18 Va. Admin. Code § 112-20-131

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 6, November 4, 2024

Section 18VAC112-20-131 - Continued competency requirements for renewal of an active license

A. In order to renew an active license biennially, a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant shall complete at least 30 contact hours of continuing learning activities within the two years immediately preceding renewal. In choosing continuing learning activities or courses, the licensee shall consider the following:

(i) the need to promote ethical practice,

(ii) an appropriate standard of care,

(iii) patient safety,

(iv) application of new medical technology,

(v) appropriate communication with patients, and

(vi) knowledge of the changing health care system.

B. To document the required hours, the licensee shall maintain the Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form that is provided by the board and that shall indicate completion of the following:

1. A minimum of 20 of the contact hours required for physical therapists and 15 of the contact hours required for physical therapist assistants shall be in Type 1 courses. For the purpose of this section, "course" means an organized program of study, classroom experience, or similar educational experience that is directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy and approved or provided by one of the following organizations or any of its components:

a. The Virginia Physical Therapy Association;

b. The American Physical Therapy Association;

c. Local, state, or federal government agencies;

d. Regionally accredited colleges and universities;

e. Health care organizations accredited by a national accrediting organization granted authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to assure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation;

f. The American Medical Association - Category I Continuing Medical Education course;

g. The National Athletic Trainers' Association;

h. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy;

i. The National Strength and Conditioning Association; or

j. Providers approved by other state licensing boards for physical therapy.

One credit hour of a college course shall be considered the equivalent of 15 contact hours of Type 1 continuing education.

2. No more than 10 of the contact hours required for physical therapists and 15 of the contact hours required for physical therapist assistants may be Type 2 activities or courses, which may or may not be offered by an approved organization but which shall be related to the clinical practice of physical therapy. For the purposes of this subdivision, Type 2 activities may include:

a. Consultation with colleagues, independent study, and research or writing on subjects related to practice.

b. Delivery of physical therapy services, without compensation, to low-income individuals receiving services through a local health department or a free clinic organized in whole or primarily for the delivery of health services for up to two of the Type 2 hours.

c. Attendance at a meeting of the board or disciplinary proceeding conducted by the board for up to two of the Type 2 hours.

d. Classroom instruction of workshops or courses.

e. Clinical supervision of students and research and preparation for the clinical supervision experience.

Forty hours of clinical supervision or instruction shall be considered the equivalent of one contact hour of Type 2 activity.

3. Documentation of specialty certification by the American Physical Therapy Association may be provided as evidence of completion of continuing competency requirements for the biennium in which initial certification or recertification occurs.

4. Documentation of graduation from a transitional doctor of physical therapy program may be provided as evidence of completion of continuing competency requirements for the biennium in which the physical therapist was awarded the degree.

C. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing competency requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure by examination in Virginia.

D. The licensee shall retain his records on the completed form with all supporting documentation for a period of four years following the renewal of an active license.

E. The licensees selected in a random audit conducted by the board shall provide the completed Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form and all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.

F. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.

G. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing competency requirements for up to one year for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.

H. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters, upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.

18 Va. Admin. Code § 112-20-131

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 1, eff. October 23, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 18, eff. June 10, 2009; Volume 25, Issue 26, eff. September 30, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 21, eff. July 17, 2013; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. September 26, 2013; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 03, eff. 11/4/2015; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 15, eff. 5/5/2017; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 10, eff. 2/7/2018; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 09, eff. 2/8/2018; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 09, eff. 2/10/2019; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. 4/30/2021.

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3474 of the Code of Virginia.