Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-24-402 - Continuing Competence Activities

A. Category A continuing competence activities shall be approved by:

1. An accredited medical, health care, or physical therapy program;

2. A state or national medical, health care, or physical therapy association, or a component of the association; or

3. A national medical, health care, or physical therapy specialty society.

B. Category A continuing competence activities include:

1. A physical therapy continuing education course designed to provide necessary understanding of current research, clinical skills, administration, or education related to the practice of physical therapy. Calculation of contact hours is determined by dividing the total minutes of instruction by 60. Breaks shall not be included as part of instructional time;

2. Coursework towards granting or renewal of a physical therapy clinical specialty certification approved by the Board. Each 60 minutes of instruction equals one contact hour;

3. Coursework in a physical therapy clinical residency program. Each 60 minutes of instruction equals one contact hour; and

4. Coursework in a postgraduate physical therapy education from an accredited college or university. Each 60 minutes of instruction equals one contact hour.

C. Category B continuing competence activities include:

1. Study group: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. A study group is a structured meeting designed for the study of a clinical physical therapy topic dealing with current research, clinical skills, procedures, or treatment related to the practice of physical therapy.

b. A study group shall have a minimum of three participants and two hours of participation to equal one contact hour.

2. Self instruction: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Self instruction is a structured course of study relating to one clinical physical therapy topic dealing with current research, clinical skills, procedures, or treatment related to the practice of physical therapy. Self instruction may be directed by a correspondence course, video, internet, or satellite program.

b. Each 60 minutes of self instruction equals one contact hour.

3. Inservice education: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Inservice education is attendance at a presentation pertaining to current research, clinical skills, procedures, or treatment related to the practice of physical therapy or relating to patient welfare or safety, including CPR certification.

b. Each 60 minutes of inservice education equals one contact hour.

D. Category C modes of continuing competence include:

1. Physical therapy practice management coursework: Maximum of five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Physical therapy practice management course work is course work concerning physical therapy administration, professional responsibility, ethical obligations, or legal requirements applicable to physical therapy practice settings.

b. If the course is graded, a licensee or certificate holder shall receive a "pass" in a pass/fail course or a minimum of a C in a graded course to receive credit.

c. Each 60 minutes of practice management coursework equals one contact hour.

2. Teaching or lecturing: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Teaching or lecturing is the presentation of an original educational program dealing with current research, clinical skills, procedures, treatment, or practice management related to the practice of physical therapy principally for health care professionals. Credit may be earned for teaching when the presentation is accompanied by written materials prepared, augmented, or updated by the presenter including course objectives and program content.

b. One 60 minute instructional period equals 2.5 contact hours.

c. Credit shall be given only once for a presentation within a compliance period.

3. Publication: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Publication includes writing for professional publication, platform, or poster presentation abstracts that have direct application to the practice of physical therapy. Credit may be earned for publication of material that is a minimum of 1500 words in length and published by a recognized third-party publisher of physical therapy material.

b. Each article published in a refereed journal, book chapter, or book equals five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants. Articles published in non-refereed journals, magazines, newsletters, or periodicals equal two contact hours for physical therapists and one contact hour for physical therapist assistants.

4. Clinical instruction: Maximum five contact hours for physical therapists and two contact hours for physical therapist assistants.

a. Clinical instruction involves assisting a student physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or a physical therapist resident or fellow acquire clinical skills required of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

b. An individual to whom clinical instruction is provided shall be enrolled in:

i. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education; or

ii. A physical therapist residency or fellowship program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.

c. The program referenced under subsection (D)(4)(b) shall provide the enrolled individual with proof of completing the hours of clinical instruction.

d. Each 120 hours of clinical instruction equals one contact hour.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-24-402

New Section adopted by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 2399, effective June 9, 2000 (Supp. 00-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 404, effective 4/6/2019.