Pennsylvania Code › Title 49 - PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS › Part I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Subpart A - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 40 - STATE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY › Subchapter A - PHYSICAL THERAPISTS › PRACTICE WITHOUT REFERRAL › Section 40.63 - Continuing education for direct access certificateholder

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Definitions.
The
						following word, when used in this section, has the following meaning, unless
						the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Certificateholder
-A licensed physical
						  therapist who holds a certificate of authorization to practice physical therapy
						  without a referral.
(b)
Continuing education requirement for renewal of certificate of
						authorization.
Beginning after the first renewal of the certificate of
						authorization, as a condition of certificate renewal, a physical therapist
						shall have completed during the preceding biennium a minimum of 30 contact
						hours of physical therapy continuing education related to keeping the
						certificateholder apprised of advancements and new developments in the practice
						of the physical therapy profession. At least 10 of the 30 contact hours shall
						be in evaluative procedures to treat a person without a referral. During
						renewal periods prior to January 1, 2013, a direct access certificateholder
						need complete only 20 hours of continuing education, including at least 10
						hours in evaluative procedures.
(c)
Reports to the Board
. A certificateholder shall certify
						compliance with the continuing education hours requirement at the time of
						biennial renewal of the certificate. A certificateholder shall retain proof of
						completion of continuing education for 5 years after completion of the
						continuing education or after the completion of the renewal period during which
						the continuing education was required or applied, whichever is later. These
						records are subject to audit by the Board.
(d)
Approved courses and
						programs.
(1) Courses and programs
						approved by the Board will be accepted as satisfying the continuing education
						requirement. It is the responsibility of the certificateholder to ascertain the
						approval status of the course or program before undertaking a continuing
						education activity.
(2)
						Irrespective of the sponsor, the Board reserves the right to reject a
						continuing education course or program submitted by a certificateholder if it
						is outside the scope of practice of physical therapy. The Board will not accept
						courses or programs which are unrelated to the actual practice of physical
						therapy-for example, instruction in office management or practice building. A
						certificate-holder will be notified of a rejected course or program in writing,
						along with the reason for the rejection.
(3) Sponsors of physical therapy continuing
						education seeking Board approval of individual courses and programs shall
						submit an application at least 60 days prior to the date the continuing
						education course or program is due to take place on forms provided by the Board
						and pay the required fee. The applicant will be notified of approval or
						disapproval in writing. Notifications of disapproval will set forth reasons.
						The Board will not approve a course or program unless the sponsor:
(i) Offers courses or programs, or both, with
						specific learning objectives geared to improve the professional competence of
						the participant.
(ii) Verifies
						attendance of the course.
(iii)
						Provides each attendee with a certificate which includes participant's name,
						date, place, course title, presenter and number of contact hours.
(4) The Board may withdraw
						approval of a sponsor for cause. The sponsor will be notified in writing of the
						reasons for withdrawal of approval.
(5) A sponsor seeking approval who is unable
						to submit the application at least 60 days prior to the date the course or
						program is given may request a waiver in writing setting forth the reasons why
						the 60-day requirement could not be met.
(6) Approval of a course or program shall be
						valid for 1 year after approval. In the event that the sponsor is scheduling
						multiple courses or programs, the sponsor shall indicate on the application
						each date the course or program is to be given.