21 NCAC 48G .0109. CONTINUING COMPETENCE ACTIVITIES

(a)  Continuing Education activities are eligible for points as follows:

(1)           A registered attendee at courses or conferences offered live, in real time by approved providers earns one point for each contact hour. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period is 29. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period for an interactive course offered through electronic media is 15.Credit shall not be given for the same course or conference more than once during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit the Certificate of Attendance issued by the approved provider.

(2)           For registered participation in an academic course related to physical therapy offered for credit in a post-baccalaureate program unless the course is required for licensure, one class hour earns one point, and the maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period is 29. The licensee must obtain a letter grade of "C" or better or "P" if offered on a Pass/Fail basis. Credit shall not be given for the same course more than one time. The licensee shall submit the course description published by the approved provider.

(3)           For attendance or participation in an activity related to physical therapy for which no assessment is received, two contact hours earns one point. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period is five. Credit shall not be given for the same activity more than one time. The licensee shall submit a certificate of completion, or if that is not available, a summary of the objectives of the activity and the time spent in the activity.

(4)           For registered participation in a non-interactive course offered by an approved provider by videotape, satellite transmission, webcast, DVD or other electronic media, one hour of participation earns one point. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period is 10. Credit shall not be given for the same course more than once during a reporting period. The licensee shall submit a certificate of completion provided by the course provider.

(5)           For participation in a study group consisting of at least three licensees whose purpose is to advance the knowledge and skills of the participants related to the practice of physical therapy, two hours of participation in the study group earns one point. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period is 10. The licensee shall submit a biography of each participant, a statement of the goals of the study group, attendance records for each participant, assignments for each participant and an analysis by each participant specifying the knowledge and skills enhanced by participating in the study group.

(6)           For participation in a self-designed home study program designed to advance the knowledge and skill of the participant related to the practice of physical therapy, three hours of home study earns one point. The maximum number of points allowed for home study during any reporting period is five. The licensee shall submit a description of the plans and objectives of the home study, an analysis of the manner in which the plans and objectives were met, and a certification of the time spent on the project.

(7)           For participation in continuing education required by credentialed residencies and fellowships, one point is granted for each contact hour.  The maximum number of points for each reporting period is 29. The licensee shall submit the certificate of attendance issued by the American Physical Therapy Association ("APTA") credentialed residency or fellowship.

(8)           For completion of a home study physical therapy program furnished by an approved provider, one hour of home study earns one point. The maximum number of points allowed is 10. The licensee shall submit a certificate of completion issued by the approved provider.

(b)  Points are awarded for advanced training as follows:

(1)           For fellowships conferred by organizations credentialed by the APTA in a specialty area of the practice of physical therapy, 10 points are awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of 20 points for this activity.  The licensee shall submit the certificate conferred on the licensee.

(2)           For completion of a residency program in physical therapy offered by an APTA credentialed organization, 10 points are awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of 20 points for this activity. The licensee shall submit evidence that all requirements of the residency program have been met.

(3)           For specialty certification or specialty recertification by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialization ("ABPTS"), or its successor organization, 20 points are awarded upon receipt of such certification or recertification during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit evidence from ABPTS that the certification or recertification has been granted.

(4)           For a physical therapist assistant, Advanced Proficiency designation by the APTA for the PTA earns 19 points. The licensee shall submit evidence from APTA that the designation has been awarded.

(c)  Achieving a passing score on the FSBPT's Practice Review Tool ("PRT") earns 10 points. Taking the PRT without achieving a passing score earns five points. The licensee shall submit the certificate of completion and performance report. Points shall be awarded only one time for any specific practice area.

(d)  Clinical Education activities are eligible for points as follows:

(1)           For completion of a course offered by an approved provider for a licensee to become a Credentialed Clinical Instructor recognized by APTA, one course hour earns one point, and the maximum number of points awarded during any reporting period is 29. The licensee shall submit a credential certificate issued by the approved provider. Credit for completing the same course shall be given only once.

(2)           For enrollment in a course offered by APTA for a licensee to become a Credentialed Clinical Instructor Trainer, one course hour earns one point, and the maximum number of points awarded during any reporting period is 29. The licensee shall submit a Trainer certificate issued by APTA. Credit for completing the same course shall be given only once.

(3)           For serving as a Clinical Instructor for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant student, resident or fellow for a period of at least 80 hours, 40 hours of direct on-site supervision earns one point, and a maximum credit of eight points is allowed during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit verification of the clinical affiliation agreement with the accredited educational program for the student supervised and a log showing the number of hours spent supervising the student.

(e)  Presenting or teaching for an accredited physical therapy educational program, a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy ("DPT") program, an accredited program for health care practitioners licensed under the provisions of Chapter 90 of the North Carolina General Statutes, or a state, national or international workshop, seminar or professional health care conference earns two points for each hour of presentation or teaching. The licensee shall submit written materials advertising the presentation or teaching, or other evidence of the date, subject and goals and objectives of the presentation and any written materials prepared by the licensee. A maximum of six points is allowed during any reporting period, and credit shall not be given for teaching or presenting the same subject matter more than one time during any reporting period.

(f)  Research and published books or articles are eligible to accumulate up to a maximum of 15 points as follows:

(1)           Submission of a request to a funding agency for a research grant as a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator earns 10 points. The licensee shall submit a copy of the research grant that must include the title, an abstract, the funding agency and the grant period. Points shall be awarded only one time during any reporting period.

(2)           Having a research grant funded as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator earns 10 points. The licensee shall submit a copy of the research grant that must include the title, an abstract, the funding agency, the grant period and documentation of the funding received and for what period. Points shall be awarded only one time during a reporting period.

(3)           Service as a Grants Reviewer earns one point for each two hours of grant review and a maximum of five points may be earned. The licensee shall submit a description of all grants reviewed and any reports generated in connection with the reviews, including the dates of service, the agency for whom the review was performed and the hours spent on the grant review. Points are awarded only once for each grant reviewed during the reporting period.

(4)           The author or editor of a book published by a third party entity dealing with a subject related to the practice of physical therapy earns 10 points. The licensee shall submit a copy of the published book and a list of consulted resources. Points shall be awarded only one time during any reporting period.

(5)           The author or editor of a chapter in a book published by a third party entity dealing with a subject related to the practice of physical therapy earns five points. The licensee shall submit a copy of the published book and a list of consulted resources. Points shall be awarded only one time during any reporting period.

(6)           The author of a published peer-reviewed article relating to the practice of physical therapy earns 10 points. The licensee shall submit the article, names and employers of the reviewers and a list of consulted resources. Points shall be awarded only one time during any reporting period.

(7)           The author of a published non peer-reviewed article or book-review or abstract relating to the practice of physical therapy earns four points. The licensee shall submit the article and a list of consulted resources. Each article, review, or abstract earns four points one time only.  A maximum of four points shall be awarded during any reporting period.

(8)           The author of a published peer-reviewed abstract, book review, or peer-reviewed abstract for a poster or presentation related to the practice of physical therapy to a professional health care group earns five points for a presentation, up to a maximum of 15 points during any reporting period, and credit for the same poster or presentation shall not be awarded more than one time. The licensee shall submit a copy of the poster or presentation and a list of consulted resources.

(g)  Clinical practice is eligible for points as follows:

(1)           For each year that a licensee is engaged in full-time clinical practice, three points shall be awarded. The licensee shall submit certification from the licensee's employer(s) or documentation of practice hours as owner of a practice that clinical practice during the year reached or exceeded 1750 hours.

(2)           For each year that a licensee is engaged in part-time clinical practice, two points shall be awarded. The licensee shall submit a certification from the licensee's employer(s) or documentation of practice hours as owner of a practice that clinical practice during the year reached or exceeded 1000 hours.

(3)           For each year that a licensee is engaged in clinical practice for at least 200 hours, one point shall be awarded. The licensee shall submit a certification from the employer(s) for whom the services were performed or documentation of practice hours as owner of a practice.

(h) Professional Self-Assessment earns five points for completion of an approved Reflective Practice Exercise. This exercise shall be approved if it is a process for a licensee to evaluate current professional practice abilities, to establish goals to improve those abilities, to develop a plan to meet those goals and to document that the objectives are being accomplished. The licensee shall submit evidence of completion of all elements of the Reflective Practice Exercise. Points shall be awarded only one time during any reporting period.

(i)  Workplace Education is eligible for points as follows:

(1)           Presentation or attendance at an in-service session related to the practice of physical therapy, including health care issues related to the practice of physical therapy, is allowed. The licensee shall submit a roster or certificate of attendance signed by a representative of the employer. Two hours of attendance earns one point.  One hour of presentation earns one point.  A maximum of five points may be earned during any one reporting period. Credit for the same in-service shall not be granted more than one time.

(2)           Presentation or attendance at an in-service session devoted to general patient safety, emergency procedures, or governmental regulatory requirements is allowed. The licensee shall submit a roster or certificate of attendance signed by a representative of the employer. Two contact hours of in-service are equivalent to one point, which is the maximum credit that shall be granted during any reporting period. Credit for the same in-service shall not be granted more than one time during any reporting period.

(j)  Professional Service is eligible for points as follows:

(1)           Participation in a national physical therapy or interdisciplinary (including physical therapy) organization as an officer or chair of a physical therapy services committee or physical therapy services task force member earns five points for each full year of participation, up to a maximum of 10 points during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit organizational materials listing the licensee's participation, a statement of the responsibilities of the position and a summary of the activities of the licensee.

(2)           Participation in a state physical therapy or interdisciplinary (including physical therapy) organization as an officer or chair of a physical therapy services committee earns four points for each full year of participation, up to a maximum of eight points during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit organizational materials listing the licensee's participation, a statement of the responsibilities of the position and a summary of the activities of the licensee.

(3)           Participation in a local or regional physical therapy or interdisciplinary (including physical therapy) organization as an officer or chair of a physical therapy service committee earns two points for each full year of participation, up to a maximum of four points during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit organizational materials listing the licensee's participation, a statement of the responsibilities of the position and a summary of the activities of the licensee.

(4)           Participation as a member of a physical therapy professional organization committee involved with physical therapy services earns one point for each full year of participation, up to a maximum of two points during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit organizational materials listing the licensee's participation, a statement of the responsibilities of the committee and a summary of the work of the committee.

(5)           Participation in unpaid volunteer service to the general public and healthcare professionals related to physical therapy earns one point for at least 20 hours spent on service activities during each year, up to a maximum of two points during any reporting period. The licensee shall submit published materials describing the service activity.

(6)           Membership in the APTA for one year earns one point. A point may be earned for each year of membership. The licensee shall submit proof of membership in the APTA.

(7)           Membership in an APTA Section for one year earns one-half point. The licensee shall submit proof of membership in the APTA Section. Points shall not be awarded for membership in more than one Section.

(8)           Selection by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) for participation as an item writer of exam questions for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) or by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) earns five points for each year of participation. The licensee shall submit documentation of participation by the FSBPT or ABPTS.

(9)           Participation in clinical research, clinical trials or research projects related to the practice of physical therapy earns 1 point for each hour of participation up to a maximum of 10 hours per reporting period. The licensee shall submit a log of hours of participation including date, activity performed, location of the research and primary investigator.

(k)  During each reporting period, every licensee must complete a jurisprudence exercise provided by the Board. The jurisprudence exercise shall be available online at the Board's website, at http://www.ncptboard.org and a certificate of completion shall be issued to a licensee at the conclusion of the exercise, at which time one point shall be awarded to the licensee. The maximum number of points allowed during a reporting period is three.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-270.26(3a);

Eff. January 1, 2009;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2014.