R156-24b-303b. Continuing Education

  (1) Required Hours. In accordance with Subsection 58-24b-303(2), during each two year renewal cycle commencing on June 1 of each odd numbered year:

  (a) A physical therapist shall be required to complete not fewer than 40 contact hours of continuing education of which a minimum of two contact hours must be completed in ethics/law.

  (b) A physical therapist assistant shall be required to complete not fewer than 20 contact hours of continuing education of which a minimum of two contact hours must be completed in ethics/law.

  (c) Examples of subjects to be covered in an ethics/law course for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants include one or more of the following:

  (i) patient/physical therapist relationships;

  (ii) confidentiality;

  (iii) documentation;

  (iv) charging and coding;

  (v) compliance with state and/or federal laws that impact the practice of physical therapy; and

  (vi) any subject addressed in the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics or Guide for Professional Conduct.

  (d) The required number of contact hours of continuing education for an individual who first becomes licensed during the two year renewal cycle shall be decreased in a pro-rata amount.

  (e) The Division may defer or waive the continuing education requirements as provided in Section R156-1-308d.

  (2) A continuing education course shall meet the following standards:

  (a) Time. Each contact hour of continuing education course credit shall consist of not fewer than 50 minutes of education. Licensees shall only receive credit for lecturing or instructing the same course up to two times. Licensees shall receive one contact hour of continuing education for every two hours of time spent:

  (i) lecturing or instructing a course;

  (ii) in a post-professional doctorate or transitional doctorate program; or

  (iii) in a post-professional clinical residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.

  (b) Course Content and Type. The course shall be presented in a competent, well organized, and sequential manner consistent with the stated purpose and objective of the course.

  (i) The content of the course shall be relevant to the practice of physical therapy and shall be completed in the form of any of the following course types:

  (A) department in-service;

  (B) seminar;

  (C) lecture;

  (D) conference;

  (E) training session;

  (F) webinar;

  (G) internet course;

  (H) distance learning course;

  (I) journal club;

  (J) authoring of an article or textbook publication;

  (K) poster platform presentation;

  (L) specialty certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties;

  (M) post-professional clinical residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association;

  (N) post-professional doctorate from a CAPTE accredited program;

  (O) lecturing or instructing a continuing education course; or

  (P) study of a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article.

  (ii) The following limits apply to the number of contact hours recognized in the following course types during a two year license renewal cycle:

  (A) a maximum of 40 contact hours for initial specialty certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS);

  (B) a maximum of 40 contact hours for hours spent in a post-professional doctorate or transitional doctorate CAPTE accredited program;

  (C) a maximum of 40 contact hours for hours spent in a post-professional clinical residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association;

  (D) a maximum of half of the number of contact hours required for renewal for lecturing or instructing in courses meeting these requirements;

  (E) a maximum of ten percent of the number of contact hours required for renewal for supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant student in an accredited college program and the licensee shall receive one contact hour of credit for every 80 hours of clinical instruction;

  (F) a maximum of 15 contact hours required for renewal for serving as a clinical mentor for a physical therapy residency or fellowship training program at a credentialed program and the licensee shall receive one contact hour of credit for every ten hours of residency or fellowship;

  (G) a maximum of half of the number of contact hours required for renewal for online or distance learning courses that include examination and issuance of a completion certificate;

  (H) a maximum of 12 contact hours for authoring a published, peer-reviewed article;

  (I) a maximum of 12 contact hours for authoring a textbook chapter;

  (J) a maximum of ten contact hours for personal or group study of a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article;

  (K) a maximum of six contact hours for authoring a non-peer reviewed article or abstract of published literature or book review; and

  (L) a maximum of six contact hours for authoring a poster or platform presentation.

  (c) Provider or Sponsor. The course shall be approved by, conducted by, or under the sponsorship of one of the following:

  (i) a recognized accredited college or university;

  (ii) a state or federal agency;

  (iii) a professional association, organization, or facility involved in the practice of physical therapy; or

  (iv) a commercial continuing education provider providing a course related to the practice of physical therapy.

  (d) Objectives. The learning objectives of the course shall be clearly stated in course material.

  (e) Faculty. The course shall be prepared and presented by individuals who are qualified by education, training, and experience.

  (f) Documentation. Each licensee shall maintain adequate documentation as proof of compliance with this Section, such as a certificate of completion, school transcript, course description, or other course materials. The licensee shall retain this proof for a period of three years after the end of the renewal cycle for which the continuing education is due.

  (i) At a minimum, the documentation shall contain the following:

  (A) the date of the course;

  (B) the name of the course provider;

  (C) the name of the instructor;

  (D) the course title;

  (E) the number of contact hours of continuing education credit; and

  (F) the course objectives.

  (ii) If the course is self-directed, such as personal or group study or authoring of a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article, the documentation shall contain the following:

  (A) the dates of study or research;

  (B) the title of the article, textbook chapter, poster, or platform presentation;

  (C) an abstract of the article, textbook chapter, poster, or platform presentation;

  (D) the number of contact hours of continuing education credit; and

  (E) the objectives of the self-study course.

  (6) Extra Hours of Continuing Education. If a licensee completes more than the required number of contact hours of continuing education during the two-year renewal cycle specified in Subsection (1), up to ten contact hours of the excess may be carried over to the next two year renewal cycle. No education received prior to a license being granted may be carried forward to apply towards the continuing education required after the license is granted.