Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
An individual licensed as a PT or PTA is responsible for
optimum service to the public and is accountable for maintaining evidence of
high levels of skill and knowledge. Evaluation and assessment of current
competence is critical for PTs and PTAs. The results of an evaluation or
assessment should be used by the licensee to then select appropriate
developmental activities.
(1) A
licensed PT or PTA shall earn three (3.0) CEUs per biennium period and at least
fifteen (15) contact hours of the three (3.0) CEUs total must be obtained
through the completion of Certified Activities. PTs and PTAs licensed in South
Carolina are not subject to this requirement for the first biennium renewal
period in which they are initially licensed.
(2) A PT or PTA must complete three (3)
contact hours of study in ethics, professionalism, and/or South Carolina
jurisprudence per biennium as part of his/her CEU requirements. This
requirement shall be obtained by participation in a Certified Activity and will
count towards the licensee's required Certified Activity hours.
(3) At least fifteen (15) of the required
thirty (30) contact hours shall be from Certified Activities. Certified
Activities include:
(a) attendance at
conferences and completion of continuing competency activities that meet the
Standards of Continuing Competence (SCC) as set forth by the FSBPT. Credit for
this item is applied as awarded by the provider, and a certificate of
completion is required as evidence of compliance.
(b) attendance at conferences and completion
of continuing competency activities provided by the American Physical Therapy
Association (APTA), South Carolina Chapter of the American Physical Therapy
Association (SCAPTA), other chapters and sections of the APTA, as well as other
state boards of physical therapy. Credit for this item is applied as awarded by
the provider, and a certificate of completion is required as evidence of
compliance.
(c) completion of
educational programs where CE credit is given and approved by accredited
universities. Credit for this item is applied as awarded by the provider, and a
certificate of completion is required as evidence of compliance.
(d) attendance at educational programs where
CE credit is given and approved by SCAPTA. Credit for this item is applied as
awarded by the provider, and a certificate of completion is required as
evidence of compliance.
(e)
completion of an APTA credentialed fellowship or residency. Licensees who are
enrolled in a fellowship or residency will be considered as meeting the
educational and competency requirements for the entire licensure biennium in
which the certification or renewal is received. A letter from the director of
the residency or fellowship program is required as evidence of
compliance.
(f) certification or
recertification of clinical specialization by the American Board of Physical
Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) or PTA advanced proficiency certification. A
licensee who completes this certification or recertification will be considered
as having met the CEU requirement for the entire licensure biennium in which
the certification or recertification is awarded.
(g) completion of academic course work
germane to the practice of physical therapy and conducted or sponsored by
accredited institutions of higher education. Courses must be on the graduate
level for PTs. Undergraduate courses are acceptable for PTAs. Ten (10) contact
hours may be awarded for each credit hour awarded by the accredited institution
of higher education. A transcript from the institution which indicates a
passing grade in the course is required as evidence of compliance.
(h) completion of any appropriate physical
therapy continued competency tools, including examinations and/or
self-assessments, developed by the FSBPT and/or APTA. Credit for CEUs is
applied as awarded. If no contact hours are awarded, a licensee may receive
five (5) contact hours. A certification of completion is required as evidence
of compliance.
(i) completion of
courses relating to physical therapy approved by the American Medical
Association (AMA). A certification of completion is required as evidence of
compliance.
(4) A
licensee may obtain up to fifteen (15) hours of CEU credit through Approved
Activities per biennium. Approved Activities include:
(a) completion of continuing education
courses and attendance at conferences that do not meet the requirements for
Certified Activities. A licensee who completes such a course or attends such a
conference will receive credit for: ten (10) contact hours for each
course/conference that totals thirty-two (32) hours or longer; five (5) contact
hours for each course/conference that totals a minimum of eight (8) but fewer
than thirty-two (32) hours; and two (2) contact hours for each
course/conference that totals fewer than eight (8) hours. A certification of
completion is required as evidence of compliance.
(b) clinical instruction. Clinical
instructors shall receive one (1) contact hour for every one hundred and sixty
(160) hours of clinical internship, limited to a maximum of six (6) contact
hours per instructor per biennium. Students must be enrolled in CAPTE
accredited or eligible DPT or PTA programs. Clinical instructors must be
credentialed by APTA to receive clinical continuing education credits.
Verification of the clinical supervision agreement with the student's
educational program and a log reporting supervision hours is required as
evidence of compliance. A certificate of completion from the educational
program may also be used as evidence of compliance.
(c) attendance at in-service education
programs pertaining to safety, governmental regulation, clinical concepts, or
CPR. One (1) contact hour per in-service program may be awarded for a maximum
of three (3) contact hours per biennium. Learning objectives, program schedule,
and verification of attendance from an employer are required as evidence of
compliance.
(d) teaching a course
on a subject germane to the practice of physical therapy at an accredited
institution of higher education when that teaching is an adjunct responsibility
and not the license's primary employment. CEU credit is based on didactic
classroom/lab teaching time and may not exceed ten (10) contact hours per
biennium. A letter from the institution documenting the licensee's completion
of this activity is required as evidence of compliance.
(e) performing volunteer work. A licensee who
renders physical therapy services voluntarily and without compensation or the
expectation or promise of compensation and seeks no reimbursement from
charitable and governmental sources may receive one (1) contact hour of
continuing education for each hour of volunteer medical services rendered, up
to a maximum of seven and one-half (7.5) contact hours per biennium. A letter
from the organization/individual for whom the licensee is providing volunteer
services documenting the licensee's completion of this activity is required as
evidence of compliance.
(f)
presentations made before physical therapists or other health care
professionals and directly related to the profession of physical therapy. Three
(3) contact hours per presentation/topic may be awarded. Documentation of the
learning objectives presented and a presentation brochure or flyer are required
as evidence of compliance. A licensee may obtain no more than six (6) hours of
credit for this activity per biennium.
(g) self-study germane to the practice of
physical therapy, which may be directed by a correspondence course, video,
internet or satellite program by a provider not outlined in the Certified
Activities listed above. One (1) contact hour per study topic may be awarded.
Documentation of the study objectives, activities, and time spent to meet
objectives, as well as reflection on learning achieved, is required as evidence
of compliance. A licensee may obtain no more than two (2) hours of credit for
this activity per biennium.
(h)
conducting peer-reviewed research germane to the practice of physical therapy
performed by the licensee. Credit for ten (10) contact hours may be awarded for
principal and co-principal investigators in research projects. The title of the
research project and copy of the abstract, as well as the funding agency and
grant period, if applicable, are required as evidence of compliance.
(i) writing a professional publication.
Credit for eight (8) contact hours may be awarded for each peer-reviewed
publication written by a licensee. Credit for four (4) contact hours may be
awarded for each non-peer-reviewed publication. A copy of the article, book
chapter, or other work product is required as evidence of compliance. A
licensee may obtain no more than eight (8) hours of credit for this activity
per biennium.
(j) participation in
a formal mentorship (as mentor or protégé). Credit for five (5)
contact hours may be awarded per biennium for a licensee's participation in a
formal mentorship program. Documentation of the objectives and action plans, as
well as documentation of the activities completed are required as evidence of
compliance.
(5)
Notwithstanding any provision in this Chapter to the contrary, no contact hours
or CEUs may be awarded for a licensee's:
(a)
attendance at staff meetings, or involvement in presentations or publications
directed at lay groups;
(b)
participation in non-educational entertainment or recreational meetings or
activities;
(c) participation or
attendance at case conferences, grand rounds, informal presentations,
etc.;
(d) participation in
self-directed studies other than those specifically allowed for
herein;
(e) routine teaching,
research, or orientation duties as part of a job requirement;
(f) CEUs or contact hours carried over from
one licensure period to another; or
(g) attendance at exhibits or poster
presentations.
(6)
Reporting Requirements:
(a) reports shall be
submitted in a manner prescribed by the Board. By signing the biennial report
of continuing education, the licensee signifies that the report is true and
accurate
(b) Licensees shall retain
original documentation of all Certified Activities and Approved Activities
completed as required herein for no less than three (3) years from the
beginning date of the licensure period.
(7) Audit of continuing competency:
(a) each licensee shall be responsible for
maintaining sufficient records in a format determined by the Board;
and
(b) these records shall be
subject to a random audit by the Board to assure compliance with this section;
and
(c) the Board may audit a
percentage of the continuing education reports.
(8) In the event of denial, in whole or part,
of credit for purposes of meeting the requirements of this Section, the
licensee shall have the right to request a hearing in accordance with the
Administrative Procedures Act.