Date of Adoption: February 27, 2004.

     Purpose: These rules set the continuing competency requirements for licensed physical therapists. The proposed changes will create additional options for inactive therapists to maintain competence and clarify existing requirements. 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.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-915-085 Continuing competency.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.74.023(4).

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-03-104 on January 21, 2004.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

February 27, 2004

Sam Stockton, PT, Chair

Board of Physical Therapy

OTS-6734.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)

WAC 246-915-085   Continuing competency.   Licensed physical therapists must provide evidence of continuing competency in the form of continuing education and employment related to physical therapy ((must be submitted)) every two years. ((Licensees born in even numbered years shall submit their continuing competency record form with license renewal every even numbered year. Licensees born in odd numbered years shall submit their continuing competency record form with license renewal every odd numbered year.))

     (1) Education - Licensed physical therapists must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.

     (a) Continuing education specifically relating to the practice of physical therapy((.));

     (((i))) (b) Participation in a course with specific goals and objectives relating to the practice of physical therapy;

     (((ii) Cassette tape, video tape)) (c) Audio or video recordings or other multimedia devices, and/or book/article review. A maximum of ten hours may be used for books/articles reviewed;

     (((iii))) (d) Correspondence ((coursework)) course work completed.

     (2) ((Physical therapy employment - 200 hours specifically relating to physical therapy.)) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) of this section, 200 hours involving the application of physical therapy knowledge and skills, which may be obtained as follows:

     (a) In the clinical practice of physical therapy; or

     (b) In nonclinical activities that involve the direct application of physical therapy skills and knowledge, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

     (i) Active service on boards or in physical therapy school or education program accrediting bodies;

     (ii) Physical therapy teaching or presentations on:

     (A) Patient/client management, prevention and wellness;

     (B) Physical therapy ethics and standards of practice;

     (C) Professional advocacy/involvement;

     (iii) Developing course work in physical therapy schools or education programs or physical therapy continuing education courses;

     (iv) Physical therapy research as a principal or associate researcher; and

     (v) Physical therapy consulting.

     (3) Licensees shall maintain records of all activities relating to continuing education and professional experience for a period of ((seven)) four years. Acceptable documentation shall mean:

     (a) Continuing education. Certificates of completion, course sponsors, goals and objectives of the course, credentials of the presenter as a recognized authority on the subject presented, dates of attendance and total ((contact)) hours, for all continuing education being reported.

     (b) ((Cassette tape, video tape)) Audio or video recordings or other multimedia devices, and/or book/article review. A two-page synopsis of each item reviewed must be written by the licensee.

     (i) For audio or video recordings or other multimedia devices, a two-page double-spaced synopsis for every one to four hours of running time must be written by the licensee. Time spent writing a synopsis is not reportable.

     (ii) For book/article review, a two-page double-spaced synopsis on each subject reviewed must be written by the licensee. Time spent writing a synopsis is not reportable.

     (c) Correspondence ((coursework)) course work completed. Course description and/or syllabus and copies of the completed and scored examination must be kept on file by the licensee.

     (d) Physical therapy employment. Certified copies of employment records or proof acceptable to the board of physical therapy employment for the hours being reported.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-915-085, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023. 94-05-014 (Order 403B), § 246-915-085, filed 2/4/94, effective 3/7/94.]

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