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Georgia Physical Therapy Continuing Education

Updated 8/17/2024

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Physical therapists licensed in Georgia need thirty (30) hours of CE every two (2) years.

Physical therapy assistants licensed in Georgia need thirty (30) hours of CE every two (2) years.

New Licensees

Continuing competence requirements shall apply within the first biennium that a PT/PTA is licensed in Georgia.

Individuals licensed during the last six (6) months of a biennium renewal period will not be required to meet continuing competence requirements for that biennium.

New Graduates: Licensees who have graduated during the current renewal period and who have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination are exempt from the continuing competence requirement during the biennium in which they have graduated and successfully passed the exam.

How long is the reporting period?

Two (2) Years.

When are the CE requirements due?

December 31st every odd year.

How is credit hour defined?

Not Specified.

Can CE credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

Not Specified.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

Four (4) hours of ethics and jurisprudence

A Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence course must be obtained from a Georgia college or university with an accredited physical therapy education program or a provider which holds a current Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (PTAG) Approval Certificate for the course.

Passage of the Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence Examination is equivalent to the four (4) hour continuing competence requirement for Georgia Ethics and Jurisprudence provided that the same test result has not been previously submitted to the Board as part of an application for licensure or to satisfy the requirements of an order of the Board.

What types of activities can be used for the continuing education requirements?

Activity

Hours earned

Limit

Approved CE programs.

One (1) per hour of attendance.

N/A

Undergoing peer review.

Fifteen (15) hours.

N/A

Conducting a peer review when that activity is an adjunct responsibility and not the primary employment.

Ten (10) hours.

N/A

Participation as a presenter for continuing education courses, workshops, seminars or symposia which have been approved.

One (1) hour for each hour as a presenter.

Maximum ten (10) hours per topic.

Authorship of a presented scientific poster, scientific platform presentation or published article.

Continuing competence credit is ten (10) hours per event.

Maximum twenty (20) hours.

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.

Maximum twenty (20) hours.

Certification of clinical specialization by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Continuing competence credit is thirty (30) hours and is recognized only in the period in which certification or recertifcation is awarded.

N/A

Self-instruction from reading professional literature.

Continuing competence credit is based on contact hours.

Maximum three (3) hours.

Attendance at a scientific poster session, lecture, panel, symposium or university course.

Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per contact hour of activity.

Acting as a clinical education instructor for an accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant educational program.

Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per eight (8) contact hours.

Maximum ten (10) hours.

Acting as a clinical instructor or an intern for a formal, nonacademic, advanced clinical internship or as a mentor or a learner for a formal, nonacademic mentorship.

Continuing competence credit is based on contact hours.

Maximum ten (10) hours.

Donating time in the role of a PT or PTA, within the scope of practice, to a charity event.

Continuing competence credit is one (1) hour per eight (8) contact hours.

Maximum five (5) hours.

Post professional physical therapist educational programs that award academic credit.

One (1) university credit hour equaling ten (10) continuing competence hours.

N/A

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Unacceptable activities for continuing competence include, but are not limited to:

    • Orientation and in-service programs;
    • Meetings for purposes of policy decisions;
    • Non-educational meeting at annual association, chapter or organization meetings;
    • Entertainment or recreational meeting or activities;
    • Committee meetings, holdings of offices, serving as an organization delegate;
    • Visiting exhibits;
    • CPR.

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

The following programs may be considered for approval, but are not limited to:

    • The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its affiliate components;
    • The Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (PTAG) or any other state chapters;
    • The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)(Procert);
    • Programs provided at CAPTE-Accredited colleges and universities with programs in physical therapy when the continuing competency course is held under the auspices of the school of physical therapy;
    • The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA);
    • The American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT);
    • Programs approved by another state board;
    • JCAHO-accredited healthcare organizations;
    • The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS);
    • The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA);
    • The American Dental Association (ADA);
    • The American Association of Nurses (AAN)
    • The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB);
    • The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB).

How do I report my completed CE?

Beginning the January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016 biennium and thereafter, persons licensed to practice as a PT or a PTA or who shall file an application to practice as such in this state are to maintain a record of completed continuing education courses and experiences by registering with an online recording and reporting system approved by the Board.

    • For the purposes of this requirement, the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy adopts the utilization of CE Broker.
    • Licensees and applicants shall incur no additional costs from CE Broker for this service.
    • Every licensee or applicant subject to the rules of the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy shall be deemed to have given such person's consent to the Board and it's representatives to access their continuing competence record retained within the online database for the purposes of auditing and verifying completion of the Board's continuing competency requirements. Such person waives all objections to the admissibility of the record in any proceedings or hearings before the board.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

To maintain the original continuing competence documents no less than five (5) years from the date the Continuing Education credit was obtained. These records should be maintained in the licensee's personal files for no less than five (5) years.

What happens if I am audited?

Those licensees selected for audit shall submit the Verification of Continuing Competence form and documentation of compliance upon receipt of notice. Acceptable documentation shall include:

    • An official program or outline of the course attended or taught or a copy of the publication which clearly shows that the objectives and content were related to patient care in 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; and
    • A certificate or verification of completion of home study which identifies the sponsoring entity or maintain 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 activities, or documentation of self-instruction or reading professional literature; or
    • Verification of a peer review of practice with verification of acceptable practice by a recognized entity. An example of a recognized entity is the American Physical Therapy Association Board Policy.

Reference

Ga. Rule 490-4-.01

Ga. Rule 490-4-.02

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