile.

On February 29th the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC) lifted the moratorium on applications to the dry needling roster.

There are only two institutions currently recognized by the CPTBC offering training for new applicants to register on the dry needling roster. UBC Gunn IMS is pleased to be one of them.

We have limited availability for  training commencing April 16th in Vancouver and are accepting applications. Our next training in BC is not scheduled to occur until October 22nd.

Please visit https://www.gunnims.com/certification.html for full details and to apply.
Full details from the CPTBC can be found here

Congratulations to all that completed their certification in Vancouver the past two weekends.