SECTION 435:20-9-2. Professional development requirements for renewal

(a)   Beginning with the renewal period ending January 31, 2000 and every two years thereafter, the applicant for renewal of licensure shall sign a statement indicating whether or not professional development requirements have been fulfilled for the preceding two-year period.

(b)   Effective February 1, 2022 and every two years thereafter, physical therapists will be required to show proof of forty (40) approved contact hours and/or PDU equivalent and Physical Therapist Assistants will be required to show proof of thirty (30) approved contact hours and/or PDU equivalent.

(1)   At least half of the required hours must be professional development coursework.

(2)   Three of the required hours must contain ethics education that includes the APTA Guide for Professional Conduct and the APTA Code of Ethics.

(3)   No professional development hours may be carried over from one compliance period to another.

(c)   Any applicant for renewal who cannot meet the requirements for professional development may not renew until deficient professional development units (PDUs) are obtained and verified. Additionally, within the next compliance period the licensee will be required to obtain double the required units of approved PDUs.

(d)   Each licensee is responsible for maintaining evidence/proof/record of participation in a professional development experience for a minimum of four years, two compliance periods. Copies of such proof shall be submitted to the Board upon request. Such proof shall include:

(1)   date, place, course title, schedule, presenter(s), etc.,

(2)   number of contact hours/PDUs for the activity,

(3)   proof of completion, such as abstracts, certificates of attendance, or other certification of completion.

(e)   Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant initially licensed in Oklahoma during the second year of a compliance period shall be exempt from the professional development requirements for that first renewal period.

(f)   The Physical Therapy Committee shall conduct random audits of the professional development records of the number of licensees that time and resources permit. The Physical Therapy Committee may appoint a sub-committee to review audits and requests for approval of professional development experiences and make recommendations to the Physical Therapy Committee for disposition.

(g)   Penalties for failure to comply with professional development requirements may be assessed after notice and hearing as required by law. Penalties may include imposition of additional PDUs, probation of license, suspension of license, or revocation of license.

(h)   Failure to maintain records of professional development rebuts the presumption that professional development requirements have been completed.

(i)   Misrepresenting compliance with professional development requirements constitutes a fraudulent application.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 43, eff 9-10-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 2026, eff 5-26-98; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 413, eff 12-8-00 (emergency); Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1313, eff 5-11-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2998, eff 8-19-02 (emergency); Amended at 20 Ok Reg 977, eff 5-21-03; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1101, eff 5-11-06; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 2002, eff 9-11-20]