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Continuing Education
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Continuing
Education Procedures
I. Continuing Education Requirements:
- CEU = continuing education unit. One unit is defined as 10 contact hours of an accredited course or program. A contact hour is equal to actual time in a seminar or workshop. Program content must be of clinical application, clinical management, behavioral science, or science.
- CEUs are required to be submitted only with odd-numbered year renewals. CEUs should be acquired beginning January 1, 2007 and ending December 31, 2008 to be credited for 2009 renewals. Individuals licensed as new graduates or by reciprocity in 2007 and 2008 begin accumulating in 2009 for 2011 renewals.
- According to the Arkansas Physical Therapy Practice Act, physical therapists must complete, in each biennium (two-year period), two (2) CEUs and physical therapist assistants are required to complete, in each biennium, one (1) CEU. This must be obtained within the 24-months preceding the odd-numbered year renewal month.
- A passing score on the jurisprudence exam is part of continuing education and required in the same period as continuing education.
III. Jurisprudence Exam:
- In order to assure that PTs and PTAs are familiar with practice requirements, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy implemented the requirement of a jurisprudence exam through the legislature in August 2005. A passing score on the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Exam is required for initial licensure and for license renewal. The exam is required with every odd numbered year renewal as part of continuing education.
- The exam consists of 20 questions from the Practice Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Practice Act and Rules and Regulations are available to be printed from the Board’s website and can be referenced during the exam. The passing score is 70%. The score is available at the end of the exam along with a printable certificate. One hour of continuing education credit will be given.
- The jurisprudence exam fee is $25.00 payable by credit card or e-check at the time the exam is taken. The exam is administered on the ARPTB website at www.arptb.org. To register for the exam, log on to the website, click on “register here for online jurisprudence exam” and enter your license number, date of birth and e-mail address. A user I.D., password and further instructions will be e-mailed to you.
III. Approval of CEU Programs:
- To receive CEU credit for a program, it must be approved by the Board or a Board approved entity either before or after it is attended. A form titled “Continuing Education Units” must be completed and submitted to the Board for approval of a program for CEUs within 60 days after course completion. Final submission deadline is December 31, 2008.
IV. Proof of CEUs:
- Proof of CEUs submitted with odd-numbered year renewals may be copies of the original completion certificate. Proof for college courses completed for CEUs is a transcript or grade report indicating that courses have been completed with grades of C or above.
- Submit your continuing education activities to the Board office on the CEU report form provided. Requests for additional information from the Board must be made in writing.
V. Content of CEU Programs/College Courses for CEUs:
- Board Rule requires that CEU approved programs and college courses must be in the area of clinical application, clinical management, behavioral science, science or scientific research.
- An article, or research which has been published within the two year cycle, may be submitted to the Board for consideration of up to one-half of the biennium CEU requirement. This request, along with the publication, must be presented to the Board. The article or research will be approved by the Board on an individual basis.
VI. Renewals with CEUs
- Renewal applications are mailed two months before the licensee’s renewal month, i.e. a renewal application due by March 1 is mailed no later than January 1.
- Each odd-numbered year, a renewal application mailed to PTs and PTAs who have not met CEU requirements will indicate that proof of CEUs must be submitted along with the completed renewal application.
- Completed renewal application, renewal fees, and proof of CEUs (includes the jurisprudence exam) must be submitted to the Board.
VII. Failure to Comply
- Licensees failing to complete the CEU requirement by December 31 of the year prior to renewal must pay $50.00 per month penalty until continuing education is completed and accepted by the Board.
- Licensees failing to comply with the CEU requirements by license renewal deadline will not receive license renewal and may not engage in the provision of physical therapy services.
1 Continuing Education Unit = 10 Contact Hours
2 Continuing Education Units = 20 Contact Hours
Physical Therapist ……………………. 2 CEUs by 12/31/08
Physical Therapist Assistant ………… 1 CEU by 12/31/08
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