Upcoming Webinars

Site Updates

Disclaimer

The analysis of any legal or medical billing is dependent on numerous specific facts — including the factual situations present related to the patients, the practice, the professionals and the medical services and advice. Additionally, laws and regulations and insurance and payer policies are subject to change. The information that has been accurate previously can be particularly dependent on changes in time or circumstances. The information contained in this web site is intended as general information only. It is not intended to serve as medical, health, legal or financial advice or as a substitute for professional advice of a medical coding professional, healthcare consultant, physician or medical professional, legal counsel, accountant or financial advisor. If you have a question about a specific matter, you should contact a professional advisor directly. CPT copyright American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

Menu
Log in
Forgot password


Search
Log in
Forgot password

Utah Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

Updated 8/20/2024

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

Physical therapists licensed in Utah are required to complete forty (40) contact hours every two (2) years.

Physical therapy assistants licensed in Utah are required to complete twenty (20) contact hours every two (2) years.

New Licensees

If a licensee first becomes licensed during the two-year renewal period, the licensee's required number of CEUs shall be decreased proportionately according to the date of licensure.

How is contact hour defined?

Each contact hour of continuing education course credit shall be at least fifty (50) minutes of education.

Licensees shall receive one (1) contact hour of continuing education for every two (2) hours of time spent:

    • Lecturing or instructing a course;
    • In a post-professional doctorate or transitional doctorate program; or
    • In a post-professional clinical residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.

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

If a PT completes more than the required number of contact hours of continuing education during the two (2) year renewal cycle, up to ten (10) contact hours of the excess may be carried over to the next two (2) year renewal cycle.

A PTA who completes more than the required number of CEUs during a two-year renewal cycle may carry over up to five (5) excess CEUs to the next two-year renewal cycle.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

Two (2) hours in ethics/law.

For an ethics or law continuing education course, include any of the following subjects:

    • Patient-physical therapist relationships;
    • Confidentiality;
    • Documentation;
    • Charging and coding;
    • Compliance with state or federal laws that impact the practice of physical therapy; or
    • A subject in the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics or Guide for Professional Conduct

CEU Categories

"Category I" CEU means:

    • A fellowship, residency, specialty certification, degree awarding education program, or in-person attendance at a live educational program event in which participants can interact with the presenter in real time; and
    • One (1) contact hour of Category I CEU equals two (2) continuing education units.

"Category II" CEU means:

    • In-person attendance at live educational coursework or a live education program in a school setting, an electronic course with assessment, volunteer service, clinical instructor supervision, or teaching a physical therapy education course; and
    • One (1) contact hour of Category II CEU equals 1 and 1/2 continuing education units.

"Category III" CEU means:

    • Electronic physical therapy educational coursework without assessment or examination, in-service presentations, self-study, journal clubs, or ethics or law coursework; and
    • One (1) contact hour of Category III CEU equals one (1) continuing education unit.

"Category IV" CEU means:

    • Licensed practice by a PT or PTA, up to a total of 500 hours; and
    • Fifty (50) practice hours of Category IV CEU equals one (1) CEU.

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

A continuing education course for a PT or PT shall meet the following requirements:

    • Have content relevant to the practice of physical therapy;
    • Have learning objectives that are clearly stated in course material;
    • Be prepared and presented by individuals who are qualified by education, training, and experience.

Activities may be completed as any of the following:

    • Department in-service;
    • Seminar;
    • Lecture;
    • Conference;
    • Training session;
    • Webinar;
    • ·Internet course;
    • Distance learning course;
    • Journal club;
    • Authoring of a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article or textbook publication;
    • Poster platform presentation;
    • Specialty certification through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties;
    • Post-professional clinical residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association;
    • Post-professional doctorate from a CAPTE accredited program;
    • Lecturing or instructing a continuing education course; or
    • Study of a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article.

Activity

Hour Limit

Clinical Instructor Supervision

The supervision of one or more:

  • Non-physical therapy students;
  • Physical therapist assistants; or
  • Physical therapy students.

Up to ten (10) CEUs for a PT and up to five (5) CEUs for a PTA.

Lecturing or instructing a course at an accredited university or college

Continuing education course, or as an invited guest lecturer

Up to ten (10) CEUs for a PT and up to five (5) CEUs for a PTA, subject to the following:

  • One (1) CEU shall be awarded for each hour of instruction;
  • Credit shall be awarded for lecturing or instructing the same course up to two times; and
  • Documentation of completion shall include a certificate or record from the human resources department.

Volunteer Service

Services provided at no charge that rely on the skills and advance the professional competence of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, such as serving on a professional board or providing services at a health fair screening.

Up to ten (10) CEUs for a PT and up to five (5) CEUs for a PTA.

Practice Hours for CEUs

Up to ten (10) CEUs for a PT and up to five (5) CEUs for a PTA.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

N/A

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

Course must be approved by, conducted by, or under the sponsorship of one of the following:

    • A recognized accredited college or university;
    • A state or federal agency;
    • A professional association, organization, or facility involved in the practice of physical therapy; or
    • A commercial continuing education provider.

What are the documentation requirements?

A PT or PTA shall maintain adequate documentation as proof of compliance with this section, such as certificate of compliance, school transcript, course description, or other course materials, for two (2) years after the end of the renewal cycle for which the continuing education is due.

At minimum, CEU course documentation shall include:

    • Date of the course;
    • Name of the course provider;
    • Name of the instructor;
    • Course title;
    • Course objectives; and
    • Number of contact hours of continuing education credit.

If the CEU is self-directed, such as independent study, group study, authoring, or in-service, documentation shall include:

    • Dates of study or research;
    • Title and an abstract of an article, textbook chapter, poster, or platform presentation;
    • Objectives of a self-study course; and
    • Number of contact hours of continuing education credit.

Waiver

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

Audit

N/A

References

Utah Admin Code r. 156-24b-303b

About Us

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

Learn More 

Join Us

Join today as a yearly member and enjoy full access to the site and a significant discount to our live and recorded webinars.  Members also have access to compliance and billing support.

Join Today 

Find Us


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software