|
In an effort to improve the competency of Physical Therapists and Physical Therapists Assistants licensed in the State of California, the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) enacted a new continuing education requirement for license renewal on November 6, 2009.
The regulation requires 15 contact hours (equivalent to 1.5 CEUs) for licenses that expire between October 31, 2010 and October 31, 2011. Licenses that expire after October 31, 2011 require 30 contact hours (3.0 CEUs) for renewal. Therapists must take a minimum of 2 contact hours (0.2 CEUs) of a course covering Ethics, Laws, and Regulations, and 4 contact hours (0.4 CEUs) of a course that covers Life Support for the Health Professional (equivalent to the Basic Life Support for Health Professionals course that is offered by the American Heart Association).
Although therapists in the State of California have anticipated this requirement for quite some time, confusion runs rampant in the therapy community about how to fulfill the requirements. In an effort to disseminate the CEU requirements and establish quality continuing education experiences, the PTBC has joined forces with Continuing Competency Approval Agencies. These organizations review potential continuing education course materials to determine if they meet the necessary requirements set forth by the PTBC. Only courses that have been approved by these agencies will be recognized by the PTBC for license renewal.
While some therapists may frown upon these new requirements and view them as a major inconvenience, the new regulations set forth by the PTBC are designed to improve the overall competence of individuals in the profession and bolster the community’s confidence in receiving quality health care from our therapists. California was one of the few remaining States in the country that did not require CEUs from its therapists, which is surprising considering the progressive and proactive nature of the State. In an era where Evidence Based Medicine and Direct Access are issues that confront our therapists, the PTBC has moved our profession one step closer towards proving that Physical Therapists deserve to be viewed as independent and autonomous health care professionals.
To learn more about the new continuing education requirements for the State of California, visit the PTBC website at www.ptbc.ca.gov, or visit www.synergyptrn.com.
In the next several weeks, I will begin the Ethical Dilemmas in PT Series, in light of the new Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapist and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant created by the American Physical Therapy Association, which go into effect July 1, 2010.
Michael B. Scates, PT, MS, DPT is the Founder, President, and CEO of Synergy Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Network Inc. Synergy specializes in continuing education and quality assurance for rehabilitation services, and is a recognized Continuing Competency Approval Agency and Provider for the Physical Therapy Board of California. Michael is also an Expert Consultant and Practice Monitor for the Physical Therapy Board of California. Michael can be reached at scates@synergyptrn.com or 877-600-6847
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE
You must be logged in
to recommend articles
| 
