SECTION 435:20-9-3. Professional development categories

(a)   Approval for professional development activities

(1)   To receive initial approval for a professional development offering, submission of an Application for Approval of Physical Therapy Professional Development form is required. The application must include the following information:

(A)   Course title with an abstract, summary or course syllabus and sufficient evidence demonstrating relevancy, recency and consistency with current practice.

(B)   A program agenda complete with a breakdown of all time spent in instructional and non-instructional periods to include, meals. (PDU will be awarded for instructional hours only.) (If a course is six hours or longer, the agenda must include at least a 30 minute lunch)

(C)   The course or program's goals and objectives sufficient to provide information for evaluation of relevance and practical application to the field of physical therapy beyond basic preparation of the licensee. If basic information is needed, the licensee will complete the professional self-reflection form to demonstrate current knowledge and competency of the topic and rationale as to why this course should be approved.

(D)   Documentation of instructor background/expertise relevant to the field of physical therapy.

(E)   Location of the program, including the address, city, state, and zip, or Internet site.

(F)   Contact name, phone number and address of course sponsors or publishers.

(G)   Specific date(s) of course participation.

(H)   Method of certifying attendance and instructional hours. (Adjustment of PDU awarded may occur within the approval process.)

(2)   Individual participants are responsible for maintaining these records.

(3)   Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants working less than 250 hours per year may submit a request for a lesser professional development requirement.

(4)   Pre-approval is required for guaranteed credit.

(b)   Synchronous professional development opportunities.

(1)   Synchronous education - Real time participation in a course, workshop or conference.

(2)   Presentation of program - A licensee who presents an original professional development program targeted towards peers and other health care professionals may receive professional development credit of 1.5 PDU per contact hour of instruction for the first presentation of this original material. No additional PDU for subsequent presentations within the compliance period.

(3)   Post Graduate Studies - Successful completion of post graduate education course work related to physical therapy will be awarded professional development credit of up to 16 PDU for each college credit course based on credit hours, syllabus, and learning objectives.

(c)   Asynchronous educational and competence opportunities. For licensees participating in a non-interactive course offered by videotape, satellite transmission, webcast, DVD, or other electronic media, one hour of participation earns one PDU. This method must include a post-test proficiency assessment in order to be accepted.

(d)   Other professional development activities.

(1)   Publication - Writing for professional publication may be awarded professional development credit. Acceptance for publication must occur within the current compliance period. Contact hours will not be approved for repeat publication of the same material. Licensee must present copy of published material to receive credit.

(A)   Each published paper/book and/or chapter/or case study will receive fifteen (15) PDUs.

(B)   Each published book review will receive ten (10) PDUs.

(2)   Study groups - A series of meetings designed for intense study in a physical therapy related topic. A minimum of four participants and four hours of participation are required for professional development eligibility. Those seeking approval for a group study project shall submit a full description including an outline of the topics and subtopics, references, or copies of the printed materials, a time and place of study, the methods to be used, the number of hours of credit sought, and any other information relevant to the evaluation of the proposed projects. The maximum number of PDUs of this type allowed during a compliance period is 12.

(3)   Collaboration with educational programs:

(A)   Supervising Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant students as a clinical instructor.

(i)   Continuous direct supervision of students and/or candidates for licensure can earn up to 10 PDUs in this category in a compliance period. Forty (40) hours of direct supervision will earn one (1) PDU regardless of the number of students and/or candidates for licensure being supervised.

(ii)   The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a clinical instructor with the name of the school/program and the length of time of clinical placement.

(B)   Presentations as a guest lecturer for Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs earns 2 PDU for the first presentation of original material, up to 4 PDU for two presentations of original material in a compliance period. No additional PDU for subsequent presentation may be earned within a compliance period. The licensee shall submit materials including: syllabus, curriculum vitae demonstrating expertise, statement of objectives, and strength of evidence demonstrating references used within last 5 years.

(4)   Research/Publication/Presentations

(A)   Publication:

(i)   Authorship or co-authorship of a book relating to physical therapy earns up to fifteen (15) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii)   The licensee must present a copy of published material to receive credit.

(B)   Research (published only):

(i)   Principal or co-investigator, project director, or research assistant earns five (5) PDU, up to ten (10) PDU in a compliance period, provided a licensee may only earn five (5) PDU for one original publication.

(ii)   The licensee shall submit research proposal/abstract, final results and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(C)   Presentations at professional workshops, seminars, conferences related to physical therapy earns 1.5 PDU per contact hour of instruction for the first presentation of original materials. A licensee may not earn additional PDU for subsequent presentations of the same materials within the compliance period. The licensee shall submit materials including: brochures or program, curriculum vitae demonstrating expertise, a statement of objectives and strength of evidence demonstrating references used within last 5 years.

(5)   Advanced Training:

(A)   Specialty certification. Achievement of an APTA or APTA Section-recognized specialty certification related to physical therapy/Advanced Proficiency for PTA will be awarded ten (10) PDU for initial certification and five (5) PDU for recertification. Credit will be granted for certification obtained with the compliance period in which the certification was granted. The licensee shall submit proof of certification for PDU determination.

(B)   Residences/Fellowships. For fellowships conferred by organizations credentialed by APTA in a specialty area of the practice of physical therapy, ten (10) PDU shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation up to a maximum of twenty (20) PDU per compliance period for this activity.

(i)   The licensee shall submit the certificate conferred on the licensee or evidence that all requirements of the fellowship program have been met.

(ii)   For completion of a residency program in physical therapy offered by an APTA credentialed organization, ten (10) PDU shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of twenty (20) PDU per compliance period for this activity.

(iii)   The licensee shall submit the certificate conferred on the licensee or evidencethat all requirements of the fellowship program have been met.

(6)   Physical Therapy organizations

(A)   Participation in the national physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i)   Participation as a board member, committee chair, task force member or delegate to a national assembly earns five (5) PDU per position for a maximum of ten (10) PDU.

(ii)   The licensee shall submit materials documenting the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the icensee's involvement.

(B)   Participation in a state physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i)   Participation as a voting board member or committee chair earns five (5) PDU per position for a maximum of ten (10) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii)   The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(C)   Participation in a regional or district physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i)   Participation as a district officer earns two (2) PDU per position for a maximum of four (4) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii)   The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(D)   Membership in the APTA for one year earns one PDU, up to two PDU in a compliance period.

(i)   The licensee shall submit membership card or certificate for each year of the compliance period.

(ii)   Membership in an APTA section for one year earns one half PDU, up to one PDU in a compliance period. Additional PDU are not awarded for membership in more than one section. Section membership is validated by membership card.

(E)   Learning opportunities not listed above may be considered for professional development credit, but will require pre-approval if submitted by the requested deadline.

(F)   Learning opportunities not accepted include but are not limited to:

(i)   Regularly scheduled education opportunities provided within an institution, such as: rounds or on-the-job required in-service training such as CPR, blood-borne pathogens, equipment or procedural updates.

(ii)   Staff meetings.

(iii)   Meetings, workshops or seminars held by personnel with less medical training than registered physical therapists or physical therapist assistants.

(iv)   Publications for the lay public.

(v)   Presentations to lay groups and non-professionals.

(vi)   Teaching personnel, students or staff within one's job requirement.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 43, eff 9-10-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 2026, eff 5-26-98; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 390, eff 10-6-98 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1230, eff 5-14-99; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 3596, eff 8-25-99 (emergency); Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1356, eff 5-11-00; 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 2312, eff 6-28-02; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2998, eff 8-19-02 (emergency); Amended at 20 Ok Reg 977, eff 5-21-03; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1750, eff 6-25-11; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 2002, eff 9-11-20]