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PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSING BOARD
PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSING BOARD
DIVISION 35
CONTINUING EDUCATION
848-035-0010
Purpose
The 2005 Oregon Legislation gave new authority to the Physical Therapist Licensing Board, effective January 1, 2006, to adopt rules establishing minimum continuing education requirements for all licensees. The following rules set out the new requirements.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 1-2006, f. & cert. ef. 4-14-06
848-035-0015
Definitions
As used in this Division:
(1) "Certification period" means a 24 month continuing education certification period which runs from April 1st of each even numbered year, through March 31st of the next even numbered year, i.e. April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010.
(2) "Initial Certification Period" means January 1, 2006 through March 31, 2008.
(3) "Hours" means contact hours.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 1-2006, f. & cert. ef. 4-14-06
848-035-0020
Required Hours and Period for Completion
(1) A licensed physical therapist is required within each certification period to complete 24 hours of continuing education relating to the delivery or provision of physical therapy services.
(2) A licensed physical therapist assistant is required within each certification period to complete 12 hours of continuing education relating to the delivery or provision of physical therapy services.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this rule, any person who is first issued an Oregon physical therapist license through examination pursuant to OAR 848-010-0015, or through endorsement pursuant to OAR 848-010-0020, anytime during the first year of a certification period (April 1st of an even numbered year through March 31st of an odd numbered year), must complete the full 24 hours of continuing education required for that certification period. A person who is first issued an Oregon physical therapist license anytime during the second year of a certification period (April 1st of an odd numbered year through March 31st of an even numbered year), must complete one-half (12 hours) of the continuing education required for that certification period. Thereafter, such licensees must complete the same continuing education requirements as other licensees who hold the same license.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this rule, any person who is first issued an Oregon physical therapist assistant license through examination pursuant to OAR 848-010-0015, or through endorsement pursuant to OAR 848-010-0020, anytime during the first year of a certification period (April 1st of an even numbered year through March 31st of an odd numbered year), must complete the full 12 hours of continuing education required for that certification period. A person who is first issued an Oregon physical therapist assistant license anytime during the second year of a certification period (April 1st of an odd numbered year through March 31st of an even numbered year), must complete one-half (6 hours) of the continuing education required for that certification period. Thereafter, such licensees must complete the same continuing education requirements as other licensees who hold the same license.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this rule, a physical therapist whose Oregon license has lapsed pursuant to OAR 848-010-0033(1), and who subsequently renews the lapsed license pursuant to OAR 848-010-0035, anytime during the first year of a new certification period (April 1st of an even numbered year through March 31st of an odd numbered year), must complete the full 24 hours of continuing education required for that certification period. A person whose lapsed physical therapist license is renewed anytime during the second year of a certification period (April 1st of an odd numbered year through March 31st of an even numbered year), must complete one-half (12 hours) of the continuing education required for that certification period. However, if a person who is renewing a lapsed license practiced in Oregon at any time while the person's license was lapsed, the person must complete the full 24 hours of continuing education required for the certification period. Thereafter, such licensees must complete the same continuing education requirements as other licensees who hold the same license.
(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this rule, a physical therapist assistant whose Oregon license has lapsed pursuant to OAR 848-010-0033(1), and who subsequently renews the lapsed license pursuant to OAR 848-010-0035, anytime during the first year of a new certification period (April 1st of an even numbered year through March 31st of an odd numbered year), must complete the full 12 hours of continuing education required for that certification period. A person whose lapsed physical therapist assistant license is renewed anytime during the second year of a certification period (April 1st of an odd numbered year through March 31st of an even numbered year), must complete one-half (6 hours) of the continuing education required for that certification period. However, if a person who is renewing a lapsed license practiced in Oregon at any time while the person's license was lapsed, the person must complete the full 12 hours of continuing education required for the certification period. Thereafter, such licensees must complete the same continuing education requirements as other licensees who hold the same license.
(7) Any licensee whose license lapses on April 1st of an even numbered year, regardless of the reason, and who subsequently renews the lapsed license during the first 12 months of a new certification period, shall provide documentation of completion of the continuing education requirements for the immediately prior certification period before the license will be renewed.
(8) For purposes of determining whether a licensee has satisfied the continuing education requirement under section (3), (4), (5) or (6) of this rule, the Licensing Board will accept all qualifying continuing education hours completed from the beginning date of the 24 month certification period in which the license was issued or renewed, regardless of the specific date the license was issued or renewed. For example, a person whose license is issued or renewed on June 15, 2009 will receive credit for all qualifying continuing education hours completed at any time during the certification period of April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010.
(9) The initial certification period for a licensee to complete the required hours shall be January 1, 2006, through and including March 31, 2008. Thereafter, each twenty-four month period for completion of the required hours shall be April 1st of the even numbered year through March 31st of the next even numbered year. For example, the second twenty-four month period will be from April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2010.
(10) Failure to complete the required continuing education by March 31st of an even-numbered year shall constitute a violation of this division 35.
(11) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule and OAR 848-010-0033(6), a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is renewing a license during an even numbered year and who was first licensed in Oregon between January 1st to and including March 31st of that even numbered year, is not required to complete continuing education for the current certification period. Thereafter such licensees shall be subject to the continuing education requirement for all subsequent continuing education certification periods.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 1-2006, f. & cert. ef. 4-14-06; PTLB 1-2008(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-19-08 thru 4-2-08; Administrative correction 4-23-08; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2010, f. 2-16-10, cert. ef. 3-1-10
848-035-0030
Continuing Education Requirements and Restrictions
(1) A licensee may satisfy the requirements of this division 35 by taking continuing education which may include but is not limited to:
(a) Courses, seminars, activities, and workshops sponsored, certified, or approved by an established and recognized medical or dental health-related organization or professional association recognized by the Board;
(b) Courses or activities approved for continuing education by other states which require continuing education for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants;
(c) Courses or activities certified for continuing education units (CEU) by a recognized physical therapy professional association;
(d) Courses provided by an accredited institution of higher education other than courses taken as part of the curriculum requirements of a CAPTE accredited physical therapy program;
(e) Individual study courses requiring an examination and recognized by an accredited institution or recognized health-related organization or professional association recognized by the Board;
(f) Courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) however, continuing education credit will be limited to one hour, regardless of the length of the course;
(g) Courses or lectures which a licensee presents if the course or lecture presented awards continuing education units or hours to participants and the licensee requests continuing education credit from the Board;
(A) The licensee may receive continuing education units or hours equivalent to the actual credit hours awarded to participants for that portion of the program which the licensee presents;
(B) The maximum cumulative credit granted for presenting courses or lectures shall be no more than one half of the total continuing education requirement during any certification period (ie: 12 hours for physical therapists and 6 hours for physical therapist assistants) and;
(C) A licensee may receive credit for presenting a particular course or lecture only one time during any certification period, regardless of how many times the licensee presents that course or lecture;
(h) Publishing an article in a peer review journal,
(A) The maximum credit granted for publishing an article shall be one half of the total continuing education requirement during any certification period (i.e.: 12 hours for physical therapists and 6 hours for physical therapist assistants).
(B) A licensee may receive credit for publishing an article only one time during any certification period;
(i) Serving as a certified clinical instructor as follows:
(A) A licensee who has completed a Board-approved clinical instructor certification program may receive continuing education credit equivalent to 1 credit hour for each 40 hours of direct clinical instruction to a physical therapist student or physical therapist assistant student enrolled in a physical therapy or physical therapy assistant program.
(B) The maximum cumulative credit granted for serving as a clinical instructor shall be no more than one-third of the total continuing education requirement during any certification period (ie. 8 hours for a physical therapist or 4 hours for a physical therapist assistant.)
(C) The licensee must obtain a letter or certificate from the student’s academic institution verifying that the licensee has completed the course of clinical instruction; and
(j) Courses or activities approved by the Board by special request.
(2) Activities which will not satisfy the continuing education requirement include:
(a) In service programs or required workplace orientation, training or competencies;
(b) Professional association meetings for purposes of business or policy decisions making;
(c) Entertainment or recreational meetings; or
(d) Attending meetings, holding office, or representing a professional association as a lobbyist or delegate.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 1-2006, f. &
cert. ef. 4-14-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12,
cert. ef. 3-1-12
848-035-0035
Pain Management Course Requirement for Physical Therapists
(1) Effective January 2, 2008, all Oregon licensed physical therapists must fulfill a one- time only pain management education requirement as defined in ORS 409.500.
(2) Physical therapists initially licensed on or before March 31, 2008 must complete the coursework requirement between January 1, 2006 and March 31, 2010.
(3) Physical therapists licensed on or after April 1, 2008 must complete the coursework requirement within a period of 24 months either before or after the first renewal of their physical therapist license.
(4) The requirement is seven hours of pain management education, including the completion of a one hour on-line pain management course sponsored and provided by the Oregon Pain Management Commission, plus an additional six hours of continuing education relative to the evaluation, diagnosis or treatment of pain.
(5) The seven hours of pain management education may be used to satisfy part of the physical therapist’s continuing education requirement under OAR 848-035-0020 for the current period. However, pain management education hours taken in a prior certification period and used to satisfy the pain management requirement cannot be used to satisfy part of the continuing education requirement for the current certification period.
(6) Physical Therapist Assistants are exempt from the pain management education requirement.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09
848-035-0040
Documentation of Continuing Education Credits
(1) In order to qualify for credit against the required hours, a continuing education course or activity must include a completion certificate. The certificate must include the title of the course or activity, the name of the sponsor or speaker, date of completion, number of hours and licensee's name.
(2) The licensee is responsible for obtaining a completion certificate from the sponsor or speaker. The licensee is further responsible for retaining the certificate in the event the Board requires the licensee to produce documentation of completion of the continuing education requirement. All completion certificates shall be retained for a minimum of four (4) years from the certificate date.
(3) A licensee who is seeking to receive credit for serving as a clinical instructor is responsible for obtaining a letter or certificate of completion from the academic institution for which the licensee served as a clinical instructor.
(4) The Board may require all or any percentage of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who are renewing their licenses in the even numbered year to provide documentation of completion of the continuing education requirements of this division 35.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.160(6)(g)
Hist.: PTLB 1-2006, f. &
cert. ef. 4-14-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12,
cert. ef. 3-1-12
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