Continuing Education Requirements

PURPOSE: This rule details the minimum continuing education requirements for renewal or reinstatement of a physical therapy and/or physical therapist assistant license, and specifies the period of time in which documentation of continuing education hours must be maintained by the licensee. (1) All licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants shall biennially, on even-numbered years, complete and report at least thirty (30) hours of acceptable continuing education as specified in rule 20 CSR 2150-3.203. The renewal of a license which has lapsed shall not be issued unless and until the licensee submits documentation confirming completion of all continuing education hours as would have been necessary and applicable during the period the license was not current. The continuing education hours must qualify as acceptable continuing education activity as specified in rule 20 CSR 2150-3.203. (2) The period for completion of the continuing education requirements shall be the twenty-four (24)-month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of each reporting period. Continuing education hours can not be carried over into another or the next reporting period. A licensee who fails to obtain and report, in a timely fashion, the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education shall not engage in practice as a physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant unless an extension is requested and granted pursuant to 20 CSR 2150-3.202. (3) All licensees shall certify by attestation, on the licensure registration renewal form, under oath and penalty of perjury, that the licensee completed the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education, and that the continuing education obtained meets the acceptable continuing education criteria specified in 20 CSR 2150-3.203. (4) All licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants shall retain records documenting attendance and completion of the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education for a minimum of four (4) years after the reporting period in which the continuing education was obtained. The records shall document the titles of the continuing education activity completed including the date, location and course sponsors and number of hours earned. The board may conduct an audit of licenses to verify compliance with the continuing education requirement. Licensees shall assist in this audit by providing timely and complete responses upon board request for such information and documentation. (5) Violation of any provision of this rule shall constitute misconduct, fraud, misrepresentation, dishonesty, unethical conduct, or unprofessional conduct in the performance of the functions and duties of a physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant. In addition, a licensee who fails to complete and report in a timely fashion the required thirty (30) hours of continuing education and engages in active practice as a physical therapist and/or physical therapist assistant without the expressed written authority of the board shall be deemed to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of physical therapy and/or unauthorized practice as a physical therapist assistant consistent with the provisions of sections 334.510, 334.610, and 334.650, RSMo; furthermore such action may be deemed grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to section 334.100, RSMo. (6) Examination applicants who hold temporary licenses are exempt from obtaining continuing education hours until such time as the temporary licensee successfully passes the licensing examination and is approved and issued licensure pursuant to the provisions of section 334.530, RSMo, as applicable to physical therapists; or pursuant to the provisions of section 334.655, RSMo, as applicable to physical therapist assistants. (7) Reinstatement applicants who hold temporary licenses are exempt from obtaining continuing education hours until such time as the temporary licensee successfully completes the one (1) year of supervised active practice. (8) Physical therapists and/or physical therapist assistants are exempt from one-half (1/2) of the total continuing education hours (thirty (30) hours required, one-half (1/2) is defined as fifteen (15) hours) for the year in which the licensee graduated from a program of physical therapy and/or physical therapist assistant education (respective of type of degree received and type of licensure requested) as accredited by the commission on accreditation of physical therapy education. AUTHORITY: sections 334.125 and 334.507, RSMo 2000 and sections 334.100, 334.610, 334.650, and 334.687, RSMo Supp. 2008.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 150-3.201. Original rule filed May 14, 1999, effective Dec. 30, 1999. Moved to 20 CSR 2150-3.201, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Dec. 14, 2007, effective June 30, 2008. Amended: Filed March 30, 2009, effective Nov. 30, 2009. *Original authority: 334.100, RSMo 1939, amended 1945, 1959, 1963, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2004; 334.125, RSMo 1959, amended 1993, 1995; 334.507, RSMo 1998; 334.610, RSMo 1969, amended 1974, 1981, 1990, 1995, 2007, 2008; 334.650, RSMo 1996, amended 2008; and 334.687, RSMo 2008.