Continuing Competence

The Board shall notify applicants for renewal of continuing competence requirements as provided in T.C.A. § 63-13-304(6). The Board shall require each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in a minimum number of experiences to promote continuing competence for the twenty-four (24) months that precede the licensure renewal month. All applicants for licensure, renewal of license, reactivation of license, or reinstatement of license must demonstrate competency. (1) The requirements for continuing competence are defined as planned learning experiences which occur beyond the entry level educational requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Content of the experience must relate to physical therapy whether the subject is intervention, examination, research, documentation, education, management, leadership, or some other content area. The purpose of this requirement is to assist in assuring safe and effective practices in the provision of physical therapy services to the citizens of Tennessee. (2) For applicants approved for initial licensure by examination, successfully completing the requirements of Rules 1150-01-.04, .05, and .08, as applicable, shall be considered proof of sufficient competence to constitute compliance with this rule for the initial period of licensure except for the ethics and jurisprudence education requirements of paragraph (4). Applicants approved for initial licensure by examination must successfully complete four (4) hours of ethics and jurisprudence education during their initial period of licensure. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (3) Twenty-Four (24) Month Requirement – Continuing competence credit is awarded for the clock hours spent in an activity as provided in paragraphs (5) and (6), except as provided in paragraph (4), all required hours may be met through Class I activities. (a) Physical Therapist – Thirty (30) hours are required for the twenty-four (24) months that precede the licensure renewal month. 1. At least twenty (20) hours of the thirty (30) hour requirement must be from Class I activities as provided in paragraph (5); and. 2. Up to ten (10) of the thirty (30) hour requirement may be from Class II activities as provided in paragraph (6). (b) Physical Therapist Assistant – Thirty (30) hours are required for the twenty-four (24) months that precede the licensure renewal month. 1. At least twenty (20) hours of the thirty (30) hour requirement must be from Class I activities as provided in paragraph (5); and. 2. Up to ten (10) hours of the thirty (30) hour requirement may be from Class II activities as provided in paragraph (6). (4) Four (4) of the hours required in parts (3)(a)1. and (3)(b)1. must consist of ethics and jurisprudence education courses. These four (4) hours are required every renewal cycle. (a) Ethics and Jurisprudence – The APTATN is the sole approval entity for ethics and jurisprudence courses. All ethics and jurisprudence courses approved by the APTATN shall be deemed approved by the Board. Any ethics and jurisprudence course not approved by the APTATN will fail to meet the requirements of this rule. The APTATN shall only approve courses that are a minimum of two (2) hours each in duration. They shall be Class I continuing competence as provided in paragraph (5), and shall as a minimum include education in: 1. Ethics: (i) The Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapists Assistants as defined by the APTA; (ii) Model for ethical decision making; and (iii) Case analysis. 2. Jurisprudence: (i) The Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice Act (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 13, Parts 1 and 3); (ii) General Rules Governing the Practice of Physical Therapy (Official Compilation, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 1150-01); (iii) Board of Physical Therapy Policy Statements; (iv) Licensure process; (v) Scope of practice; GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (vi) Licensure renewal; (vii) Disclosures to patients; (viii) Offenses that may lead to disciplinary action; (ix) Supervision of Physical Therapist Assistants; (x) Supervision of Physical Therapy assistive personnel; and (xi) Supervision of others (students, volunteers). (b) Course approval – Aside from ethics and jurisprudence courses approved under subparagraph (a) above, and those pre-approved courses offered pursuant to paragraph (3) of this rule, the Board does not pre-approve Class I and Class II continuing competence courses, programs, and activities required by paragraphs (3), (5) and (6) of this rule. It is the licensee’s responsibility, using his/her professional judgment, to determine if the courses offered by other entities are applicable, appropriate, and meet the requirements of this rule. However, the APTATN must seek the Board’s approval for offering ethics and jurisprudence courses by submitting the following information to the Board’s office at least thirty (30) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that precedes the course: 1. Course description or outline; 2. Names of all lecturers; 3. Brief resume of all lecturers; and 4. How certification of attendance is to be documented. Each course approved by APTATN must be approved every twelve (12) months. (5) Class I acceptable continuing competence evidence shall be any of the following: (a) Peer review of practice. 1. External peer review of practice with verification of acceptable practice by a recognized entity, e.g., APTA. Continuing competence credit is twenty (20) hours per review with a maximum of one (1) review each twenty-four (24) month period. 2. Internal peer review of practice with verification of acceptable practice. Continuing competence credit is two (2) hours per review with a maximum of two (2) reviews during each twenty-four (24) month period. (b) Courses, seminars, workshops, and symposia. 1. Courses, seminars, workshops, and symposia attended by the licensee which have been provided or approved for continuing education units by the APTA or its academies/sections (state chapters of APTA are not considered approved providers), FSBPT, the APTATN, and accredited physical therapist educational programs and physical therapist assistant educational programs. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 2. Relevant and appropriate courses, seminars, workshops, and symposia may be obtained in a variety of formats as defined by the Board’s Continuing Education Policy Statement. 3. University credit courses – Continuing competence credit is twelve (12) hours per semester credit hour. 4. Participation as a presenter in continuing education courses, workshops, seminars or symposia which have been approved by the APTA or its sections, FSBPT, the APTATN, and accredited Tennessee schools of physical therapy and Tennessee physical therapist assistant schools. Continuing competence credit is based on contact hours and may not exceed twenty (20) hours per topic. 5. Teaching a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant credit course when that teaching is an adjunct responsibility and not the primary employment. Continuing competence credit is based on contact hours not to exceed twenty (20) hours. If the same course is taught more than once, contact hours may only be counted once. 6. Awarding of an advanced degree from an accredited University. Continuing competence credit is twenty-six (26) hours and is recognized only in the twenty- four (24) month period in which the advanced degree is awarded. 7. Participating in an accredited clinical residency/fellowship program. Continuing competence credit is five (5) hours credit for each week of residency/fellowship with a maximum of twenty-six (26) hours per program. (c) Authorship of a presented scientific poster, scientific platform presentation or published article undergoing peer review. Continuing competence credit is ten (10) hours per event with a maximum of two (2) events each twenty-four (24) month period. (d) Certification of clinical specialization. 1. Certification of clinical specialization by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Continuing competence credit is twenty-six (26) hours and is recognized only in the twenty-four (24) month period in which certification or recertification is awarded. 2. Certification of clinical specialization by organizations other than the ABPTS may be recognized as continuing competence credit for up to twenty-six (26) hours, in the twenty-four (24) month period in which certification or recertification is awarded. The number of continuing competence credit hours awarded is determined by the Board. (e) FSBPT approved activities. (f) The Board or its designee retains the right to determine whether any submitted course complies with the requirements of this rule. (6) Class II acceptable continuing competence evidence shall be any of the following (a) Self-instruction from reading professional literature. Continuing competence credit is limited to a maximum of one (1) hour each twenty-four (24) month period. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (b) Attendance at a scientific poster session, lecture, panel or symposium that does not meet the criteria for Class I. Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per hour of activity with a maximum of two (2) hours credit each twenty-four (24) month period. (c) Clinical Instruction 1. Serving as a clinical instructor for an accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant educational program. Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per sixteen (16) contact hours with the student(s). 2. Acting as a clinical instructor for physical therapist participating in a residency program or as a mentor for a learner for a formal, nonacademic mentorship. Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per sixteen (16) contact hours. (d) Participating in a physical therapy study group consisting of two (2) or more physical therapists or physical therapist assistants. Continuing competence credit is limited to a maximum of one (1) hour credit each twenty-four (24) month period. (e) Attending and/or presenting in-service programs. Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per eight (8) contact hours with a maximum of four (4) hours credit each twenty-four (24) month period. (f) Serving the physical therapy profession as a representative to the APTA House of Delegates, on a professional board, committee, or task force. Continuing competence credit is limited to a maximum of four (4) hours credit each twenty-four (24) month period. (g) Attending a regulatory board meeting may count for a maximum of one (1) hour credit of Class II continuing competence requirements. (h) Maintaining an active membership in the APTA may count for a maximum of one (1) hour credit of Class II continuing competence requirements. (7) Unacceptable activities for continuing competence include, but are not limited to: (a) Attending courses regarding: 1. Regulations of the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); 2. Regulations of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA); 3. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and 4. Safety; (b) Non-educational meetings at annual association, chapter or organization meetings; (c) Entertainment or recreational meetings or activities; and (d) Visiting exhibits. (8) Documentation of compliance. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (a) Each licensee must retain completion documents, certificates, transcripts and syllabi of all continuing competence requirements of this rule for a period of five (5) years from when the requirements were completed. This documentation must be produced for inspection and verification, if requested in writing by the Board during its verification process. This documentation must be uploaded into the continuing education vendor’s platform and must meet the requirements of Rule 1150-01-.12. (b) Each sponsor or provider of CEUs must retain records of any CEU offered for a period of not less than five (5) years. (c) Any licensee who fails to complete the continuing competence activities or who falsely certifies completion of continuing competence activities may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. §§ 63-13-304, 63-13-312, 63-13-313, and 63-13-315. (d) Examples of documentation to be maintained and uploaded. 1. A signed peer review report or an official program or outline of the course attended or taught or copy of the publication which clearly shows that the objectives and content were related to physical therapy and shows the number of contact hours, as appropriate. The information also should clearly identify the licensee’s responsibility in teaching or authorship. 2. A CEU certificate or verification of completion of home study which identifies the sponsoring entity, or a copy of the final grade report in the case of a University credit course(s), or specialization certificate, or proof of attendance with a copy of the program for the other acceptable Class I or II activities, or documentation of self-instruction from reading professional literature. (9) Reinstatement/Reactivation of an expired or retired license. (a) Expired or retired for three (3) years or less – An individual whose license has expired or has been retired for three (3) years or less shall submit the appropriate application for reinstatement or reactivation, along with documentation of continuing competence (see examples in paragraph (8)), which must have been initiated and completed within two (2) years prior to submission of the application for reinstatement or reactivation. (b) Expired or retired more than three (3) years. 1. An individual whose license has expired or has been retired for more than three (3) years shall submit the appropriate application for reinstatement or reactivation, along with documentation of continuing competence (see examples in paragraph (8)), which must have been initiated and completed within two (2) years prior to submission of the application for reinstatement or reactivation. 2. The Board may, at its discretion, require additional education, supervised clinical practice, successful passage of examinations, or issue a provisional license. (10) The Board, in cases of documented illness, disability, or other undue hardship, may waive the continuing competence requirements and/or extend the deadline to complete continuing competence requirements. To be considered for a waiver of continuing competence requirements, or for an extension of the deadline to complete the continuing competence requirements, a licensee must request such in writing with supporting documentation before the end of the twenty-four (24) month period in which the continuing competence requirements were not met. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01