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Continuing Education
All courses put on by APTA (including
sections and chapters) are approved for continuing education, as well
accredited university courses. (Each course is approved for a period of two years from initial approval year.) NO CE COURSES ARE REVIEWED FOR APPROVAL FROM AUGUST 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF EACH YEAR!
Application for Evaluating Home
Study Programs
Application for Evaluating
on-site Continuing Education Programs
Physical Therapist Assistant's will need at least 2 hours of Jurisprudence Continuing Education for the 2013 renewal period. This will count toward your 10 hours. You can find a list of pre-approved courses under Hot Topics!
*IMPORTANT COURSE APPROVAL RULE CHANGES COMING SOON* State of Alabama Board of Physical Therapy Announces Proposed Changes to Continuing Education Rules The State of Alabama Board of Physical Therapy (AL Board) will propose changes in early 2013 to the continuing education requirements of Alabama Administrative Code chapter 700‑X‑2‑.09 Renewal Of License. The AL Board is considering revisions to the requirements in an effort to advance the Board’s mission to protect the public. Of potential interest to providers of physical therapy continuing education courses is the following proposed change: Beginning with the licensure period starting on October 1, 2013 and ending with licensure renewals by September 30, 2014 all Alabama physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must complete 10 hours of continuing education activities that are certified by ProCert, the continuing competence activity evaluative program of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Rationale: The AL Board's current process of reviewing continuing education courses is a cumbersome, time-consuming, and costly function; shifting that responsibility to an organization with the same public protection focus as well as much greater resources and expertise in the evaluation of continuing education activities will enable the AL Board to more effectively allocate its resources to its many other public protection responsibilities. Additionally, the AL Board has determined ProCert is an effective, comprehensive and affordable evaluative service that better ensures the quality of continuing education programs. Anticipated Benefit(s) · Licensees o Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will derive the assurance that continuing education courses they complete have been thoroughly evaluated against a rigorous set of requirements, based on the research available around quality assurance. · Providers of Continuing Competence Activities o Continuing education course providers whose courses are ProCert certified will experience marketing advantages and increased demand for their activities. · AL Board o The elimination of time, effort and resources currently dedicated to the process of reviewing continuing education courses that can be shifted to other public protection responsibilities. · Alabama Consumers of Physical Therapy Services o Assurance that the physical therapists and physical therapist assistants providing their care are completing continuing education courses that meet a comprehensive set of standards and criteria aimed at quality and evidence-based. Anticipated Fiscal Impact: · Licensees o Minimal impact. ProCert review fees are $60 (or less with a review subscription) per course which may result in only negligible or nominal increases in course fees. However, the reduced costs for the AL Board may circumvent license fee increases in future years. · Providers of Continuing Competence Activities o Minimal impact. ProCert review fees are $60 or (or less with a review subscription) per course which adds only a nominal expense to the cost of developing the course. This minimal impact decreases with each additional state in which the course is delivered as ProCert certification is accepted in at least 11 additional states. · AL Board o Substantial savings of cost and labor associated with the process of reviewing courses. · Alabama Consumers of Physical Therapy Services o Negligible impact. Providers of continuing education programs may learn more about ProCert by visiting www.continuingcompetence.org/ or by contacting FSBPT ProCert program staff at competencestaff@fsbpt.org (703-299-3100, option 5). The Alabama Board invites dialogue and feedback from providers of continuing education both now and as we move forward through the rules change process. There will be notice to the public when actual rule changes are proposed with a formal comment period.
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