The ACE 3-day Dry Needling Course is the most comprehensive dry needling program available in Australia and New Zealand.

Comprehensive, evidence-informed training for safe and confident clinical practice.

Build the knowledge, practical skills and clinical reasoning to integrate dry needling safely and confidently.

The ACE 3-Day Dry Needling Course combines comprehensive self-paced learning with 24 hours of practical training over three days. You will learn dry needling applications for more than 56 muscles across all regions of the body, supported by experienced instructors and a capped class size that allows for individual guidance and feedback.

After completing the course, you will also receive free lifetime access to more than six hours of post-course video material, so you can revisit every technique taught during the practical workshop as you begin applying your skills in practice.

This course equips you with everything you need to start applying dry needling confidently on your clients immediately after completing the course. The program meets the requirements for professional associations and delivers a contemporary approach to dry needling that integrates current literature with practical application and sound clinical reasoning.

Why Choose the ACE Dry Needling Course?

➡️ A complete learning pathway. Prepare with online theory, consolidate your skills through three days of supervised practical training, then continue revising through the post-course video library.	➡️ Extensive hands-on practice. Develop your palpation and needling skills across all regions on the body, including 56+ muscles.
➡️ Clinical reasoning, not just technique. Learn when, where and why to use dry needling; and when it may not be appropriate, as part of a broader treatment plan.	➡️ Small-group support. Class numbers are capped to maintain an appropriate student-to-instructor ratio and create more opportunities for questions, feedback and supervised practice.
➡️ Evidence-informed education. Connect current scientific literature, anatomy, pain science, safety and hygiene with practical clinical application.	➡️ Ongoing resources and support. Lifetime access to the post-course video library, plus dedicated lifetime support from the ACE team for any questions after completing the course.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for suitably qualified allied health and manual therapy professionals, including:

Physiotherapists
Osteopaths
Chiropractors
Myotherapists
Occupational therapists
Remedial massage therapists

Course and insurance requirements can vary between professions and countries. Please confirm that your qualification, professional association and insurer allow you to undertake and practice dry needling before registering.

All ACE courses include a certificate upon completion that can be used to claim professional development points with your professional association.

How the course works:

Pre-course online learning
Work through the theoretical foundations of dry needling at your own pace, including musculoskeletal and neurovascular anatomy, myofascial trigger point physiology, dry needling principles, safety and hygiene. Completing this self-paced learning before the in-person course helps you arrive prepared and allows more time for practical training.
In-person practical training
Put theory into practice under the guidance of experienced instructors. Across 24 hours of practical training, you will develop needling technique, palpation, clinical reasoning and confidence through demonstrations, supervised practice, case discussion and feedback.
Post-course online review library and support
Use the online video library to revisit demonstrations, reinforce key concepts and refine your technique. You will receive free lifetime access to more than six hours of review material covering the techniques taught during the workshop. This post-course support allows you to refers back to the course material as you begin integrating dry needling into your practice.

See our 3-day Dry Needling course schedule here.

Plus, all participants receive 12 month access to world’s leading 3D Complete Anatomy app!

Learning Outcomes:

Exploration of myofascial trigger points Discuss the neurophysiological mechanisms associated with myofascial trigger points and their clinical symptoms and signs.	Mechanisms of trigger point dry needling Investigate and discuss the proposed evidence informed mechanisms of action for trigger point dry needling.	Literature review Synthesize and critically discuss the scientific literature relating to myofascial pain, trigger points and dry needling.
Peripheral and central sensitisation mechanisms Explore the mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitisation, including widespread myofascial pain syndrome.	Safety and hygiene procedures Apply appropriate safety and hygiene procedures during dry needling practice.	Cautions and contraindications for dry needling Discuss the cautions, contraindications, and potential adverse events related to dry needling.
Management of adverse events Establish strategies for managing potential adverse events associated with dry needling.	Informed consent for dry needling Effectively provide the relevant information and obtain informed consent from patients prior to performing dry needling.	Dry needling application Perform myofascial dry needling across all regions of the body with a high degree of safety, skill and competence.
Contemporary view of pain Integrate dry needling treatment with a modern integrative approach to pain science, education, manual therapy and exercise.	Musculoskeletal and neurovascular anatomy application Apply thorough knowledge of musculoskeletal and neurovascular anatomy to all body regions in preparation for dry needling.	Enhanced anatomical understanding Improve anatomical understanding and palpation skills by utilizing 3D anatomy software, detailed student notes and presenter led exercises.
Clinical reasoning for dry needling Understand and apply clinical reasoning for the incorporation of dry needling into a treatment plan, including recognising common referred pain locations and mechanisms of injury.	Confidence in needling anatomically higher-risk areas Needle anatomically higher-risk areas with confidence, guided by expert instruction. Employ clinical justification and patient centred reasoning in the process for selecting each needling location.	Dry needling stimulation techniques Perform a range of dry needling stimulation techniques to elicit appropriate and effective patient responses.
Practical palpation Improve palpation skills of key bony landmarks, muscles and neurovascular structures.	Dosage Discuss and apply a clinically reasoned approach to dry needling dosage in the context of treatment planning and design.	Case study and group discussion Engage in case study analysis and group discussion to consolidate learning and apply knowledge in practical scenarios.

What is included?

Comprehensive pre-course online learning
24 hours of practical training over three days
Free lifetime access to more than six hours of post-course technique videos
12 months of access to the Complete Anatomy 3D anatomy app
Course notes and a certificate upon successful completion
Ongoing access to the ACE student support team
A free RedCoral dry needling starter kit for participants attending courses in Australia

Still have questions?

See our frequently asked questions here.

Ready to register?

Register early to access the best available ticket price and secure your place.

Payment Plans

Payment Plans are available for ACE courses so you can spread the cost of your ticket over time. Select 'Pay over time' at checkout. A 30% upfront payment is required, followed by weekly instalments, with the final payment scheduled 3 weeks before the course date. Humanitix charges a $12 payment plan fee.

See our Payment Plan Policy HERE.

Cancellations, transfers and credits

We know plans can change. Before booking, please read the ACE Cancellation, Transfer and Refund Policy. If you need to change your registration, please contact ACE as soon as possible at admin@advancedclinicaled.com

See our Cancellation, Transfer and Refund Policy HERE.

Bring a friend and save

Want to bring a friend? Check out our Bring a Friend Policy for discounts when booking a course with a friend or colleague. Groups of two or more receive 10% off each. Please email us at admin@advancedclinicaled.com when booking to confirm eligibility and receive the next steps. See our Bring a Friend Policy HERE.

Repeat a course at a reduced price

At ACE, we provide you with the ability to repeat our courses at a heavily discounted rate (conditions apply). Please see our Course Repeat Policy HERE.

Have you undertaken dry needling training with another provider and walked away not as satisfied or confident as you had hoped?

Our Try ACE Policy supports those who have undertaken their dry needling training with another provider and felt that their experience was not satisfactory, allowing successful applicants to attend the ACE 3-Day Dry Needling course at half the normal price. Check out our policy and application process HERE.

Booking travel

If you need to travel to attend this course, please check with ACE prior to booking flights etc to confirm that the course will proceed. It is rare that courses need to be cancelled or postponed, but we want to avoid any unnecessary disruption to your plans.

English Language: Please note that proficiency in written and verbal communication in English is essential for participation in ACE courses. Being able to understand and communicate clearly in English is a requirement for safety purposes, and to ensure that you and your fellow students get the most out of your learning experience. If it is deemed that your English proficiency is not suitable for safe participation in the course, this may result in your registration being cancelled and you may not be eligible for a refund.

Contact the host of Dry Needling Course CHRISTCHURCH NZ (12-14 MAR 2027)