Course description
The OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Canine Hydrotherapy for Veterinary Physiotherapists has been designed specifically for veterinary physiotherapists.
The eTRACK course format offers the flexibility of online study and the opportunity to get ahead with your studies before attending Greyfriars for practical training. Attendance weeks are limited to 9-10 people maximum!
Ideally you should start online study at least 12 weeks before your planned attendance dates. You can register and start study immediately, if you wish to do so, by utilising our £750.00 TO START offer which gives you access to Part 1. The balance of your course fees is due no later than eight weeks prior to the attendance start date and, following payment, this is when we release your lectures for Part 2.
Total course cost £3,850.00 including VAT
Course calendar
13th – 18th July 2026
Course delivery
Part 1
Online lectures covering:
Applied Water Treadmill Techniques
First Aid
Canine Hydrotherapy Theory
Water Management
Revision tests and pre attendance assignments
Part 2
Release of online lectures covering:
Orthopaedic and neurological conditions
Online assignments and workbooks
Attendance for six days at Greyfriars
Applied Water Treadmill Techniques – two full day lecture
First Aid – half day practical
Pool Water Management – half day practical
Observed Practice unit – three full days in the hydrotherapy pool/treadmill
Discussion groups/case studies
Part 3
Submission of case study, final assignments and corrections
Instructors
Both our online and face to face education are delivered by the same experienced and highly qualified veterinary rehabilitation team of Greyfriars lecturers
Veterinary Physiotherapists
Kate Parsons
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners
Angela Griffiths
Practical training is also assisted by our team of senior hydrotherapists;
Greyfriars Training - UK Course Payment Plan
From 1st May 2023 Greyfriars are offering you the opportunity to enrol for the Level 4 Certificate in Canine Hydrotherapy for Veterinary Physiotherapists and opt to pay by instalments.
How it works…
You will be asked to pay the £750 deposit which gives you access to Part 1 of the course which is the online pre-attendance study. You will then pay ten monthly instalments of £315 per month. At the point of sign up you select the practical attendance week you wish to attend. You will be required to have paid at least five instalments or equivalent prior to starting the practical attendance week.
On successful completion of the course you will receive your Greyfriars Certificate and be submitted for your OCNLR qualification once full payment has been received.
We do not charge you any interest, just an admin fee to cover our costs.
Payments will be made using GoCardless. We will send you through a link to set this up. GoCardless will then automatically take £315 from your bank account on the same date each month for ten months.
You may clear the outstanding balance at any time if you wish to receive your certification as soon as you have successfully completed the course.
Failure to pay an instalment within 7 days of the due date may result in withdrawal of online access to Part 2/Part 3 or enrolment onto the practical training attendance week.
Total course cost - £3,850.00 including VAT
Included
Access to MOODLE – Greyfriars ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM
Training manuals
Practice dogs and equipment
All assignments, marking and tutor/assessor support
OCNLR registration and certification
Blended learning
Completion of e-learning lectures/webinars and pre-study revision tests are required prior to attendance at Greyfriars. You should plan your study time carefully and allow a minimum of 12 weeks for this although some people do complete this study more quickly.
We will schedule a ZOOM tutorial so you can meet your lecturers and fellow students. We can give guidance and support and you can ask for help with questions and assignments.
Practical training
There are six required practical training attendance days at Greyfriars. During the attendance part of this course you will have some evening homework/assignments to complete. After attendance there will be final assignments, case studies and vet reports to be submitted and passed in order to gain your qualification.
We start with a full day of Canine Anatomy revising what you have learnt online and moving forwards with your study. There are half day practical classes for First Aid and Water Management. And four full days in our busy hydrotherapy centre supervised and working alongside our senior hydrotherapists in the hydrotherapy pool or water treadmill. We ensure you achieve a minimum of twenty hydrotherapy sessions to complete your training log, you are assessed on at least ten sessions and complete case studies/notes for every hydrotherapy session. So you are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to start work as a hydrotherapist.
We make no apologies! This is a fast paced, mentally and physically demanding course. It is not an easy canine hydrotherapy training option. But once completed you absolutely know that you have been trained to the highest professional and ethical standards and can be proud to be part of the canine hydrotherapy community.
Accommodation / travel
Please enquire if you would like suggestions for accommodation or transport guidance. There is no public transport to Greyfriars (we are in the countryside the middle of a vineyard!) so you will need a car or to use a taxi/Uber – easily accessed from Guildford or Farnham.
Further training
Once you have completed the OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Canine Hydrotherapy for Veterinary Physiotherapists you would be eligible to join either NARCH or the CHA and would have the relevant treadmill qualifications required. Should you wish to further your study then you would be eligible for the Level 4 Award in Canine Hydrotherapy and the Level 4 Diploma in Canine Hydrotherapy.
The OCNLR Level 4 Award in Canine Hydrotherapy consists of the following units of which the learner must achieve 12 credits – 6 which are mandatory and 6 from either of the optional units:
Gait Analysis for Canine Hydrotherapy (3 credits) – mandatory
Canine Behaviour in a Hydrotherapy Setting (3 credits) - mandatory
Applied Hydrotherapy Pool Techniques for Canine Hydrotherapy (6 credits) – optional
Note: the gait analysis unit is a pre-requisite for this unit
Applied Water Treadmill Techniques for Canine Hydrotherapy (6 credits) - optional
Note: you will have already achieved these credits so you have the option to use them as prior credit or to take the Applied Hydrotherapy unit to widen your skill set and qualifications further.
These credits also count towards the OCNLR Level 4 Diploma in Canine Hydrotherapy. The additional units that make up the Level 4 Diploma in Canine Hydrotherapy are:
Applied Neurology and Biomechanics for Canine Hydrotherapy (6 credit) – mandatory
Applied Anatomy and Physiology for Canine Hydrotherapy (6 credits) – mandatory
Applied Orthopaedics for Canine Hydrotherapy (6 credits) – mandatory
Applied Neurological and Spinal Conditions for Canine Hydrotherapy (4 credits) – mandatory
Massage for Canine Hydrotherapy (3 credits) – mandatory
Want to get started? What next…
In order to get started please complete the relevant booking form and return it to training@greyfriarsrehab.co.uk. We will then send you through an invoice for the course deposit.
If you know the date you would like to attend for the practical element of the course please specify this on your booking form - this isn't required to get started.
On payment of the deposit you will be granted access to Part 1 of the course.
If you have specified wanting to be part of the payment plan, the payments will be scheduled to run monthly from the following month for ten consecutive months until the full amount has been paid.