Cranial Base Course

Unlock the Missing Link to Complex Case Management

Course Director: Jose Camacho, DO

Portland, Oregon

September 25-27, 2026

Tuition: $1,650

NOTE: Course pre-requisites are two OCA Approved 40-Hour Introductory Courses. Please only register if you have taken two 40-Hour Introductory Courses from OCA, Southerland Cranial Teaching Foundation, and/or Osteopathy's Promise to Children.

This course will equip you with palpatory confidence and precision techniques to engage intraosseous, articular, fluid, membranous, and ligamentous restrictions in the cranium, cervical, and sacral areas.

For many types of pain, post-concussion symptoms, vertigo, tinnitus, hormonal imbalances, and persistent cranial restrictions—what happens when medications, physical therapy, and surgery aren’t enough?

As a healthcare provider, you need more than just symptom management. You need tools that restore function and improve quality of life.

Osteopathic cranial base techniques provide a profound, hands-on approach to accessing deep patterns of dysfunction that contribute to many different conditions.

Course Goals 

The course will explore more specific techniques for treating the cranial base, beyond what is taught in the Introductory Course:

• A review of the anatomy, physiology, and development of the cranial base and related CNS structures.
• Effects of core link on the cranial base. Specific sutural techniques -- osseous detail. Treating the temporal bone -- in detail.
• Specific treatment of SBS compression.
• Treatment of intraosseous strains.

The Course will presents a variety of approaches to treatment:

• Specific bony articular techniques.
• Balanced membranous tension and balanced ligamentous tension -- approaches emphasizing the forces within fascia and membranes. Approaches that utilize forces within the fluid matrix.
• Treating through the fluid.
• Approaches based on an understanding of the embryonic patterns of development.

Ample table training to guide students to a better understanding of their role in assisting the inherent forces of health within the Primary Respiratory Mechanism. 

Prerequisites

Successful completion of two (2) Osteopathic Cranial Academy Approved 40-hour Courses.

PLEASE NOTE: If you register for this course and do not meet the eligibility requirements for it, your tuition payment will be refunded. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the OCA office before registering.

Course Location & Accommodations

University Place Hotel & Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln St., Portland, OR 97201

Reserve a room at the hotel where the course will be held. Rooms are $89 per night plus tax. This rate includes breakfast daily.

Phone: 1-866-845-4647 and choose option 1 for reservations.

Course registration fee includes all instruction, materials, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and breaks each day.

CME

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy has designated this activity for 22.50 AOA Category 1-A credits, commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

Tuition Assistance

The OCA Foundation will be providing a limited number of grant support providing up to 50% in Tuition Assistance for eligible students, residents, and young physicians. 

Step 1: Submit Application

Applications should be submitted directly to the Foundation. It is your responsibility to make sure your grant application is complete with the OCAF.

Step 2: Await Conditional Approval

If approved, you will receive a congratulatory email with a registration code and conditional approval.

Step 3: Course Registration 

Use the provided registration code to register for the course, provide payment, if necessary, and submit the necessary eligibility documentation through the OCA registration form.

Step 4: Final Eligibility Review

Your submitted documentation will be reviewed for final eligibility confirmation before the course begins.

Thank you to OCAF for its generous support!

Course Schedule

The course will begin at 8:00am Pacific Time on Friday, September 25 and will adjourn at 12:30pm Pacific Time on Sunday, September 27.

Click here to view the complete schedule.

Cancellation policy

Registration Deadline is Friday, September 11, 2026.

All Cancellation must be received in writing and are subject to administrative fee of 15% of the total registration fee if received at the office of The Osteopathic Cranial Academy on or before 90 days prior to the first day of the course. Cancellations received between 90 and 15 days prior to the course are subject to an administrative fee of 25% of the total registration fee, provided that the spot is filled. The entire registration fee will be forfeited for cancellations received 14 days or less prior to the first day of the course or for failure to attend.

Liability Release

Participation in this program will involve physical activity, including contact by and with instructors and other participants. This, and particularly activity involving physical diagnostics and manual therapeutics, could possibly entail risks for participants of new injury or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

By applying to participate, the applicant acknowledges and assumes the risk associated with participating in the laboratory sessions and agrees to hold The Osteopathic Cranial Academy and fellow participants harmless indemnify, defend and free of liability from and against any damage or personal injury that might occur during or as a result of participation in this program. Furthermore, the applicant covenants to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend The Osteopathic Cranial Academy from and against any use or misuse that applicant may make at any time of any knowledge or information that applicant derives from participation in this program. The applicant should carry adequate liability insurance which would be activated in the instance of the use or misuse of this knowledge or information. Participants in the course are examined and treated by instructors following the course in case any problems arise from treatment by fellow students.

Other Course Details:

1) No personal taping is permitted. 

2) The Osteopathic Cranial Academy teaches the application of cranial osteopathic concepts to DOs, MDs, and DDSs.  It is the responsibility of ALL participants to use the information provided within the scope of their professional license. 

3) In consideration for those participants with sensitivities, please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, or strongly scented toiletries.