Purpose: To provide a list of criteria desirable in a foundational Toxin and Filler first level training course for Physicians, Nurses, PA’s and Nurse Practitioners. These criteria will be applied equally to each training provider based on publicly available information on that provider’s website.
| # | Criterion | Meets the criteria if… | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Instructor Transparency | The hands-on instructor for each date and location is named online before purchase, with credentials. | You can only verify an instructor’s license, background, and experience if you know who will be teaching you. |
| 2 | Location Transparency | The exact venue name and address are published before purchase. | A published address lets you plan travel, confirm the setting, and know exactly what you are paying for. |
| 3 | CME Accreditation | The course awards direct credit for physicians (AMA PRA Category 1), and registered nurses (ANCC) through an ACCME-accredited provider or joint provider. Accreditation start and end dates ensure that a certificate will be backed by credit on the date the course is attended. | Licensing boards recognize accredited CME for continuing education requirements, and employers and liability carriers often ask for it. One type of credit may not be accepted for equivalency by all state licensing boards. |
| 4 | Small Groups | The published maximum is 6 or fewer attendees per instructor for hands-on training. | Fewer attendees per instructor means more supervised injections and more direct feedback for each attendee. |
| 5 | Product Included | Neurotoxin and filler for hands-on training are included in tuition and FDA-approved. | The FDA has warned about counterfeit and unapproved injectables, and included product means no surprise costs on training day. |
| 6 | Own Patients, No Paid Models | Attendees treat a patient they bring and know, not paid or recruited models. | Treating someone you know lets you handle assessment, consent, aftercare, and follow-up, the same responsibilities you will have in practice. |
| 7 | Online Access | An accredited online component is included, with at least 12 months of access and free updates. | Ongoing access lets you review technique and dosing after training and stay current as products and evidence change. |
| 8 | A-T.com Core Curriculum | The published course outline covers every item in the A-T.com Core Curriculum for introductory neurotoxin and dermal filler training. (see below) | An introductory course should cover the FDA-approved indications and safety essentials, including vascular occlusion management, without requiring a second course. |
A-T.com Core Curriculum: Introductory Neurotoxin and Dermal Filler
Neurotoxin
- Pharmacology and the FDA-approved products
- Facial muscle anatomy and danger zones
- FDA-approved upper-face indications: glabellar lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines and Platysma Bands
- Patient selection, contraindications, and informed consent
- Complication recognition and management, including lid ptosis and asymmetry
Hyaluronic acid filler
- HA product properties, selection, and reversibility
- FDA-approved indications: nasolabial folds and foundational lip and peri-oral treatments.
- Vascular anatomy and injection techniques that reduce risk
- Recognizing vascular occlusion, with a hyaluronidase emergency protocol
Hands-on
- One-on-one supervised injection of both neurotoxin and filler by a qualified faculty member for each attendee