Shockwave Therapy Education
Continuing Medical Education & Regenerative Medicine Training for Shockwave Therapy Specialists
Master evidence-informed radial and focused shockwave therapy through flexible online learning, live webinars, hands-on training, advanced certification pathways, and international educational events.
Whether you’re introducing shockwave therapy into your practice or expanding into advanced musculoskeletal, pelvic health, sexual health, sports medicine, rehabilitation, or regenerative medicine applications, Wasabi Method provides practical education that translates directly into better patient care.
Validate your clinical knowledge with internationally recognized shockwave certifications designed for healthcare professionals seeking structured education and practical competency.
Learn at your own pace with comprehensive online shockwave therapy courses featuring video instruction, treatment protocols, downloadable resources, and lifetime access.
Stay current with the latest clinical research, treatment protocols, case discussions, and expert Q&A sessions delivered live throughout the year.
Join focused educational seminars covering specialty topics including musculoskeletal medicine, pelvic health, sports medicine, regenerative medicine, and practice implementation.
#shockwavetherapy #longevity #inflammation
Reverse Tissue Aging w/ Shockwave Therapy Education
Q&A with Dr. Adam Gavine @BiohackingConference
Shockwave Therapy Education is at the core of this featured Biohacking Conference presentation by Dr. Adam Gavine, Founder of Wasabi Method. Designed for medical shockwave therapy professionals, this Shockwave Therapy Education video Q&A session explains in plain English what shockwave therapy is; the science of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and radial pressure wave therapy (RPW); and regenerative medicine training.
Learn strategies to integrate shockwave therapy into modern evidence-informed practice ➜
FAQs
Shockwave Therapy Education Hub
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy, formally extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive modality that delivers acoustic pressure pulses through the skin to stimulate healing in tendons, ligaments, muscle, bone, and select vascular or urologic tissue. The mechanism is mechanotransductive: the pressure wave induces controlled microtrauma and cavitation at the cellular level, which upregulates growth factor expression, promotes neovascularization, stimulates fibroblast and osteoblast activity, and reduces nociceptor sensitivity at the treatment site.
The technology originated in urology in the early 1980s for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of renal calculi.
Musculoskeletal applications followed in the 1990s, with the FDA granting approval for focused-wave devices in 2002 and radial-wave devices in 2007.
Two distinct wave technologies exist: focused ESWT, which concentrates high-energy waves at a precise depth using imaging guidance, and radial ESWT, which disperses lower-energy waves radially across a broader superficial area. The distinction matters clinically – focused devices are indicated for deeper structures and calcific pathology, while radial devices are generally reserved for superficial soft tissue conditions.
Do you have to be certified to do shockwave therapy?
There is no single federal license labeled “shockwave certification” in the United States. What governs shockwave practice instead is a combination of (1) the practitioner’s existing professional license and scope of practice, and (2) accepted international clinical standards for who may treat which conditions.
Per the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST) prerequisites, a diagnosis must first be established through clinical examination, imaging, and, where indicated, neurological or laboratory workup. Only a qualified physician (one certified by a recognized national or international shockwave society) may then apply focused shockwave therapy to a diagnosed pathology. This is a clinical and liability standard, not a government mandate, but it is the standard insurers, malpractice carriers, and referring physicians expect to see documented. Formal certification through a body such as SWSNA also satisfies continuing medical education (CME) and continuing education requirements many state boards use for license renewal.
Who can train in shockwave therapy?
Shockwave training programs, including SWSNA’s, are generally structured for two populations: licensed healthcare providers (MDs, DOs, DCs, DPMs, PTs, NPs, PAs) and unlicensed clinic support staff (medical assistants, PT assistants, massage therapists) operating within their employer’s scope of practice and applicable state delegation rules.
ⓘ The device technology and treatment indication determine who may deliver the therapy (only licensed medical providers may offer focused shockwave therapy to patients in the U.S.; radial and superficial applications may, in some states, be delegated to trained support staff under appropriate supervision).
How much does it cost to get certified in shockwave therapy?
Costs vary by program depth. Didactic-only online courses tend to run in the low hundreds of dollars; comprehensive programs that combine didactic coursework, live hands-on training, device-specific protocols, and CME/CE accreditation typically range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars. Programs affiliated with a national shockwave society, offering ongoing case consultation, and covering diagnostic criteria alongside treatment protocol generally command higher tuition than single-day device-vendor trainings, reflecting the added CME accreditation and clinical governance.
Contact Wasabi Method for current shockwave therapy program tuition costs and check their events calendar for future training options.
Can anyone do shockwave therapy?
No. Shockwave therapy directed at a diagnosed pathology requires a licensed medical provider’s clinical judgment (establishing the diagnosis, selecting appropriate wave technology and energy level, and monitoring outcomes).
“Therapy is a treatment method used to heal an illness, injury, or mental health condition.”
Certified medical staff can administer superficial or radial treatments under physician or licensed-provider delegation and protocol, but they are not permitted to independently diagnose or determine treatment candidacy.
Unlicensed personnel may administer radial pressure wave (RPW) as an elective procedure provided they have given informed consent and the procedure does not directly make unfounded claims to treat any specific condition(s).
Can you be board certified in regenerative medicine?
Can you be board certified in regenerative medicine?
Yes. The American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM) offers a Diplomate credential (DABRM) to board-eligible physicians, requiring completion of a board certification review course, a written examination (with an oral component added for U.S. physicians as of 2022), and periodic recertification — certification is currently time-limited to five years. The American Board of Anti-Aging/Regenerative Medicine (ABAARM), administered through A4M, offers a comparable written-and-oral pathway plus CME and case-submission requirements.
ⓘ Wasabi Method offers a comparable written-and-oral pathway plus CME and case-submission requirements for board-certified regenerative medicine doctors for specialty shockwave therapy certification.
Who is qualified to do shockwave therapy?
Qualification has two components: professional licensure appropriate to the treatment context (MD, DO, DC, DPM, PT, NP, or PA, depending on the condition treated and state scope-of-practice statutes) and completion of shockwave-specific training covering indications, contraindications, wave selection, and dosing protocols. A physician’s general medical license alone does not confer competency in shockwave application any more than it confers competency in any procedural skill — hands-on, device-specific, and diagnosis-specific training remains essential, which is the rationale behind formal continuing education pathways like SWSNA’s certification tracks.
Is there a CPT code for shockwave therapy?
Yes, though coding depends on energy level, anesthesia requirement, and body region. Commonly used codes include:
0101T: Extracorporeal shockwave, musculoskeletal system, not otherwise specified, high energy
0102T: Extracorporeal shockwave requiring anesthesia other than local, lateral humeral epicondyle
0019T: Extracorporeal shockwave, musculoskeletal system, low energy
28890: Extracorporeal shockwave, high energy, involving
the plantar fascia, with ultrasound guidance
0512T / 0513T: Extracorporeal shockwave for integumentary wound healing
0864T: Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave involving the corpus cavernosum (low energy)
Most musculoskeletal ESWT codes are Category III (temporary) codes, and many commercial payers and Medicare Administrative Contractors classify ESWT as investigational for a number of indications, resulting in variable or absent reimbursement. For this reason, many U.S. clinics operate ESWT on a cash-pay or membership basis rather than billing insurance directly.
ⓘ In 2026, Wasabi Method now offers CME training and affiliate guidance for evidence-informed ESWT-related CPT billing best practices. Clinics should verify current payer policy and local coverage determinations before billing, as coding guidance is periodically revised.
How much does a session of shockwave therapy cost?
Cash-pay pricing in the U.S. typically ranges from roughly $50 to $500 per session depending on the indication (orthopedic vs. urologic/aesthetic), wave technology (radial vs. focused), geographic market, and whether the session is bundled into a treatment package. Most evidence-based protocols call for a series of three to six sessions spaced one to two weeks apart rather than a single treatment, which meaningfully affects total cost of care. Patients should be counseled on the full course cost up front rather than the per-session price in isolation.
ⓘ Note: pricing figures above are general U.S. market ranges for context, not confirmed SWSNA/Wasabi Method program pricing
Can a physical therapist do shockwave therapy?
Yes, physical therapist do shockwave therapy within scope of practice and typically for radial/superficial soft tissue applications such as plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, or myofascial trigger points.
ⓘ Physical therapists generally are not the diagnosing provider for conditions requiring focused ESWT or imaging-guided treatment of deeper or calcific pathology; that remains within physician (or, in some states, chiropractic/podiatric) scope.
What is the biggest problem with regenerative medicine?
Standardization is the field’s central unresolved problem, encompassing both cell-based products and elective shockwave therapy in regenerative medicine—whether applied alone or as an adjunct to biologics. Potency, viability, and processing protocols vary widely for cell-based interventions, while shockwave parameters like energy flux density, pulse frequency, and treatment intervals are equally nonstandardized; no uniform national standards exist for dosing, characterization, or outcome reporting across either approach. High-quality RCT evidence remains thin relative to the volume of clinical use, especially for stem cell and exosome products as well as for shockwave therapy used with or without cell-based therapies, and direct-to-consumer marketing for these treatments substantially outpaces the evidence base.
Do you need a license to use shockwave?
You need an appropriate healthcare license to use shockwave therapy on patients when treating a diagnosed condition and/or when using a focused shockwave device, though as of 2026 there are no separate government-issued shockwave licenses. The accepted professional standard – reflected in ISMST prerequisites and adopted by the US national shockwave society, SWSNA – is that focused shockwave therapy directed at a diagnosed pathology should be performed only by a physician holding recognized shockwave certification, while delegation of certain superficial or radial applications to trained, licensed non-physician providers is permissible depending on state law.
ⓘ Shockwave devices are FDA-cleared Class II medical devices, and most manufacturers and state regulations require that treatment occur under the oversight of a licensed provider (MD, DO, DC, DPM, PT, NP, or PA, per state scope-of-practice rules) practicing within their defined scope.
ⓘ Shockwave Therapy Education Disclaimer
Wasabi Method provides professional education for licensed healthcare providers and unlicensed medical staff. CME activities and professional certifications are available only to individuals who hold qualifying medical licenses, where applicable. Certifications are provided in collaboration with the Shock Wave Society of North America (SWSNA). Educational content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or a guarantee of clinical outcomes. Always practice within your professional scope and consult your state licensing board, regulatory authority, and applicable laws before implementing any clinical technique or protocol.
References:
– International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST) — clinical prerequisites and minimal standards for ESWT
– Shock Wave Society of North America (SWSNA) — US prerequisites and minimal standards for ESWT & RPW.
– American Medical Association (AMA) CPT code set (as reflected in payer medical policy publications)
– American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM) — board certification requirements
– American Board of Anti-Aging/Regenerative Medicine (ABAARM) / A4M — board certification requirements