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American Dry Needling Association™ Diploma

A New Standard in Modern, Evidence-Based Dry Needling

A structured program that shifts foundational instruction online so in-person training is fully dedicated to hands-on application, clinical reasoning, and skill development.

  • Full Color Manuals

  • Hands-On Labs

  • 2-Day Intensives

  • 75+ Hybrid CEU Hours

The Diploma Overview

A Structured Three-Course Diploma

Completed through three progressive courses that build from foundational technique to advanced clinical application.

Course

A-DNA-1

Appendicular Foundations and Technique

Introduces modern, western-based dry needling with an emphasis on safety, clean needle technique, dosing principles, and manual and electrical dry needling for upper and lower extremity conditions.

Course

A-DNA-2

Axial Applications and Pain Conditions

Expands application into the spine, headaches, temporomandibular dysfunction, and pelvic regions, with a focus on regional precautions, mechanism-based dosing, and treatment of more complex presentations.

Course

A-DNA-3

Advanced Applications and Clinical Integration

Covers advanced topics including peri-neural needling, neurogenic pain, hypersensitivity, pelvic conditions, and performance recovery using advanced clinical reasoning and electrical dry needling strategies.

What's Included

A Complete Clinical System — Designed for Modern Practice

Enrollment includes the full ADNA 1–3 diploma courses, structured hands-on training, and competency-based assessment — forming a complete, full-body system for modern dry needling practice.

  • ADNA-1, ADNA-2, and ADNA-3 Progressive Diploma Courses

  • 75+ Continuing Education Hours Across Three Intensives

  • Pre-Course Online Instruction Replacing In-Person Lectures

  • Two-Day Hands-On Format Designed to Reduce Travel and PTO

  • Full-Color Clinical Manuals and Treatment Protocols

  • Instruction Led by Experienced Dry Needling Clinicians

  • Manual and Electrical Dry Needling Across Full-Body Applications

  • Structured Safety, Dosing, and Clinical Decision Frameworks

  • Written and Practical Examinations for Skill Validation

The Difference

An Integrated Framework for Modern Dry Needling Practice

Dry needling is often taught as an isolated technique. This approach limits clinical consistency and long-term application. The American Dry Needling Association Diploma is structured around a clinical framework — emphasizing physiology, dosing, and decision-making so treatment can be applied with clarity across varied patient presentations.

Clinical Reasoning, Not Protocol Dependence

Treatment decisions are based on patient presentation and tissue response — not fixed point prescriptions or memorized protocols.

Mechanism-Based Application Across the Full Body

Intervention is guided by physiology and dosing principles, allowing consistent application across regions rather than isolated technique sets.

Designed for Consistency, Not One-Off Outcomes

The framework supports repeatable decision-making — particularly in complex or non-linear cases where standard approaches often fail.

Transformational Outcomes

Meaningful Clinical Impact at Every Level of Care

The American Dry Needling Association™ Diploma is designed to change how dry needling is understood, applied, and integrated into patient care—resulting in clearer clinical decisions, safer application, and more consistent outcomes.

For Your Patients

• More precise dry needling based on tissue type, neural involvement, and stage of healing

• Improved tolerance in sensitive, chronic, or complex pain presentations

• Better outcomes in extremity pain, spinal conditions, headaches, TMD, pelvic pain, and neurogenic symptoms

• Dry needling applied within a broader plan of care rather than as an isolated intervention

For Your Clinic

• Consistent dry needling application across providers using shared safety and dosing standards

• Reduced variability in treatment decisions through structured clinical reasoning

• Clear precautions and decision rules for higher-risk regions such as the spine, craniofacial region, pelvis, and neural structures

• Improved integration of dry needling alongside manual therapy, exercise, and regenerative medicine services

For You as a Clinician

• Greater confidence selecting targets, techniques, and dosing parameters

• Clear understanding of when to use manual versus electric dry needling

• Expanded capability to treat complex and multi-factorial presentations

• A repeatable, reasoned approach to dry needling that supports long-term clinical growth

Clinician Feedback

From Hesitant with Needles to Confident, Protocol-Driven Care

Clinicians completing the Dry Needling Alliance™ Certification report clearer decision-making, safer application, and more consistent outcomes across complex cases.

“The shoulder and elbow protocols changed the way I treat upper extremity pain. Clear, safe, and immediately useful.”

— Kendra M., DPT

“Ray’s dosing explanations and electric dry needling frameworks finally made the science make sense.”

— Jason R., DC

“The hands-on time was unmatched. I left ready to needle—and my patients felt the difference within days.”

— Maria T., ATC

Program Instructors

Learn From Leaders in Dry Needling & Regenerative Rehab

Instruction is led by practicing clinicians with extensive experience in dry needling, neuroscience, orthopedics, and advanced rehabilitation. Faculty emphasize safety, clinical reasoning, and real-world application grounded in evidence and daily practice.

Dr. Benjamin England

PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OBH™, ASP, Dip. A-DNA, Dip. FMR

Chief Executive Officer
Torrentia Founder/Owner

A fellowship-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy with extensive experience in orthobiologics, sports performance, and regenerative rehabilitation. Ben specializes in integrating advanced technologies with practical clinical protocols. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions”.

Dr. Raymond Butts

PT, DPT, PhD, MS, MAACP (UK), FAAOMPT, OBH™, ASP, Dip. A-DNA, Dip. FMR

Chief Innovation and Research Officer
Torrentia Founder/Owner

A Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Neuroscience with published research in neuromodulation and regenerative approaches. A worldwide expert in dry needling and research. Ray is known for bridging cutting-edge science with actionable rehab strategies. “I want to be the greatest walking-hits of what’s evidence-based.”

Dr. Brūs Layson

PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OBH™, ASP, Dip. A-DNA, Dip. FMR

Chief Operations Officer
Torrentia Owner

A clinical leader, educator, and patient advocate dedicated to elevating the standard of care while maintaining professional sustainability in Physical Therapy. Brus brings a refined, systems-based approach to patient care, navigating the complexities of neuro-orthopedic overlap and how to integrate advanced technology into assessment and treatment. His commitment to the future of the field is rooted in a mission to end professional burnout. By developing sustainable business models and structured career paths, Brus actively works to ensure that physical therapy remains a rewarding, long-term career for the next generation of providers.

Full Curriculum

A Structured, Full-Body Dry Needling Curriculum

The diploma includes extensive didactic instruction and hands-on lab training across extremity, axial, craniofacial, pelvic, and peri-neural applications. The modules below reflect the core clinical content taught across the three-course progression.

module

1

Dry Needling Safety & Contraindications

Clean needle technique, infection control, adverse event prevention, and foundational safety considerations for clinical practice.

module

2

Fundamentals of Needle Handling & Technique

Insertion angles, palpation strategies, patient positioning, and tissue targeting for safe and effective needling.

module

3

Manual & Electric Dry Needling Dosing

Evidence-based parameters for frequency, intensity, duration, and progression, including dwell versus dose concepts.

module

4

Physiologic Mechanisms of Dry Needling

Biochemical, biomechanical, neurophysiologic, and endocrine mechanisms relevant to pain modulation and tissue repair.

module

5

Upper & Lower Extremity Applications

Dry needling applications for common musculoskeletal and degenerative conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot.

module

6

Advanced Regional Safety & Precautions

Structured precautions and decision rules for cervical, thoracic, lumbar, craniofacial, and pelvic regions.

module

7

Spine Dry Needling (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar)

Protocol-driven approaches for axial pain, radicular symptoms, and myofascial dysfunction.

module

8

Pelvic & Sacroiliac Joint Applications

Dry needling considerations for pelvic pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and related lumbopelvic conditions.

module

9

Headache & Dizziness Mechanisms

Migraine, tension-type, cervicogenic headache, and cervicogenic dizziness frameworks.

module

10

Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)

Craniomandibular anatomy, dosing strategies, and electric dry needling integration.

module

11

Peri-Neural & Neurogenic Pain Strategies

Dry needling approaches for radiculopathy, polyneuropathy, facial nerve involvement, and neural sensitization.

module

12

Electric Dry Needling for Neural Modulation

Advanced dosing strategies using electric dry needling to support neural modulation and functional recovery.

module

13

Hypersensitivity & Complex Pain Presentations

Clinical strategies for patients with heightened sensitivity or poor tolerance to traditional dry needling approaches.

module

14

Women’s Health & Pelvic Applications

Dry needling considerations for incontinence, dysmenorrhea, and advanced pelvic presentations using safe reasoning frameworks.

module

15

Performance & Recovery Applications

Dry needling strategies for DOMS, workload management, and performance recovery in high-demand environments.

Don’t Leave Dry Needling to Guesswork

Start Your Dry Needling Journey With Skills That Improve Outcomes Immediately

With the American Dry Needling Association's™ Diploma, you gain a complete, systemized approach to manual and electric dry needling—built for modern rehab professionals who want clarity, safety, and real clinical impact.

FAQS

Still have questions?

Key details clinicians ask before enrolling

Who is this program designed for?

This diploma is designed for licensed and licensed-eligible rehab professionals involved in musculoskeletal and neuromuscular care, including physical therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other qualified clinicians, depending on state and professional regulations.

Do I need prior dry needling experience to enroll?

No prior dry needling coursework is required. The program begins with foundational safety, dosing, and technique principles and progresses systematically into more advanced applications.

How many CEUs are included?

Completion of all three courses includes 81 total CEU hours, combining didactic instruction and extensive hands-on lab training. CEU approval and credit type vary by state and profession.

How is the program delivered?

The diploma is a hybrid CEU program, completed through three 2-day in-person courses, with a strong emphasis on hands-on lab training. Each course also includes an 8-hour block of online didactic lecture. Each course builds on the previous one, expanding anatomical scope and clinical complexity.

Is electric dry needling taught?

Yes. Both manual and electric dry needling are taught throughout the program, with clear guidance on dosing parameters, progression, and clinical decision-making.

Are higher-risk regions such as the spine and pelvis covered safely?

Yes. Training includes structured regional precautions, contraindications, and safety frameworks for extremity, spinal, craniofacial, pelvic, and peri-neural applications.

How is competency assessed?

Competency is assessed through written exams and oral–practical skill evaluations designed to validate safe, effective clinical application—not just attendance.

How does scheduling work after registration?

After registration, participants receive detailed instructions for selecting course dates and locations. Courses may be completed sequentially as schedules allow.

Is this program aligned with current evidence and scope of practice?

Yes. Instruction is grounded in anatomy, physiology, and current evidence while remaining mindful of professional scope of practice and regional regulations.

What support is available after completing the courses?

Participants receive access to the Torrentia Tribe community, allowing for continued discussion, peer collaboration, and case-based learning beyond the classroom.

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