64B17-9.001: Continuing Education
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To rearrange the application so that confidential information can be protected.
SUMMARY: Updating Form 1144 to move the social security number and special testing accommodation question.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: (a) In FY 2007-2008, 17, 236 renewed their licenses and none applied to take the laws and rules exam for continuing education. It is unknown how many applicants would be impacted in future years. (b) The only costs to be incurred are rulemaking costs. (c) through (d) none. (e) through (f) N/A.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 486.025 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(6), 486.109(2) FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Physical Therapy Practice Board, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3255
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
64B17-9.001 Continuing Education.
(1) Every person licensed pursuant to Chapter 486, F.S., shall be required to complete twenty-four contact hours of continuing education courses approved by the Board in the twenty-four months preceding each biennial renewal period as established by the Department. However, applicants who become licensed in the second half of the biennium are exempt from this continuing education requirement for their first renewal.
(2) A contact hour shall consist of fifty clock minutes. One half contact hour shall consist of twenty-five clock minutes. One continuing educational unit (CEU) shall be considered equivalent to ten (10) contact hours.
(3) 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. No more than five contact hours of courses in risk management shall be accepted within a biennium. Up to three contact hours in HIV/AIDS education pursuant to Rule Chapter 64B17-8, F.A.C., may be included in the 24 contact hours. Up to three contact hours in prevention of medical errors education pursuant to Rule Chapter 64B17-8, F.A.C., may be included in the 24 contact hours.
(4) The Board will accept up to twelve contact hours for home study during a biennium.
(5) Course instructors providing continuing education to licensees under this chapter shall receive up to six contact hours credit per biennium. This shall be awarded on a contact hour for each contact hour presented. However, instructors teaching their normal course of instruction shall not be granted contact hours toward their continuing education.
(6) The Board approves for continuing education credit:
(a) Courses sponsored by a program in physical therapy at a college or university which provides a curriculum for training physical therapists or physical therapist assistants, when approved by the physical therapy or physical therapy assistants program, which is accredited by, or has status with an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education; or
(b) Courses sponsored or approved by the American Physical Therapy Association or any of its components; or
(c) Courses sponsored or approved by the Florida Physical Therapy Association, so long as they meet the criteria set forth in subsection 64B17-9.001(3), F.A.C.
(d) Attendance at Florida Board meetings where disciplinary cases are being heard if the licensee is not on the agenda or appearing for another purpose. The number of risk management contact hours for such attendance is based on the definition of contact hour as set forth in subsection (2).
(e) Members of the Board’s Probable Cause Panel shall receive five hours of continuing education risk management credit per biennium for their service on the Panel.
(f) Licensees who file DOH form #DH-MQA 1144, PT Florida Laws and Rules Examination Application, Revised 0802/09, incorporated by reference, which is available through www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa, and take and pass the Florida laws and rules examination shall receive two (2) hours of continuing education per biennium. The continuing education credit shall be awarded only for the biennium in which the examination was taken and passed. Continuing education credit shall not be awarded to licensees that take and pass the examination as a result of a disciplinary proceeding or as a board ordered condition of initial licensure, re-activation or reinstatement.
(7) The Board shall make exceptions for licensees from the continuing education requirements including waiver of all or a portion of these requirements or the granting of an extension of time in which to complete these requirements upon a finding of good cause by majority vote of the Board at a public meeting following receipt of a written request for exception based upon emergency or hardship. Emergency or hardship cases are those: 1) involving long term personal illness or illness involving a close relative or person for whom the licensee has care-giving responsibilities; 2) where the licensee can demonstrate that the required course(s) are not reasonably available; and 3) other demonstrated economic, technological or legal hardships that substantially relate to the ability to perform or complete the continuing education requirements.
(8) The licensee must retain such receipts, vouchers, certificates, or other papers as may be necessary to document completion of the appropriate continuing education offerings listed on the renewal form for a period of not less than four years from the date the offering was taken.
Rulemaking Authority 486.025 FS. Law Implemented 456.013(6), 486.109(2) FS. History–New 4-6-92, Formerly 21MM-9.001, Amended 3-7-94, Formerly 61F11-9.001, Amended 12-5-95, Formerly 59Y-9.001, Amended 2-14-02, 4-21-02, 1-2-03, 6-28-04, 4-9-06, 5-28-06, 2-17-08, 5-21-09, 8-10-09,________.