Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.74.023(4).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The legislature has mandated that the Board of Physical Therapy establish and administer requirements for continuing competency as a prerequisite for the renewal of a physical therapy license. Currently, the board requires forty hours of continuing education coursework and two hundred hours of employment every two years as an effective means toward promoting continued competency. This requirement is intended to protect the consumer from incompetent physical therapy care and revisions are being considered to clarify existing requirements and to allow physical therapists more options for maintaining competency.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Process for Developing New Rule: The board and program will use collaborative rule making to involve all interested parties in the development of rules pertaining to physical therapy practice. The repeal and/or revision of existing rules, the development of future rules and the dissemination of drafts will be provided to all interested parties for further comment and discussion prior to consideration to adopt by the Board of Physical Therapy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Carol Neva, Program Manager, Board of Physical Therapy, 1300 S.E. Quince Street, P.O. Box 47868, Olympia, WA 98504-7868, phone (360) 753-3132, fax (360) 753-0657.

April 29, 1998

Carol Neva

Program Manager