Chronic Pain Management (Gr. Cert.) (15 credits)
Offered by: Phys and Occ Therapy (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)
Program credit weight: 15
Program Description
The Graduate Certificate in Chronic Pain Management is an interdisciplinary course-based program of 15 credits. The program focuses on a theoretical knowledge base in the most recent evidence-based neuroscientific and behavioural perspectives of chronic pain, advanced practice skills in the evaluation and assessment of chronic pain conditions and how to manage clinical chronic pain conditions with an interdisciplinary perspective and the biopsychosocial approach. The program is offered online with synchronous and asynchronous course activities, on a part-time basis, and can be completed within 2.5 years.
Required Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POTH 663 | Pain Assessment in Clinical Practice. | 3 |
Pain Assessment in Clinical Practice. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to definitions, models and concepts of pain management and their relationship to professional practice, including frameworks for mechanisms, assessment and management of pain and the evaluation of current research practice in pain management. | ||
| POTH 664 | Neuroscience and Behavioural Perspectives of Pain. | 3 |
Neuroscience and Behavioural Perspectives of Pain. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Basic neuroscience of pain and the interrelationship between psychological, physiological and environmental processes in pain, linking the anatomy and physiology to the psychological processes in the perception and expression of pain. | ||
| POTH 665 | Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Pain. | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Management of Chronic Pain. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Introduction to the principles of pain assessment, treatment and management,including the scientific basis for assessment, diagnosis and treatment, exploring pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the role of rehabilitation in pain management and other interventions. | ||
| POTH 666 | Common Clinical Pain Syndromes. | 3 |
Common Clinical Pain Syndromes. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Introduction to a range of pain conditions seen in the clinic. | ||
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
One of:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POTH 603 | Directed Practicum. | 3 |
Directed Practicum. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A tutorial with directed practical experience in a clinical setting related to the student's clinical specialization, including curriculum development, and emphasizing current thought in rehabilitation. | ||
| POTH 618 | Topics in Rehabilitation. | 3 |
Topics in Rehabilitation. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 This is a directed reading course on a topic in rehabilitation science. The student will acquire extensive knowledge in the topic of interest and understand the strengths and limitations of the current body of work in the area. | ||
or another 500-level or higher course (online or not) from a different university, as approved by the Graduate Certificate Program Chair.
NOTE: POTH 603 Directed Practicum. and POTH 618 Topics in Rehabilitation. are not online courses. They are directed tutorial courses that need pre-approval from the Graduate Certificate Program Chair. Students are encouraged to plan such courses with the instructor at least one semester before intended enrolment. For a complementary course at a different university, consult university regulation and resources for further information on transfer credits prior to enrolment.