Continuing Education

The annual completion of 16 hours of continuing education (CE) is required to maintain a license to practice physical therapy in Idaho.  Newly licensed individuals will be considered to have satisfied the CE requirements for the remainder of the year in which their license is granted.  The guidelines for acceptable CE credits are summarized below. 

250.    Continuing Education Requirement (Rule 34).

On and after January 1, 2008, every person holding a license issued by the Board must annually complete sixteen (16) contact hours of continuing education prior to license renewal (7-1-06)

01.    Contact hours. The contact hours of continuing education shall be obtained in areas of study germane to the practice for which the license is issued as approved by the board. (7-1-06)

02.    Documentation of attendance. It shall be necessary for the applicant to provide documentation verifying attendance by securing authorized signatures or other documentation from the course instructors, providers, or sponsoring institution substantiating any hours attended by the licensee. This documentation must be maintained by the licensee and provided to the board upon request by the board or its agent.  (7-1-06)

03.    Excess hours. Continuing education hours accumulated during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the license expiration date may be applied toward meeting the continuing education requirement for the next license renewal. Hours in excess of the required hours may be carried forward. Excess hours may be used only during the next renewal period and may not be carried forward more than one (1) time.  (7-1-06)

04.    Compliance audit. The board may conduct random continuing education audits of those persons required to obtain continuing education in order to renew a license and require that proof acceptable to the board of meeting the continuing education requirement be submitted to the bureau. Failure to provide proof of meeting the continuing education upon request of the board shall be grounds for disciplinary action.  (7-1-06)

05.    Special exemption. The board shall have authority to make exceptions for reasons of individual hardship, including health (certified by a medical doctor) or other good cause. The licensee must provide any information requested by the board to assist in substantiating hardship cases. This exemption is granted at the sole discretion of the board.  (7-1-06)  

06.    Continuing education credit hours. Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity approved by the Board.  (7-1-06)

a.    General Criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit:  (7-1-06)

i.    Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;  (7-1-06)

ii.    Pertains to subject matters integrally related and germane to the practice of the profession; (7-1-06)

iii.    Conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience to be considered qualified to present the subject matter of the program.  The Board may request documentation of the qualifications of presenters; (7-1-06)

iv.    Application for Board approval is accompanied by a paper, manual or outline which describes the specific offering and includes the program schedule, goals and objectives; and  (7-1-06)

v.    Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including: Date, location, course title, presenter(s); Number of program contact hours (One (1) contact hour equals one (1) hour of continuing education credit.); and the official signature or verification of the program sponsor.  (7-1-06)

b.    Specific Criteria. Continuing education hours of credit may be obtained by:  (7-1-06)

i.     Presenting professional programs which meet the criteria listed in these rules. Two (2) hours of credit will be awarded for each hour of presentation by the licensee. A course schedule or brochure must be maintained for audit;         (7-1-06)

ii.    Providing official transcripts indicating successful completion of academic courses which apply to the field of physical therapy in order to receive the following continuing education credits:  (7-1-06)

(1)    One (1) academic semester hour = fifteen (15) continuing education hours of credit;  (7-1-06)

(2)    One (1) academic trimester hour = twelve (12) continuing education hours of credit;  (7-1-06)

(3)    One (1) academic quarter hour = ten (10) continuing education hours of credit.  (7-1-06)

iii.    Attending workshops, conferences, symposiums or electronically transmitted, live interactive conferences which relate directly to the professional competency of the licensee;(7-1-06)

iv.    Authoring research or other activities which are published in a recognized professional publication. The licensee shall receive five (5) hours of credit per page;  (7-1-06)

v.    Viewing videotaped presentations if the following criteria are met:  (7-1-06)

(1)    There is a sponsoring group or agency;  (7-1-06)

(2)    There is a facilitator or program official present;  (7-1-06)

(3)    The program official may not be the only attendee; and   (7-1-06)

(4)    The program meets all the criteria specified in these rules;  (7-1-06)

vi.    Participating in home study courses that have a certificate of completion;(7-1-06)

vii.    Participating in courses that have business-related topics: marketing, time management, government regulations, and other like topics;  (7-1-06)

viii.    Participating in courses that have personal skills topics: career burnout, communication skills, human relations, and other like topics; and  (7-1-06)

ix.    Participating in courses that have general health topics: clinical research, CPR, child abuse reporting, and other like topics.  (7-1-06)

 07.    Submitting False Reports or Failure to Comply. The Board may condition, limit, suspend, or refuse to renew the license of any individual whom the Board determines submitted a false report of continuing education or failed to comply with the continuing education requirements.  (7-1-06)

 08.    Failure to Receive the Renewal Application. Failure to receive the renewal application shall not relieve the licensee of the responsibility of meeting the continuing education requirements and submitting the renewal application and renewal fee.  (7-1-06)

Each Idaho licensed physical therapist must sign an affidavit, certifying that the CE requirements have been met, before the license will be renewed.  The affidavit appears on the renewal form. The Board will conduct random audits to insure compliance with the continuing education requirements.  Documentation of your completion of the required CE must be provided if requested. 

AUDITS

The Board conducts annual audits to insure compliance with the continuing education requirements.  Audits may be initiated anytime after you renew your license.  By signing your renewal application, and answering "Yes" to the question that you have met the continuing education requirements, you are certifying to the Board that you have already obtained proof of having completed the required continuing education. 

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET MET THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, DO NOT SUBMIT A RENEWAL APPLICATION INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE.  Submitting a fraudulent application for licensure is grounds for discipline against your right to practice.

Failure to submit the required documentation may result in Board action against your right to licensure. 

You should review the the Board rules regarding continuing education before signing up for any continuing education offerings.

If you have questions about the CE requirements, you may e-mail the Bureau office. 

CE providers may obtain Board approval by submitting a completed Continued Education Approval Form.