SubChapter J. Continuing Education

191. Purpose

A. To be approved by the board, a continuing education course or activity as defined in §123, must contribute directly to the professional competence of the licensee and must directly relate to the skills and knowledge required to implement the principles and methods of physical therapy.

193. Course Review Requirements

194. Biennial Requirements

195. Content Criteria

A. Course or activity content shall address physical therapy competence and practice and shall be designed to meet one of the following goals: 1. update knowledge and skills required for competent performance beyond entry level of the PT or PTA at the time the licensee entered the profession; 2. allow the licensee to enhance his knowledge and skills; 3. provide opportunities for inter-disciplinary learning; 4. extend the limits of professional capabilities and opportunities; and 5. facilitate personal contribution to the advancement of the profession. B. Required continuing education, as defined in §123, shall include the following: 1. passage of the jurisprudence examination, which may be taken online, or attendance at a traditional board-sponsored Jurisprudence course, either of which fulfills the two hour Jurisprudence requirement; 2. a minimum of two contact hours related to ethics or professionalism; 3. a minimum of 18 contact hours of clinical/preventive courses, six of which may be a board approved self-assessment tool, or activities in increments of no less than two contact hours, including: a. teaching an approved clinical/preventive course or activity. A licensee may receive two hours of credit for each contact hour approved for the course or activity, not to exceed 10 hours. This credit will be given only for the first time the course is presented, during the renewal period; i. board policy regarding course approval during subsequent renewal periods will be available on the board website. b. ten hours of credit for an initial certification by the American Board of Physical Therapy Clinical Specialties; c. one hour of credit for every two hours spent in an approved post–professional clinical residency or fellowship, not to exceed ten hours credit; d. coursework in a postgraduate physical therapy curriculum, or transitional DPT program from an accredited college or university will be accepted. Courses will be credited for each satisfactorily completed hour resulting in a grade of B or higher. One semester hour shall be equal to 10 contact hours. i. board policy regarding submission of materials to demonstrate completion will be available on the board website. 4. licensees may obtain credit for no more than eight contact hours for administrative courses or activities. Administrative courses or activities may include any combination of the following: a. a course or activity designed to enhance skills in management of a physical therapy practice; b. a maximum of five hours credit for clinical instructors serving as the primary clinical instructor for PT and PTA students or provisional licensees. One hour credit may be earned per 120 hours of clinical instruction during the renewal period. Proof of clinical instruction shall be documented on a form provided by the board and shall be signed by two of the following: i. clinical instructor, ii. student, iii.center coordinator clinical education; or iv. academic coordinator clinical education. d.a maximum of five clinical hour credit during the renewal period for publication of scientific papers, abstracts, textbook chapters and poster or platform presentations at conferences relating to PT. Textbook chapter credit will be given only for the year of publication.