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For Health and Beauty Professionals
When a client or referring clinician asks where you trained, a Dr Vodder MLD certification gives them an answer they can verify. Moving Lymph delivers the official Dr Vodder Akademie International (DVAI) curriculum, and graduates receive a manual lymph drainage certification issued by Dr Vodder Schools International (DVSI). You can then be listed on the DVSI register as a certified MLD therapist.
Find MLD courses in your location:
Adelaide | Auckland | Brisbane | Gold Coast | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney | ​All courses
Moving Lymph offers MLD training pathways for new students and returning therapists.
​Most new students complete the Level 1 Theory and Practical components as one pathway, with weekly theory tutorials led by Dr Jan Douglass. Certification requires a 70% pass on the theory exams and full attendance at practical classes.
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Eligible returning therapists can finish a certificate through a shorter practical. If you hold an Applied MLD or lymphoedema certificate, a Therapist Update every two years keeps your MLD certification current.
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For practitioners building a clinic or moving into a new clinical role, this manual lymphatic drainage training adds a credential with an international register behind it.​
Hands-on practical classes across Australia and New Zealand
Accredited Dr Vodder instructors teach every practical class face-to-face in centres including Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Auckland. Once you complete your certificate, you receive four mentoring meetings and 12 months of access to the Vodder Graduate Resource Centre.
Choose the MLD course that matches your scope of practice
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Every pathway begins with Level 1, which pairs 30 hours of online theory with a four-day practical. You then progress to one of three advanced lymphatic therapy courses:
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Applied MLD covers MLD across body systems where the lymphatic system is intact.
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MLD and CDT (lymphoedema) covers chronic oedema management and compression bandaging.
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Advanced Aesthetics applies MLD to skin health and care after cosmetic procedures.
Entry starts at AQF Level 4 for aesthetics or Level 5 for the health streams.
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Please note: Eligibility, course curriculum, and competency assessments are set by Dr Vodder Akademie International, and international certificate license fees apply to all courses. Please expand and read all the information sections below in your chosen certificate before you enrol.
Enrol in your Dr Vodder MLD certification with Moving Lymph
The right certificate depends on your qualification and the clients you want to work with. Moving Lymph supports you from your first online module to post-course mentoring. Browse upcoming courses to compare dates and locations, then start your enrolment today.
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Unlock a transformative lymphatic perspective in your clinical practice and master a pain-free modality that covers the broadest scope of pathologies of all the Dr Vodder Certificates.
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Applied MLD teaches gentle and highly effective techniques to address skeletal-muscular, digestive, respiratory, neurological, and immune conditions where the lymphatic system remains essentially intact.
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Medical, allied health and remedial professionals will gain unparalleled technical skills alongside a deep clinical understanding of the physiological effects of MLD, to manage pain, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing with long-lasting efficacy.
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A rigorous, anatomically grounded curriculum shifts clinical outcomes from problem-focused protocols to a systemic and holistic view that offers profound cell-level rehabilitation, creating an evidence-informed treatment for acute and chronic conditions and post-operative recovery.
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Discover how this comprehensive training can expand your scope of practice and improve your clinical outcomes.
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Master the international gold standard in chronic oedema management and obtain the official Certificate in Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT).
For allied health professionals, medical practitioners, and remedial therapists, foundational knowledge and advanced practical expertise are required to deliver long-lasting relief and dramatically improve quality of life. While short lymphatic drainage massage courses or lymphoedema programs are available, the official Dr. Vodder method stands entirely apart in both technical execution and physiological effect.
A rigorous, anatomically grounded clinical curriculum underlies an intensive and comprehensive program, making it the definitive evidence-informed choice for therapists who want to work with primary and secondary lymphoedema, phleboedema, and lipoedema.
Discover how this ALPP eligbile qualification can transform your approach to chronic swelling and expand your professional scope of practice.
Transform your lymphatic perspective with an Advanced Aesthetic qualification. Gain mastery a specialised modality that sets your skills apart. The official Dr. Vodder Advanced Aesthetician Certification (Advanced Body) offers health and beauty professionals the unparalleled technical skill and anatomical insight required to accelerate tissue healing, minimise scarring, and manage post-surgical recovery with long-lasting efficacy.
While traditional lymphatic drainage massage courses for beauty therapists focus on generalised relaxation and basic wellness, the original Vodder method stands entirely apart in both execution and physiological effect. This advanced clinical practice leverages precise, structured manual skin and tissue manipulation to reduce tissue congestion and achieve profound results.
A rigorous curriculum moves therapists from the limitation of simple effleurage to an evidence-informed treatment of choice for complex dermatological conditions and medical aesthetics. Discover how this prestigious training can expand your professional scope and elevate your Aesthetic results.
Learn transformative lymphatic techniques in delicate facial rejuvenation and master a highly specialised modality that sets your clinical skills apart. The official Dr. Vodder Advanced Aesthetician Certification (Neck & Face) offers health and beauty professionals the unparalleled technical skill and deep clinical reasoning required to manage reactive skin conditions, accelerate healing, and minimise scarring following invasive facial sculpting interventions.
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An advanced clinical curriculum utilises highly structured, anatomically grounded tissue manipulations to resolve tissue stagnation and optimise cell-level rehabilitation. Moving far beyond basic skin care, this Medical Aesthetic training delivers the treatment skills that shift patient outcomes from surface touch to long-lasting tissue recovery. Discover how this prestigious training can expand your professional scope and elevate your clinical aesthetic results.
Every Certificate begins with Level 1, which teaches the fundamental theory and original Dr Vodder techniques: stationary circles, pumps, scoops and rotary, in sequences for the 9 body regions: neck, face, arms, legs, chest, abdomen, nape, back and buttocks. Treatment of pathologies is not covered, and students are limited to treatment of healthy persons within their current scope of practice. Technique adaptation and clinical reasoning are covered in the next level for the scope of each certificate.
The Dr Vodder School offers regular Theraspist Updates to ensure that our Practitioners remain at the leading edge of Lymphatic Therapies. Therapist who do not review within a two year period will no longer be listed on the DVSI website, uintil such time as they ebrol in the Therpist Update.
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There are Combined Therapist Updates (2.5-days) that everyone can attend and be recertified in thier relevant Categories, either Appleid MLD, Lymphodema, or both. The Applied MLD Recertification (2-days) which is for the Applied MLD category only and does not cover lymphoedema.
Experience Unparalleled Pre- and Post-Course Support
When you study with Moving Lymph, we offer multiple pre- and post-course resources to deepen your learning and ensure you get the most out of the Dr Vodder Theory Module and the intensive hands-on Practical classes.
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Each location has a private Course Group for students to communicate with teachers, organisers and classmates, and short Instructional Programs take you step-by-step through setting up your DVAI student/therapist account, provide details on the Practical classes including what to bring, assessment criteria, and links to submit your DVSI forms and agreements.
The Level 1 Theory Module is supported by weekly meetings with Jan Douglass and a library of Jan's videos to clarify concepts delivered in the Dr Vodder lectures and textbook. Engaging in the resources available at MLO gives you the best opportunity to do well in the Level 1 online exam at DVAI, get the most out of your Practical training and emerge as a leader in manual lymphatic therapies.
Continue Developing Your Skills after Certification
Completing one of our manual lymphatic drainage courses is only the beginning of your professional development. Graduates receive ongoing educational support through mentoring sessions, case discussions and clinical resources designed to help bridge the gap between the classroom and everyday practice.
Many practitioners also choose to expand their treatment options by studying complementary techniques such as Neuromuscular Taping (NMT), allowing them to build on their clinical skill set where appropriate.
To support evidence-informed practice, we also encourage graduates to explore the latest MLD research and continue developing their understanding as new evidence emerges.
Upon completion of your Manual Lymph Drainage Certification, Therapists are admitted to the Vodder Graduate Resource Centre for 12 months. There are dedicated mentoring meetings with your Instructor in the weeks following your Practical to help you confidently integrate MLD into your clinical practice.
Ongoing, we have at least one meeting each week. Some have specific topics, such as improving clinical photography; others are problem-solving on current cases. There is always an accredited Dr Vodder Instructor at the meeting. Meet our Online Faculty here.
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Professional Certification in the Original
Dr. Vodder Method of Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD)
A minimum of $50 is collected when you enrol, depending on the selections you make during registration. Please have a copy of your eligible qualification ready to upload when requested. Once your eligibility to attend has been verified, the $50 will be credited towards any remaining course fees. If eligibility cannot be established, you will not be enrolled, and a refund of $25 will be made.
Course Confirmation date:
The Confirmation Date is 7 weeks prior to commencement of each Practical Course. Please consider whether the course has been confirmed before making irreversible travel plans.
Transferring or withdrawing from a course:
If you transfer between courses or withdraw before the confirmation date a full refund will be made less the non-refundable components as listed above.
If you withdraw after the confirmation date, and more than 14-days before the start of the Practical, a partial refund can be made.
No refunds are made for withdrawal within 14-days of the course commencement; however, discretion refunds may be made in exceptional circumstances.
Payment Plans
Payment Plans are offered on all courses where the final Payment can be made not later than 14 days before the Course start date.​ Participants may change their Payment Plan to take advantage of early payment discounts. The balance of any course fees will then be due on the early bird date.
Moving Lymph Registration and Cancellation Policy at a Glance
Course fees are composed of multiple refundable and non-refundable components. Online Course components are generally not refundable. Full or partial refunds on Practical fees may be made as determined by the Course Confirmation Date.
