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• California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA)

Continuing Competency Requirements Update

AB 120 was Chaptered into law and became effective January 1, 2007, adding Business and Professions Code (B&P) section 2676 to the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Section 2676 requires the Physical Therapy Board of California (Board) to establish by regulation criteria to implement the law for satisfying continuing competency requirements.

As a result, the Board appointed a task force charged to propose regulations specifying criteria to meet continuing competency requirements for license renewal of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Additionally, the task force was charged to establish a timeline for implementation. The task force will recommend the operative date of the regulations to begin two years after the effective date of the regulation. Since the regulation is not anticipated to be in effect until late 2008, the requirement to demonstrate competency as a condition for renewal will not be required until 2010. Another pressing determination was whether the Board would approve course providers. The task force will recommend the Board not approve course providers but accept coursework offered by a provider approved by a recognized organization.

Additionally, the task force discussed whether there should be different continuing competency requirements for physical therapists than physical therapist assistants; education vs. non-education alternatives to satisfy competency requirements; waivers from the competency requirements and the development of an inactive license status; establishment of specific course or course content requirements and limitations on repeated courses; implementation issues, such as licensee documentation, proof of compliance and the preparation of development plans and procedures; and compliance audit procedures. The task force voted to propose to the Board to adopt into regulation a minimum of 30 contact hours to satisfy the continuing competency requirement for licensure renewal of both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The task force also voted to propose a waiver process for military, illness, etc. Requirements for the waiver will be addressed at future task force meetings.

The Continuing Competency Task Force meeting agendas and meeting minutes are available on the Board's website.