Continuing Education in the State of Florida

Requirements for Renewal of Licensure

Every licensee must complete 24 hours of approved continuing education (CE) within the two year (biennium) licensure period which includes the following:
• Two (2) hours of prevention of medical errors education
• As of July 1, 2006, licensees are no longer required by Chapter 456, F.S., to take an HIV/AIDS course for each renewal. However, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are required to take an approved HIV/AIDS for their first license renewal only. That course is required by the Board of Physical Therapy Practice to be 1 contact hours in duration.
• Applicants licensed in the second half of the biennium (On and after December 1) are exempt from this CE requirement for their first renewal.
• Up to twelve hours may come from home study/online courses.

The current biennium began December 1, 2005 and will end November 30, 2007. Click here to link to the Board of Physical Therapy Practice.

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Continuing Education Accreditation Policies and Procedures Committee Guidelines

From FS 486.109 and Chapter 64B17-8 and 64B17-9 the Continuing Education Accreditation Policies and Procedures Committee has developed the Guidelines under which courses are approved for continuing education in the state of Florida.

Florida Physical Therapy Association Continuing Education Accreditation Policies and Procedures Guidelines

I. ADMINISTRATION 5/96

(A) The Board of the Florida Physical Therapy Association (hereinafter the FPTA BOD) shall have general jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the administration of Continuing Education as outlined in the Rules 64B17-9.001.

(B) The FPTA BOD shall have the authority to set policies to accomplish the responsibilities assigned to it as described in Chapter 486.109 Florida Statutes and 64B17-9.001 rules. These policies shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Administration of the programs for certification in Florida.

(2) Establishment of reasonable and nondiscriminatory standards concerning education, experience, and other relevant matters for granting certification to course providers under Rule 64B17-9.001.

(3) Establishment of procedures for the consideration of applicants for course certification based upon recommendations by the continuing education committee (hereinafter "committee").

(C) The FPTA staff shall be responsible for all duties delegated to it by the committee as long as the committee retains responsibility for staff decisions. Such duties may include, but not be limited to:

(1) Accepting applications;

(2) Conducting preliminary review of applications;

(3) Contacting, either orally or in writing, candidates for certification for additional information or clarification;

(4) Arranging meeting sites and preparing agenda for the committee;

(5) Processing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants credit requests.

(6) Tracking for FPTA members or other contracted individuals.

(D) Administrative Procedure

(1) Meetings. Meetings of the committee may be held at such places and times as directed by the Chairman. Timely written notice of date and place of a meeting shall be given to all members.

(2) Quorum. Four members shall constitute a quorum of the committee for the transaction of business.

(3) Removal of Members. The Chairman of the committee may petition the President of The Florida Physical Therapy Association to remove a committee member for good cause shown. "Good cause" shall be determined by the FPTA BOD in accordance with the bylaws.

II. ACCREDITATION - GENERAL INFORMATION

(A) Authority to Accredit

(1) The FPTA BOD bears ultimate responsibility in the certification of course applicants. Its involvement, however, should be no more extensive than necessary to ensure minimum standards as set forth in FS 486.109 and Florida Administrative Rule 64B17-9.001.

(B) Areas of Certification

(1) Those areas of certification as set forth by 64B17-9.001 include: professional ethics, clinical education, clinical management, clinical science, Florida law relating to physical therapy, basic sciences, risk management, HIV/AIDS. (Refer to Rule 64B17 - 9.001)

(2) Instruction on HIV/AIDS is approved under Administrative Rule 64B17-8. (Refer to Rule 64B17-8.001)

(3) There is a limitation of number of continuing education hours in three areas as defined by Rule 64B17-9.001: No more than five contact hours can be received in the area of risk management per biennium; no more than three contact hours can be received in HIV/AIDS per biennium; no more than twelve contact hours can be received for home study per biennium.

(1) Any request for a new area shall be presented to the Florida Board of Physical Therapy.

(D) Applications for Certification of Courses

(1) Form and Content. Applications shall be typewritten on forms approved by the committee. Each question shall be answered or shown as "not applicable." All applications and the information contained therein shall be sworn to by the applicant as being true and complete.

(2) Completion of Requirements. An applicant shall complete all requirements prior to filing an application.

(3) Supplemental Information. To ascertain entitlement to certification, the committee may require an applicant to provide information in addition to that called for on the application form, including requiring an applicant to submit to the committee any additional information it deems necessary to make a final determination.

(4) Timeliness of Filing.

(a) Applications submitted by course providers must be received prior to course dates.

(b) Applications submitted by individual licensees for attendance at an out-of-state and/or non pre-approved program must be received prior to course dates or within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the same licensure period in which the course(s) was completed.

(5) Peer Review. Each applicant may be requested to submit names of licensed practitioners who can attest to the applicant's competence in the area in which certification is sought, in accordance with the rules.

(a) The committee may solicit statements from additional practitioners.

(b) Statements of reference that may be requested concerning applicants shall be submitted on forms furnished by the FPTA.

(d) If the peer review process on an applicant is unsatisfactory and, as a result, a denial is imminent, due process requires the applicant be permitted to confront the evidence to be used against him or her. Because all references comments are confidential, information cannot be considered valid unless the reference authorizes its release or agrees to support his or her comments in a formal appearance before the FPTA BOD. When negative references are not supported, it will be the responsibility of the committee to determine an alternate course of action.

(6) Processing. Staff shall conduct a preliminary review of each application prior to committee review.

(a) An applicant with a deficient application will be notified by staff in writing prior to committee review.

(b) An application complete on its face shall be substantively reviewed and a response will be issued within 30 days of applications receipt.

(7) Confidentiality. The filing of an application and its contents, statements of reference shall be confidential so as to be consistent with the effective administration of the certification program and fairness to the applicant.

(E) Annual Audit

(1) Each FPTA member (or approved non-member) shall receive an annual audit of course work completed on a form designed by the committee.

(2) The form is intended to update the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant by verifying continuous substantial involvement and Continuing Education hours attained during the preceding year.

(3) It is the responsibility of each individual requesting contact hours to attest to their attendance and completion of courses and maintain their own records (refer to FS 486.109) for a minimum of three years.

(F) Physical Therapy and Animals

(1) Approval will be given to Physical Therapy and animal courses given out of the state of Florida, as long as they go through the application process.

(2) To approve courses involving animals and therapy in the state of Florida, the course giver will be informed that animal practice is illegal in Florida. The course giver must include this disclaimer when they offer the course.

(G) Partial Course Approval

(1) Partial credit may be given.

(2) The application for partial course approval must be reviewed by a Continuing Education Committee Member.

III. COURSE APPROVAL PROCEDURES

(A) To apply for approval of a course for accreditation, the sponsoring organization shall submit, The Application For Approval of Continuing Physical Therapy Education, containing a description of the course or project, and a description of the sponsoring organization and type of provider with appropriate supporting documentation. An application should be submitted 60 days in advance of the advertising of the project if the advertising materials are to contain a statement on the credit approval.

(B) The course approval request shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee for all sponsors seeking certification credit approval, of which $50 is non-refundable. Authorization for the evaluation fee has been granted by the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. The only exception to payment of the fees:

(1) Florida Physical Therapy Association (Refer to FS 486.109)

(2) American Physical Therapy Association or any of its components (Refer to FS 486.109)

(3) Courses sponsored by a college or university which provides a curriculum for training physical therapists or physical therapist assistants which is accredited by, or has status with an accrediting agency approved by, the United States Department of Education. (Refer to FS 486.109)

(C) A seminar will not be evaluated by the FPTA if the sponsor does not submit all of the information required in the application.

(D) Staff shall make an administrative ruling in accordance with standards adopted by the committee, and may refer the application to the committee for assistance in making its decision.

(E) Approval shall include a statement of the number of hours of contact awarded and course reference number.

IV. COURSE APPROVAL CRITERIA

(A) The content of a course must be of a nature to enhance the knowledge and performance of a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant.

(B) The fact that the content of a course is basic or elementary does not necessarily mean that it cannot enhance the knowledge and performance of an individual. Such courses may be considered for full or fractional credit. The statement of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who attended a course as to its benefit to him may be considered with other information in making a decision on whether credit should be awarded.

(C) Each area of certification must be approved under Administrative Rule 64B17-9.001 (3) which states: Acceptable subject areas for physical therapy continuing education include professional ethics, clinical education, clinical practice, clinical research, clinical management, clinical science, Florida law relating to physical therapy, basic sciences, risk management, and HIV/AIDS.

(D) A course designed for an audience other than physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may not receive accreditation.

(E) The following criteria may be accepted as proof of experience in clinically related subjects areas.

(1) A minimum of twenty-five percent of the instructors time is involved in the "practice of a health care related specialty" for the previous three-year period; or

(2) An average of 375 hours per year of the instructors time is involved in the "practice of a health care related specialty" or area stipulated by 64B17-9.001 for the previous three-year period.

(3) Definition of experience needed as a basis for eligibility to instruct a course is that kind and volume of knowledge that after a period of three years gives the instructor reasonable proficiency in the area of instruction.

(F) Postgraduate education may justify a waiver of the three years substantial experience, which gives the instructor the degree of proficiency contemplated by the definition of "experience."

(G) Exemption will be given for HIV/AIDS approved courses.

(H) Record of Professional Ethics and Competence of Course Provider.

(1) Each instructional applicant shall be required to submit information concerning:

(a) all instances of discipline in which the sanction imposed was a stipulation or greater; and

(b) all disciplinary complaints currently pending.

(I) Each applicant shall be required to submit information concerning any malpractice claims made against him/her (or against the applicant's firm which relate to his/her negligence) which resulted in a lawsuit filed, settlement paid or appointment of an attorney by the malpractice carrier to defend the applicant or his/her firm.

(J) Goals and objectives must be sufficient to provide staff and committee suitable information for evaluation of practical application to the field of Physical Therapy.

(K) A detailed outline of the course content must be submitted with the application. This should include the type of activity. Activity will be defined as the method of instruction for the participants, i.e. live presentation; audio video; tele-conference; university course offering; or other mechanism.

(L) Fees

(1) A fee of $80.00 for courses of 1-3 contact hours, $150.00 for 4-7 contact hours and $225.00 for 8 or more contact hours; except for those courses applied and offered only in the final quarter of the year- the fee shall be $100 for 4-7 contact hours, and $150 for 8 or more contact hours, shall be assessed sponsors seeking certification accreditation.

(2) A $20.00 non-refundable fee shall be assessed any individual who seeks accreditation for an otherwise non-approved course prior to course dates or within sixty (60) days after attendance at the course.

(3) A $100.00 fee shall be assessed any individual who seeks accreditation for an otherwise non-approved course beyond sixty (60) days after attendance at the course within the same licensure period.

(4) A $20.00 non-refundable fee shall be assessed any new licensee in the State of Florida who seeks accreditation for an otherwise non-approved course within sixty (60) days after receiving their license.

(5) A fee of $20.00 is applicable to Credit For Other Activities. (Refer to VI)

(6) A fee of $20.00 is exempt for HIV/AIDS approved courses per 64B17-8.

(7) A fee of $50 shall be assessed to any individual wishing a review of courses taken in previous licensure periods for confirmation on approval status (if the individual is/was not in the tracking system at the time the course was taken).

(M) For the same course offered more than one time per calendar year, there is no additional application or fee required as long as the content, time frame, and speaker(s) remain the same. Only changes in date and locations will be allowed within a calendar year.

(N) The number of hours required for certification are set out in Florida Statute 486.109 and is currently 24 contact hours or (2.4 CEU's) biennially. (Refer to FS 486.109) No course shall be accredited for less than one hour.

(1) Fifty minutes is equivalent to one contact hour. (Refer to Rule 64B17-9.001)

(2) Twenty-five minutes is equivalent to one half contact hour. (Refer to 64B17-9.001)

(O) Location of the course needs to be adequate for the number of participants and type of presentation. There are no other limitations to the site of the course.

(P) Proof of Completion/Attendance. Course Providers shall certify attendance and complete list of attendees that are due to the FPTA no later than 10 days following completion of the course. The attendees names shall be recorded at the end of the approved course on the sheet supplied by the FPTA office. The attendees must sign next to his/her name.

(Q) Partial Credit. Course Providers may grant credit for partial attendance at an FPTA approved course. Partial credit will be given at the discretion of the course provider. Credit for partial attendance must be noted on the list of attendees submitted to the FPTA. The FPTA is absolved of any responsibility pertaining to partial course credit except on courses where the FPTA is the course provider.

(R) It is the responsibility of the course provider to ensure course attendance of those persons wishing to receive contact hours. The FPTA is absolved of all responsibility pertaining to course attendance except on courses where the FPTA is the course provider.

(S) Proof of Approval/Accreditation. Course Providers shall include the course approval number on all attendance verification given to attendees. In addition, verification should list the approved number of continuing education hours.

V. INDIVIDUAL HOME STUDY/ INTERNET CREDIT

(A) No more than twelve contact hours of individual home study or internet course study may be obtained during a biennium according to 64B17-9.001. (Refer to Rule 64B17-9.001) A person seeking approval of an individual study project shall submit a full description including an outline of the topics and subtopics, a copy of the printed materials, the time and place of study, the methods to be used, the number of hours of credit sought, and any other information relevant to the evaluation of the proposed course or project. APTA Home Study/Internet Study and FPTA Home Study/Internet Study Courses are pre-approved.

(B) Anyone seeking designated credit for private study involving audio or video cassettes, shall send appropriate information to staff for evaluation. Credit will be granted in the same manner as outlined in (A) of this section..