(1) Effective June 18, 2014, Any occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant who wishes to utilize O.T. techniques involving physical agent modalities, must document, successful completion of a minimum of 90 contact hours of instruction or training approved by the Board which covers:
(a) Principles of physics related to specific properties of light, water, temperature, sound, or electricity, as indicated by selected modality;
(b) Physiological, Neurophysiological, and Electrophysiological, changes, as indicated, which occur as a result of the application of selected modality;
(c) The response of normal and abnormal tissue to the application of the modality;
(d) Indications and contra indications related to the selection and application of the modality;
(e) The guide lines for treatment or administration of the modality within the philosophical framework of occupational therapy;
(f) The guide lines for educating the patient including instructing the patient to the process and possible outcomes of treatment, including risks and benefits;
(g) Safety rules and precautions related to the selected modality;
(h) Methods of documenting the effectiveness of immediate and long term effects of treatment; and
(i) Characteristics of the equipment including safe operation, adjustment, and care of the equipment.
(2) No less than 36 contact hours must be directly related to the specific theories and practical application of physical agent modalities.
(3) Acceptable instruction or training shall include any activity relevant to the practice of physical agent modalities in occupational therapy and may include formal academic education, conferences, workshops, seminars, web based instructions, and in-service education.
(4) Each occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant is responsible for submitting documentation of training. Documentation shall include:
(a) Identification of the specific course or training where the therapist learned content related to each subject area (a-i);
(b) Proof of 90 hours of instruction or training. This may be reported by:
1. A statement of attendance or a copy of the certificate of completion which shows title of program, hours of program, date program was taught, signature of designated program official, and a brochure or program outline; or
2. An official grade report/transcript and course outline to verify academic education.
(c) Additional documentation may be requested by the Board, if deemed necessary.
O.C.G.A. §§
43-28-3(9), 43-28-7, 43-28-8.1, 43-28-12, 43-1-3 and 43-1-25.
