Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-915 - Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants › Section 246-915-085 - Continuing competency

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Every two
				years, a physical therapist shall complete 32 hours of continuing education
				(CE) through any of the following means:
CE Type
Maximum Hours
							 Allowed
Documentation
							 Requirements
a.
Participation in a course, live or online, including
							 recorded.
No limit
Keep certificates of completion for each course, and,
							 if not contained in the certificate of completion, information describing the
							 course sponsors, the goals and objectives of the course, the credentials of the
							 presenter as a recognized authority on the subject presented, dates of
							 attendance, and total hours for all continuing education courses being
							 reported.
b.
Live or recorded instructional electronic media
							 relating to the practice of physical therapy that does not include specific
							 goals and objectives.
Four hours
Instead of course goals, objectives and certificate
							 of completion, the PT shall write and submit to the department a minimum of two
							 takeaways for each hour of running time.
c.
Books or articles reviewed.
Eight hours (reading time only)
The PT shall write and submit to the department a
							 one-page synopsis in twelve-point font for each hour of reading time. The time
							 spent writing a synopsis is not reportable.
d.
Preparation and presentation of professional physical
							 therapy courses or lectures.
Sixteen hours
The PT shall submit to the department a description
							 and objectives of the presentation, date, and location of presentation.
e.
Written preparation and publication of original
							 scholarly research or work published in a peer-review journal.
Ten hours
The PT shall submit to the department proof of
							 publication which may include poster presentations.
f.
Clinical instruction of physical therapy students
							 enrolled in a physical therapy educational program accredited by the American
							 Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
							 Education (CAPTE) or clinical instruction in a postgraduate residency or
							 fellowship through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and
							 Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).
Ten hours
The PT shall obtain and submit to the department a
							 letter or certificate from the student's academic institution verifying that
							 the student has completed the course of clinical instruction. Each thirty-two
							 hours of student mentorship equals one hour for purposes of CE credit.
g.
Courses required for professional certification such
							 as to work in public schools.
Fifteen hours
The PT shall submit a copy of the completion
							 certificate to the department.
h.
Courses provided by an accredited institution of
							 higher education which may include, but are not limited to, courses leading to
							 an advanced degree in physical therapy or other courses that advance the PT's
							 competence.
No limit
The PT shall submit a transcript to the department
							 verifying courses taken. One quarter credit is equal to ten hours; one
							 trimester is equal to twelve hours; and one semester credit is equal to fifteen
							 hours.
i.
Attendance at science-based conferences.
No limit
Certificate of attendance.
j.
Preparing for and successfully taking and passing
							 board certification exams through the American Board of Physical Therapy
							 Specialties.
No limit
Certificate of certification.
(2)
				Every two years a physical therapist who holds a spinal manipulation
				endorsement shall complete at least 10 hours of continuing education directly
				related to spinal manipulation with at least five hours related to procedural
				techniques and application of spinal manipulation. For documentation, refer to
				the documentation required for the particular type of continuing education
				chosen. The hours spent completing spinal manipulation continuing education
				count toward meeting any applicable continuing competency requirements.
(3) Every two years, a physical
				therapist assistant shall complete 24 hours of continuing education through any
				of the following means:
CE Type
Hours Allowed
Documentation
							 Requirements
a.
Participation in a course, live or online, including
							 recorded.
No limit
Keep certificates of completion for each course, and,
							 if not contained in the certificate of completion, information describing the
							 course sponsors, the goals and objectives of the course, the credentials of the
							 presenter as a recognized authority on the subject presented, dates of
							 attendance, and total hours for all continuing education courses being
							 reported.
b.
Live or recorded instructional electronic media
							 relating to the practice of physical therapy that does not include specific
							 goals and objectives.
Four hours
Instead of course goals, objectives and certificate
							 of completion, the PTA shall submit to the department a minimum of two
							 takeaways for each hour of running time.
c.
Books or articles reviewed.
Eight hours (reading time only)
The PTA shall write and submit a one-page synopsis in
							 twelve-point font for each hour of reading time. The time spent writing a
							 synopsis is not reportable.
d.
Preparation and presentation of professional physical
							 therapy courses or lectures.
Sixteen hours
The PTA shall submit to the department a description
							 and objectives of the presentation, date, and location of presentation.
e.
Written preparation and publication of original
							 scholarly research or work published in a peer-review journal.
Ten hours
The PTA shall submit proof of publication which may
							 include poster presentations.
f.
Clinical instruction of physical therapist assistant
							 students enrolled in a physical therapy assistant program accredited by the
							 American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical
							 Therapy Education (CAPTE) or clinical instruction in a postgraduate residency
							 or fellowship through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and
							 Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).
Ten hours
The PTA shall obtain and submit to the department a
							 letter or certificate from the student's academic institution verifying that
							 the student has completed the course of clinical instruction. Each thirty-two
							 hours of student mentorship equals one hour for purposes of CE credit.
g.
Courses required for professional certification such
							 as to work in public schools.
Fifteen hours
The PTA shall submit a copy of the completion
							 certificate.
h.
Courses provided by an accredited institution of
							 higher education which may include, but are not limited to, courses leading to
							 an advanced degree in physical therapy or other courses that advance the PTA's
							 competence.
No limit
The PTA shall submit a transcript verifying courses
							 taken. One quarter credit is equal to ten hours; one trimester credit is equal
							 to twelve hours; and one semester credit is equal to fifteen hours.
i.
Attendance at science-based conferences.
No limit
Certificate of attendance.
j.
Preparing for and successfully taking and passing
							 board certification exams through the American Board of Physical Therapy
							 Specialties.
No limit
Certificate of certification.
(4)
				Every two years, each physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall
				complete two hours of health equity continuing competency training as described
				in WAC 246-12-800 through
				246-12-830. For documentation,
				refer to the documentation required for the particular type of continuing
				education chosen. The hours spent completing health equity training continuing
				education count toward meeting any applicable continuing competency
				requirements.
(5) Each physical
				therapist and physical therapist assistant shall complete a one-time, three
				hour suicide assessment training described in WAC
				246-915-086.
(6) Every two years, each physical therapist
				and physical therapist assistant shall complete 200 hours involving the
				application of physical therapy knowledge and skills which may be obtained in
				the clinical practice of physical therapy or in the non-clinical activities
				which include, but are not limited to, the following:
Clinical
							 Activities
Hours Allowed
Documentation
a.
Physical therapy clinical practice.
No limit
Documentation of physical therapy employment, the PT
							 or PTA shall provide copies of employment records or other proof acceptable to
							 the board of employment for the hours being reported.
Nonclinical
							 Activities
Hours Allowed (within the two
							 hundred hours required)
Documentation
b.
Physical therapy teaching of:
* Patient/client management, prevention and
							 wellness.
* Physical therapy ethics and standards of
							 practice.
* Professional advocacy/involvement.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
c.
Active service on boards or participation in
							 professional or government organizations, or attendance at professional or
							 government organizations meetings specifically related to the practice of
							 physical therapy.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
d.
Developing course work in physical therapy schools or
							 education programs or physical therapy continuing education courses.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
e.
Physical therapy research as a principal or associate
							 researcher.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
f.
Physical therapy consulting.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
g.
Management of physical therapy services.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation of such
							 activities as acceptable to the board.
h.
Physical therapy volunteer hours or observation in
							 physical therapy practice.
No limit
The PT or PTA shall provide documentation verifying
							 volunteer or observation hours.
Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 18.74.023. 08-17-026, § 246-915-085,
					 filed 8/13/08, effective 8/13/08. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 18.74.023(4). 04-08-101,
					 § 246-915-085, filed 4/6/04, effective 5/7/04. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-915-085,
					 filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority:
					 RCW
					 18.74.023. 94-05-014 (Order 403B), §
					 246-915-085, filed 2/4/94, effective
					 3/7/94.