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Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

Updated 8/20/2024

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

Physical therapists licensed in Pennsylvania are required to complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

Physical therapy assistants licensed in Pennsylvania are required to complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

New Licensees

Not required for the first two (2) year cycle.

Due Date

December 31th of every even numbered year.

How is contact hour defined?

Contact hour- A unit of measure equaling sixty (60) minutes of participation in an approved continuing education course or program.

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

No.  Continuing education may satisfy the requirement only for the biennium during which it was completed. A contact hour of continuing education may not be used to satisfy the requirement for more than one (1) biennium.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

At least two (2) contact hours in law or ethics applicable to physical therapy.

At least two (2) contact hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.

Direct access certificate holders

For each renewal of the certificate of authorization, the licensee shall complete within the immediately preceding two-year period at least thirty (30) hours of continuing physical therapy education related to keeping the certificate holder apprised of advancements and new developments in the practice of the physical therapy profession.

At least ten (10) of the thirty (30) hours shall be in evaluative procedures to treat an individual without a referral.

Authoring Publications

Activity

Hours Awarded

Maximum Hours

Authoring or editing a book.

One (1) contact hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour spent in research or writing. Credit will not be awarded if the total research and writing time was less than one (1) hour.

Fifteen (15) contact hours.

Authoring or editing a chapter of a book.

One (1) contact hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour spent in research or writing. Credit will not be awarded if the total research and writing time was less than one (1) hour.

Ten (10) contact hours.

Authoring or reviewing a published peer-reviewed article.

One (1) contact hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour spent in research or writing. Credit will not be awarded if the total research and writing time was less than one (1) hour.

Ten (10) contact hours.

Authoring a non-peer-reviewed article published in a physical therapy publication.

One (1) contact hour of continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour spent in research or writing. Credit will not be awarded if the total research and writing time was less than one (1) hour.

Five (5) contact hours.

Credit for authoring a publication will be awarded only for the biennial renewal period in which it was published.

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

The Board must preapprove courses.

The following providers are preapproved:

    • APTA or its components.
    • FSBPT and its jurisdictions.
    • A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant educational program accredited by CAPTE.
    • The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross and their component organizations, only for purposes of providing continuing education in identifying and responding to emergency health conditions.
    • An organization credentialed by APTA to confer a fellowship in a specialty, only for purposes of conferring the fellowship.
    • An organization credentialed by APTA to offer a residency program, only for purposes of the residency program.
    • The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialization or its successor organization, only for specialty certification.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

No credit shall be given for any course in office management or practice building. The licensee shall provide the board with evidence of the completion of the continuing education.

A licensee may not receive credit more than once in a given renewal period for repetition of courses or programs with substantially similar content and objectives.

What are the reporting requirements?

Continuing education shall be reported and documented in the following manner.

In general, proof of completion of a course or program of continuing education must consist of a certificate of completion or other documentation issued by the course or program provider, including:

    • The name of the participant.
    • The name of the provider.
    • The date or dates of the course or program.
    • The name of the course and any Board issued approval number of the course or program.
    • The number of contact hours of continuing education or academic credit.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

A licensee shall retain proof of completion of continuing education for five (5) years after completion of the continuing education or after the completion of the renewal period during which the continuing education was required or applied, whichever is later.

Can I get a waiver?

The Board may, in individual cases involving physical disability or illness, or undue hardship, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements or grant an extension of time to complete the requirements.

A waiver or extension of time will not be granted unless a written request is submitted by or on behalf of the licensee. In case of physical disability or illness, the request must include supporting documentation provided by a physician licensed in this Commonwealth or another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia and whose license is in good standing.

The necessary documentation must be received by the Board no later than 90 days preceding the biennial renewal. If the physical disability or illness or undue hardship for which the waiver has been granted continues beyond the period of the waiver, the licensee shall reapply for an extension of the waiver. The Board may, as a condition of a waiver granted, require the licensee to make up all or part of the continuing education involved.

What happens if I am audited?

The Board will audit licensees to verify compliance with continuing education requirements. A licensee shall fully respond to an audit notice within thirty (30) days or other time period allowed in the notice.

References

49 Pa. Code §40.67

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