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WACs > Title 246 > Chapter 246-915 > Section 246-915-085











246-915-078    

246-915-086







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WAC 246-915-085









Continuing competency.









Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must provide evidence of continuing competency in the form of continuing education and employment related to physical therapy every two years. (1) Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. (2) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are required to complete a one-time training in suicide assessment that includes screening and referral elements appropriate for this profession. The training must be at least three hours in length and must meet the requirements for training per WAC 246-915-086. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must complete a one-time training by the end of the first full continued competency reporting period after January 1, 2016, or during the first full continued competency reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later. Training completed between June 12, 2014, and January 1, 2016, that meets the requirements of this section will be accepted as meeting the one-time training requirements. (3) Acceptable continuing education specifically relating to the practice of physical therapy includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Participation in a course with specific goals and objectives relating to the practice of physical therapy; (b) 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; (c) Correspondence course work completed. (4) A physical therapist with a spinal manipulation endorsement must complete at least ten hours of continuing education per continuing competency reporting period directly related to spinal manipulation. At least five hours of the training must be related to procedural technique and application of spinal manipulation. (5) In addition to the required continuing education hours, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must complete 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. (6) Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants shall maintain records of all activities relating to continuing education and professional experience for a period of 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 hours, for all continuing education being reported. (b) 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 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 18.74.023 and 43.70.442. WSR 15-14-093, § 246-915-085, filed 6/29/15, effective 7/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023. WSR 08-17-026, § 246-915-085, filed 8/13/08, effective 8/13/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023(4). WSR 04-08-101, § 246-915-085, filed 4/6/04, effective 5/7/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. WSR 98-05-060, § 246-915-085, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023. WSR 94-05-014 (Order 403B), § 246-915-085, filed 2/4/94, effective 3/7/94.]