Acceptable Continuing Education

PURPOSE: This rule defines acceptable continuing educational courses and activities as required for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to qualify for licensure renewal; and to specify the documentation necessary as proof of compliance with the continuing education requirement; and the time frame licensees must maintain such documentation of compliance. (1) NOTICE: The Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and/or the Missouri Advisory Commission for Physical Therapists will not preapprove continuing educational courses and/or activities. The burden is upon the licensee to make certain that any courses or activities completed for the purpose of satisfying the continuing educational requirements specified in this chapter meet the criteria specified in this rule as acceptable continuing education. (2) All licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants shall accumulate thirty (30) hours of continuing education (i.e., three (3) continuing education units) every two (2) years to be eligible for licensure renewal. The licensee shall document adherence to this requirement on even-numbered years. For courses where participants are given an allotted maximum time in which to complete the coursework, the licensee shall be credited with the maximum allowed time. (3) For the purpose of this rule, acceptable continuing education shall be defined as education obtained for the purpose of maintaining, expanding, and/or developing new and/or improved skills and knowledge as directly related to the practice of physical therapy, which contributes to the professional competence of the licensee. (4) The following criteria are necessary to qualify as acceptable continuing education: (A) Activity and courses documented to be an organized program of learning, with specified goals and objectives; and (B) Activity and courses which are conducted by individual(s) who have education, training, and/or experience by which said individual(s) is considered qualified and/or an expert on the subject matter being presented; 1. Licensees may be required to submit the biography of the individual conducting/presenting such course/program to determine if the individual is considered qualified and/or as an expert on the subject being presented; and (C) Activity and courses pertaining to subject matters that integrally relate to the practice of physical therapy as defined in section 334.500(4), RSMo. (5) Acceptable continuing education is automatically approved if such course or activity is obtained as follows: (A) Courses and activities sponsored/approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) or any of its components including state chapters and specialty sections/boards (i.e., the Missouri Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) or any other professional physical therapy state association); the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) which at least in part relate to practice of physical therapy. 1. A continuing education document from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), or any of its components including state chapters and specialty sections/boards; (Missouri Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) or any other professional physical therapy state association); the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), specifically listing the continuing education course completed by the specified licensee, the date, time, and place of the course, and the actual number of continuing education clock hours accumulated and/or total possible continuing education (CE) clock hours that could be accumulated for the program shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; or 2. A certificate of attendance bearing the original signature of the sponsor of the course/seminar/program specifically identifying the licensee as the certificate holder, the program title, and the names of the presenter(s), the goals and objectives of the course/seminar/program, the location in which the course/seminar/program took place, and the actual number of continuing education clock hours accumulated and/or total possible CE clock hours that could be accumulated for the program shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (B) Academic coursework completed at a regionally accredited college or university in subject matter directly related to the practice of physical therapy, as defined in section 334.500(4), RSMo, in which the licensee earns a grade of a “C” or above. For the purpose of this subsection, each semester credit hour shall be acceptable as ten (10) hours of continuing education, each trimester credit hour shall be acceptable as eight (8) hours of continuing education, and one-quarter credit hour shall be acceptable as seven (7) hours of continuing education. 1. An official transcript, from a regionally-accredited college or university, indicating successful completion of academic coursework in appropriate subject matter related to practice of physical therapy as specified in section (4) of this rule, specifically reporting that the licensee earned a grade of at least a “C” for that course, and the number of credit hours awarded for the course shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (C) Licensee participation and completion of a recognized post-graduate clinical residency program shall be acceptable as one (1) continuing education hour for each hour of participation. 1. A certificate of completion bearing the original signature of the appropriate program director, identifying the specific licensee as a participant in a specified clinical residency program, and specifically detailing the actual hours of licensee participation in such program shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (D) A licensee who has obtained APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) or other nationally-recognized physical therapy association specialty certification or specialty recertification shall be acceptable for thirty (30) hours of continuing education hours for the reporting period in which the specialty certification or recertification was awarded. 1. Official documentation confirming the specific licensee as successfully passing an APTA specialty certification or recertification examination; or other nationally-recognized physical therapy association specialty certification or recertification shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (E) Professional program presentations presented by the licensee in subject matter directly related to the practice of physical therapy which meets the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule as delivered in a lecture and/or demonstration format other than academic curricula. 1. The maximum continuing education hours for presentation activities per licensee shall not exceed fifteen (15) hours during any two- (2-) year reporting period. 2. The delivering of a presentation for the first time or a workshop or course shall be creditable for three (3) hours of continuing education for each hour of actual presentation time (this ratio reflects the preparation time required in delivering an initial presentation). 3. The delivering of a presentation, workshop, or course for a second time shall be creditable for one (1) hour of continuing education for each hour of actual presentation time (this ratio reflects the lesser degree of preparation time required for the second presentation of a workshop or course). 4. The delivering of a presentation, workshop, or course more than two (2) times, in any two- (2-) year reporting period, is not acceptable for continuing education hours (this reflects the minimal preparation time necessary for multiple presentations of the same workshop or course). 5. A written announcement of a presentation schedule and/or brochure specifically identifying the licensee as the presenter of a course/seminar/program which meets the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule and section 334.500(4), RSMo, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (F) Participation in research activities which result in the publication of such research activity (manuscripts) in a professional peer-reviewed physical therapy or medical publication shall be creditable for five (5) hours of continuing education credit. 1. A copy of the publication or manuscript, specifically identifying the licensee as a participant in the research activities necessary consistent with the topic presented, along with a copy of the cover of the professional publication, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (G) Abstract publications and/or presentations shall be creditable for two (2) hours of continuing education provided such abstract is accepted for presentation at a professional physical therapy conference, or for publication in a peer-reviewed physical therapy or medical publication. 1. A copy of the abstract publication or presentation as accepted for presentation at a professional physical therapy conference, or for publication in a peer-reviewed physical therapy or medical publication specifically identifying the licensee as the author shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (H) Publication of a chapter in a peerreviewed physical therapy or medical publication shall be creditable for five (5) hours of continuing education. 1. A copy of the chapter as published in a peer-reviewed physical therapy or medical publication specifically identifying the licensee as the author of such chapter, as well as a copy of the cover of the publication, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (I) Videotaped presentation reviews which identify a specific sponsor, sponsoring group or agency, provided that the videotaped presentation meets the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule. 1. A certificate of completion of a videotaped presentation review specifically identifying the licensee as well as the specific sponsor, along with the name of the facilitator or program official present during the review, as well as all others in attendance during the review, provided that such presentation meets the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule and section 334.500(4), RSMo, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (J) Home study courses, which meet the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule and section 334.500(4), RSMo, which result in the awarding of a certificate of completion, shall be creditable for the number of hours specified on the certificate of completion. 1. A certificate of completion verifying the completion of a home study course meeting the criteria specified in section (4) of this rule and section 334.500(4), RSMo, specifically identifying the licensee and the continuing education hours such course is creditable for, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (K) Continuing education hours shall also be acceptable and creditable for licensee attendance at Grand Rounds. This credit for continuing education shall be creditable for each hour of actual attendance at Grand Rounds. 1. A certificate identifying the specific licensee’s attendance and the subject matter presented during Grand Rounds, to include the number of hours the licensee was present for the specific Grand Round, bearing the signature of the facility administrator or other facility official or medical/health related professional who conducted or presented the Grand Round, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof; (L) Initial CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification or recertification shall be creditable for each hour of actual attendance in certification or recertification training. 1. A copy of a CPR certification or recertification certificate, specifically identifying the licensee as the person awarded such certification or recertification, as well as documentation as to the date and number of hours in actual attendance, shall be the document(s) necessary as proof of compliance if audited by the board to submit proof. This credit for continuing education hours shall only be applicable once during each two- (2-) year reporting period. (M) All licensed physical therapists who act as a clinical instructor for a student enrolled in a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program or who supervise an American Physical Therapy Association approved physical therapist resident or fellow will be granted one (1) contact hour for every one hundred twenty (120) total hours of supervision. The maximum total of contact hours per reporting period shall be five (5). A certificate of completion of these hours from the academic institution or residency or fellowship program shall be the necessary documentation to submit proof; and (N) All licensed physical therapist assistants who act as a clinical instructor for a student enrolled in a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist assistant program will be granted one (1) contact hour for every one hundred twenty (120) total hours of supervision. The maximum total of contact hours per reporting period shall be five (5). A certificate of completion of these hours from the academic institution shall be the necessary documentation to submit proof. AUTHORITY: sections 334.125 and 334.507, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 150-3.203. Original rule filed May 14, 1999, effective Dec. 30, 1999. Amended: Filed July 25, 2000, effective Dec. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Aug. 25, 2000, effective Feb. 28, 2001. Moved to 20 CSR 2150-3.203, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 11, 2006, effective March 30, 2007. Amended: Filed Aug. 27, 2009, effective Feb. 28, 2010. Amended: Filed Jan. 3, 2012, effective June 30, 2012. *Original authority: 334.125, RSMo 1959, amended 1993, 1995 and 334.507, RSMo 1998.