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

Physical Therapists: PTs licensed in Mississippi must complete thirty (30) continuing competence units (CCU) to be accrued during each 2-ear licensing period (July 1 - June 30).

New Licensees: Individuals applying for initial licensure within a licensing period must accrue continuing competence hours on a prorated scale. Written notification of required hours will be sent to the applicant at the time of licensure.

Physical Therapy Assistants: PTAs licensed in Mississippi must complete thirty (30) continuing competence units (CCU) to be accrued during each 2-ear licensing period (July 1 - June 30).

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

No. No carryover of continuing competence units from one licensure period to another shall be allowed.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

All licensees must take three (3) hours of study in ethics, professionalism, or jurisprudence per licensing period as part of their total CC requirements.

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

Certified Activities

Certified activities are activities that go through a certification process to determine if the activity meets a minimal threshold of required criteria and how well that activity meets additional “desirable” criteria. At least fifteen (15) CCUs are required per licensure period in this category.

Conferences and continuing competence activities that meet the Standards of Continuing Competence (SCC) as set forth by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Credit is applied as awarded. Certificate of completion is required as evidence of compliance.

Conferences and continuing competence activities provided by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Mississippi Physical Therapy Association (MPTA), and other state chapters and sections of APTA. Credit is applied as awarded. Certificate of completion is required as evidence of compliance.

Educational programs where continuing competence credit is given and approved by accredited universities. Credit is applied as awarded. Certificate of completion is required as evidence of compliance.

Attendance at educational programs where continuing competence credit is given and approved by the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy.

Academic course work taken for credit from a regionally accredited college or university. Courses must be on the graduate level for physical therapists. Undergraduate courses are acceptable for physical therapist assistants. Credit for 11 CCUs is applied for each semester credit hour passed with a grade of “C” or better. Transcript with grade or completion status required as evidence of compliance.

APTA credentialed fellowship or residency. Licensees who are enrolled in a residency or fellowship may be exempt from obtaining the mandatory continuing competence hours while completing the program of study. The required documentation is a letter from the director of residency or fellowship program.

Exams and assessments (includes, but is not limited to, ABPTS certification and recertification, PTA advanced proficiency certification, and FSBPT Practice Review Tool). Credit for CCUs is applied as awarded with a minimum of 15 CCUs applied. Certification of completion required as evidence of compliance.

Approved Activities

Approved Activities are activities that are approved but do not go through a formal certification process due to the fact that these activities would be difficult to verify. Approved activities are assigned a set CCU value as a group, based on the criteria, versus each individual activity being assigned a value. Limited to 15 CCUs per licensure period.

Continuing competence courses and conferences not  above. Credit for 10 CCUs is applied for courses containing > 32 contact hours. Credit for 5 CCUs is applied for courses containing 8-31 contact hours. Credit for 2 CCUs is applied for courses containing 1-7 contact hours. Certificate of completion is required as evidence of compliance.

Residencies and fellowships not outlined above. Credit for 15 CCUs is applied. Certificate of successful completion is required as evidence of compliance.

Exams and Assessments not outlined above. Credit for CCUs is applied as awarded with a maximum of 11 CCUs per exam or assessment.

Self-study, which may include independent study, or studies directed by a correspondence course, video, internet or satellite program by provider not outlined above). One (1) CCU per study topic is applied. Record of study objectives, activities, and time spent to meet objectives, as well as reflection on learning achieved are required as evidence of compliance.

Attendance at in-service education programs pertaining to clinical concepts, safety training, or governmental regulatory training. One (1) CCU per in-service is applied. Learning objectives, program schedule, and verification of attendance from employer are required as evidence of compliance.

Presentations made before physical therapists or other health care professionals and directly related to the profession of physical therapy. Credit for three (3) CCUs per presentation/topic is applied. Learning objectives and presentation brochure or flyer are required as evidence of compliance.

Research. Credit for 10 CCUs are applied for Principal and Co-Principal Investigators in internally or externally funded research projects. Title, abstract, funding agency, and grant period are required as evidence of compliance.

Professional publications. Credit for 8 CCUs is applied for each peer-reviewed publication. Credit for 4 CCUsis applied for each non-peer reviewed publication. Copy of article, book chapter, or other work product is required as evidence of compliance.

Clinical Instructorship. Credit for 1 CCU is applied for each 40 hours of clinical supervision with the same student. A maximum of 3 CCUs per clinical rotation for a total of 6 CCUs per licensure period is allowed. Students must be enrolled in CAPTE accredited or eligible DPT or PTA program. Verification of the clinical supervision agreement with the student’s educational program and a log reporting supervision hours is required as evidence of compliance. A certificate of completion from the educational program may also be used as evidence of compliance.

Board and Committee Work. Credit for 5 CCUs is applied for assignments requiring time commitment of > 33 hours/year. Credit for 3 CCUs is applied for assignments requiring time commitment of 16-33 hours/year. Organizational materials listing participation, responsibilities, and activities as well as written verification of time spent in activity is required as evidence of compliance.

Structured Interactive Study (i.e. group study, journal club). Credit for 3 CCUs per study group is applied per licensure period. Group attendance records reporting time spent, study group goals, and reflection on goal attainment and learning are required as evidence of compliance.

Formal Mentorship (as mentor or as protégé). Credit for 5 CCUs is applied per licensure period. Objectives and action plans, as well as documentation of activities and contact hours are required as evidence of compliance.

Are there limitations on the types of courses that can be taken?

At least 25 percent (7.5 CCU) of the required continuing competence units earned during each licensure period must be directly related to the clinical practice of physical therapy.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Unacceptable activities include:

• Staff meetings
• Presentations or publications directed at lay groups
• Orientation to specific work-site programs dealing with organizational structures, processes, or procedures.
• Entertainment or recreational meetings or activities.
• Self-directed studies other than those previously outlined.
• Credit for repetitions of an activity more than once in a licensure period
• Routine teaching or research duties as part of a job requirement.
• CCUs carried over from one licensure period to another.

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

See above in Certified Activities.

What are the reporting requirements?

Licensees renewing from and after July 1, 2016 must record and report compliance with continuing competence activities through the free online aPTitude program of the FSBPT. https://pt.fsbpt.net/aPTitude

How long must continuing education records be retained?

Licensees shall retain evidence of compliance with continuing competence requirements for the preceding licensure period.

Waiver

N/A

Audit

In each licensure period the Board shall randomly select licensees for audit of evidence of compliance with continuing competence activities.

References

Miss. Code R. 3103 Chapter 5