Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE › Division 2150 - State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts › Chapter 3 - Licensing of Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants › Section 20 CSR 2150-3.202 - Continuing Education Extensions

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule details the requirements for
				  licensed physical therapists and/or licensed physical therapist assistants
				  requesting an extension of time to complete the required thirty (30) hours of
				  continuing education mandated for licensure renewal pursuant to section
				  334.507,
				  RSMo Supp. 1998 and as specified in rules 4 CSR 150-3.201 and 4 CSR
				  150-3.203.
(1) A licensee who
				cannot complete the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education due to
				personal illness or other circumstances beyond the licensee's control which the
				board and advisory commission deem sufficient to impose an insurmountable
				hardship to such an extent as to prevent or preclude the licensee from
				obtaining continuing education hours, may apply for an extension of time to
				complete the continuing education requirements specified in section 345.507,
				RSMo. Requests for an extension of time to complete the continuing education
				requirements will be granted solely in the discretion of the board with
				recommendation from the advisory commission for physical therapists. Licensees
				requesting an extension of time to complete the required continuing education
				hours shall submit a statement requesting such extension prior to the December
				31 deadline for completion. Requests for an extension of time to complete the
				continuing education requirement shall be accompanied with the processing fee
				specified in rule
				20 CSR
				2150-3.080. All licensees shall further provide
				sufficient documentation and justification for such request from the
				appropriate source(s) supporting the reason(s), which prevented the licensee
				from completing the required continuing education hours. A licensee who
				requests an extension of time to complete the required thirty (30) hours of
				continuing education hours shall not engage in active practice as a physical
				therapist and/or physical therapist assistant until the licensee receives
				written authorization from the board approving the extension request and
				specifically authorizing the licensee to continue practicing in the interim.
(A) Licensees in the military will be granted
				an extension of time to complete the continuing education requirements if they
				are called to active duty under competent orders for any period of thirty (30)
				days or more during the reporting period in accordance with section
				41.950(10),
				RSMo. If the licensee is called to active duty for a majority of the reporting
				period, they will be exempt from obtaining continuing education. The licensee
				must submit written documentation from the appropriate military authorities
				verifying the licensee's military service commitment.
(B) Illness extensions may be granted only to
				a licensee who has or is suffering from a personal illness and/or personal
				disability of a nature which prevents or prevented the licensee from engaging
				in active practice as a physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant
				for at least a majority of the reporting period. At a minimum, the licensee
				shall instruct their treating physician(s) to provide written documentation to
				the board specifying the nature of the illness or disability, the duration of
				the illness and/or disability and any limitations on the licensee's activities
				which resulted or will result from this illness and/or disability. The licensee
				shall also submit written documentation and evidence as to the number of
				continuing education hours earned during the reporting period as well as the
				licensee's plan for completing the balance of the required continuing education
				hours.
(C) The board, solely in its
				discretion, with recommendation from the advisory commission for physical
				therapists, may grant a licensee an extension of time to complete the
				continuing education hours due to unforeseeable circumstances determined to be
				beyond the licensee's control and justifiable as to have imposed an
				insurmountable hardship to such a degree as to have precluded the licensee from
				obtaining the required continuing education hours. At a minimum, the licensee
				shall submit written documentation explaining specifically and in detail the
				nature of the circumstance(s), why the circumstance(s) were unforeseeable and
				beyond the licensee's control, and the period of time in which the
				circumstance(s) were in existence. This documentation shall include evidence
				confirming the number of continuing education hours the licensee earned in the
				reporting period and the licensee's plan for completing the balance of the
				required continuing education. The board, solely in its discretion, with
				recommendation from the advisory commission for physical therapists, shall
				determine if the licensee's situation constitutes unforeseeable circumstances
				beyond the licensee's control to such a degree as to have imposed an
				insurmountable hardship preventing and/or precluding the licensee from
				obtaining the required continuing education hours.