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 shall be 29. The maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period for an interactive course offered through electronic media shall be 15. Credit shall not be given for the same course or conference more than once during any reporting period. The licensee shall retain 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 semester hour earns 15 points, and the maximum number of points allowed during any reporting period shall be 29. The licensee shall 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 retain a transcript published by the approved provider or furnished by the academic institution.
(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 shall be five. Credit shall not be given for the same activity more than one time. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be 10. Credit shall not be given for the same course more than once during a reporting period. The licensee shall retain a certificate of completion provided by the course provider.
(5) For participation in a study group consisting of at least three licensees conducted either live or in real time through electronic media, 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 shall be 10. The licensee shall retain 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 for the purpose of advancing 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 shall be five. The licensee shall retain a description of the plans and objectives of the me 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 shall be granted for each contact hour. The maximum number of points for each reporting period shall be 29. The licensee shall retain 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 during any one reporting period allowed shall be 10. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of 20 points per reporting period for this activity. The licensee shall retain the certificate conferred on the licensee or evidence that all requirements of the fellowship program have been met.
(2) For completion of a residency program in physical therapy offered by an APTA credentialed organization, 10 points shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of 20 points per reporting period for this activity. The licensee shall retain the certificate conferred on the licensee or 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"), 20 points shall be awarded upon receipt of such certification or recertification during any reporting period. The licensee shall retain 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 per reporting period. The licensee shall retain evidence from APTA that the designation has been awarded.
(c) Achieving a passing score on the Federation's Practice Review Tool ("PRT") earns 10 points. Taking the PRT without achieving a passing score earns five points. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be 29. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be 29. The licensee shall retain 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 the maximum number of points awarded during any reporting period shall be eight. The licensee shall retain 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 retain written materials advertising the presentation or teaching, or other evidence of the date, subject, goals and objectives of the presentation, and any written materials prepared by the licensee. A maximum of six points shall be 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 shall be 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 retain a copy of the research grant that shall 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 retain a copy of the research grant that shall include the title, an abstract, the funding agency, the grant period and documentation of the funding received in a given 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 shall be allowed. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be 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 retain 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 retain 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 retain 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 retain the article and a list of consulted resources. Each article, book-review, or abstract shall count 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 retain a copy of the poster or presentation and a list of consulted resources.
(g) Clinical practice shall be eligible for points as follows:
(1) For each year during the reporting period that a licensee is engaged in clinical practice for 1,750 hours or more, three points shall be awarded. The licensee shall retain certification from the employer(s) for whom the services were performed including year and hours worked or document practice hours as the owner of a practice.
(2) For each year during the reporting period that a licensee is engaged in clinical practice for at least 1,000 hours but less than 1,750 hours, two points shall be awarded. The licensee shall retain a certification from the employer(s) for whom the services were performed including year and hours worked or document practice hours as the owner of a practice.
(3) For each year during the reporting period that a licensee is engaged in clinical practice for at least 200 hours but less than 1,000 hours, one point shall be awarded. The licensee shall retain a certification from the employer(s) for whom the services were performed including year and hours worked or document practice hours as the 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 retain 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 shall be 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, shall be allowed. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be allowed. The licensee shall retain 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 shall be the maximum credit 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 shall be 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, physical therapy services task force member, or delegate to a national assembly earns five points for each full year of participation, up to a maximum of 10 points during any reporting period. The licensee shall retain 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 retain 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 retain 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 retain 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 retain 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 during the reporting period. The licensee shall retain proof of membership in the APTA.
(7) Membership in an APTA Section for one year earns one-half point. The licensee shall retain proof of membership in the APTA Section. Points shall not be awarded for membership in more than one Section.
(8) Selection by the Federation 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 retain documentation of participation by the Federation 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 retain a log of hours of participation including date, activity performed, location of the research, and primary investigator.
(k) During each reporting period, every licensee shall 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. 90-270.92;
Eff. January 1, 2009;
Amended Eff. April 1, 2015; February 1, 2015; January 1, 2014;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. May 1, 2018;
Amended Eff. May 1, 2020.