N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39A-9.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:39A-9.3 - Acceptable course offerings; credit hour calculation

(a) The Board shall grant continuing education and competency credit, at a rate of one credit for each hour of attendance unless otherwise specified in this section, only for courses, programs, or seminars that have been successfully completed and have significant educational or practical content, which deal with matters related to the practice of physical therapy or with the professional responsibilities or ethical obligations of licensees, such as the following:

1. Patient/client management;

2. Appropriate standard of physical therapy care;

3. Patient safety;

4. Application of new technology to physical therapy practice;

5. Patient communication;

6. Promotion of ethical practices;

7. Knowledge of the changing health care system;

8. Clinical instructor credentialing; and

9. Physical therapy practice management, administration and professional issues.

(b) All courses, programs, or seminars offered by the following sources and providers are pre-approved and a licensee shall be allowed the number of credits as follows:

1. Successful completion of a post-graduate course in a physical therapy program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree for the licensed physical therapist or a three-credit course in an entry level physical therapy program for the licensed physical therapist assistant. Such programs must be in institutions of higher learning, which are accredited by the United States Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education or their approved agencies: 15 credits for each course credit awarded;

2. Successful completion of a course in an academic program related to the practice of physical therapy provided that such course is not part of the physical therapy program completed by the licensee to meet the educational requirements for initial licensure under 13:39A-5.1 or 5.2: 15 credits for each course credit awarded; or

3. Successful completion of a continuing education and competency course sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), or the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey (APTANJ): one credit for each hour of the course.

(c) If a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant leaves a course, program, or seminar approved pursuant to (b) above prior to the end of the course, program, or seminar, the provider shall assign partial credit for the course, program, or seminar, based on the amount of time the licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant attended the course, program, or seminar, as indicated by attendance sheets maintained by the sponsor pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.6(a).

(d) The Board shall grant a maximum of 10 of the mandatory 30 continuing education and competency credits required in a biennial renewal period of licensed physical therapists and licensed physical therapist assistants from any or all of the following:

1. Successful completion of videotape, audiotape, computer media, Internet, journal, or correspondence courses, programs or seminars: a maximum of 10 credits per course, program or seminar. The course, program or seminar shall include an examination at its end. Credit for correspondence and other individual study courses or programs shall be provided only in the renewal period in which the course is completed with a successful final examination;

2. Successful completion of courses, programs or seminars consisting of hands-on demonstrations of instrumentation when accompanied by didactic lectures: one-half credit for each hour of attendance;

3. Preparation and presentation of a Board-approved continuing professional education and competency course, program, or seminar: two credits for each hour of a new presentation up to a maximum of 10 credits. For purposes of this subsection, "new" means a course, program, or seminar that the licensee has not taught previously in any educational setting. One credit for each hour of a presentation shall be given for subsequent sessions involving substantially identical subject matter up to a maximum of 10 credits, provided the original material has been updated and subject to the credit limits of this section;

4. Preparation of an educational or scientific article authored and published in a professional refereed journal: three credits per article as approved by the Board;

5. Courses, programs, or seminars in physical therapy practice management: one credit for each hour of attendance;

6. Writing a chapter of a published textbook related to physical therapy: three credits per chapter up to a maximum of 10 credits; or

7. Editing a published textbook related to physical therapy: five credits per book up to a maximum of 10 credits.

(e) A licensed physical therapist who becomes certified or recertified in a clinical specialty by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties shall receive 15 continuing education and competency credits for the biennial licensure period in which it takes place.

(f) A licensed physical therapist who successfully completes a residency or fellowship approved by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) shall receive 15 continuing education and competency credits for the biennial licensure period in which the residency takes place.

(g) A licensed physical therapist who completes the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) option shall receive three continuing education and competency credits for the biennial licensure period in which the option is taken.

(h) A licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant who provides clinical instruction to a student in a clinical facility that is affiliated with a physical therapy program that is approved for the education and training of physical therapists or licensed physical therapist assistants by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education shall receive one credit for each 40 hours of clinical instruction up to a maximum of four credits per biennial period.

(i) The Board shall maintain a list of Board-approved courses, programs and seminars submitted for approval pursuant to 13:39A-9.6.

(j) The Board may review and approve courses, programs, and seminars, which are not pre-approved pursuant to (b) above, when such courses, programs, and seminars are submitted for approval by a licensee for continuing professional education and competency credit. The licensee shall submit, on a form approved by the Board, the title, date, and location of the course, program, or seminar for which approval is being sought and the information required of a continuing professional education and competency provider pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.6(a)1.

(k) Continuing education and competency courses, programs, and seminars shall be offered on a nondiscriminatory basis. Membership organizations may discount the cost of attending continuing education and competency courses, programs, and seminars for dues-paying members.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:39A-9.3

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 3046(a), effective 12/7/2015

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 880(b), effective 6/3/2019

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 1500(b), effective 9/7/2021