Continuing Education Insight
Idaho Continuing Education Update
By: Lindsey Tatum, Milestone Continuing Education
Unlike the typical biennial renewal period, physical therapy licensees in Idaho are required to complete their 16 hour continuing education requirement annually (established on January 1, 2008). These 16 hours must directly relate to the practice of physical therapy to ensure that the practitioner is up to date on current techniques and practices in their field. The practitioner must provide written proof of attendance or completion for all continuing education, and these documents must be kept (by the PT or PTA) for future reference. Keeping records is important as the board may opt to perform unannounced audits and investigations into the claimed continuing education credits of licensees up for renewal.
The Idaho Physical Therapy Board DOES allow practitioners to carry over continuing education hours in excess of the annual required sixteen. These extra hours can be put toward fulfilling the following renewal period’s CE requirement, but may only be carried over once. The Board defines appropriate forms of continuing education as those that “…constitute an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee…” (further details may be found on page 9 of the Board Rules, or by clicking here).
Now that you know what you’re required to do, how does the board expect you to choose a continuing education program or provider in a sea of options? Seriously, there are as many forms of continuing education as there are potato chip flavors… According to the Rules, the signs of accreditation you should look for include the following:
- Affiliation with the American Physical Therapy Association (local APTA chapters)
- Affiliation with the Federation of State Board of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
- CAPTE Commission or Accreditation in PT education
- Affiliation with the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)
- University of College program accredited (or in candidacy for accreditation) by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools
- Other Board-approved CE activities
As always, you can contact the board with questions, concerns, or verification of the Laws and Rules governing your license renewal requirements. Visit the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses website for details and contact information.
This post was provided by Lindsey Tatum from Milestone Continuing Education.
https://www.MilestoneCE.com/
Milestone Continuing Education is an approved provider of physical therapist and physical therapy assistant continuing education by the Idaho Physical Therapy Board. Look for our discount on the homepage of RehabEdge.com.
Disclaimer: It is ultimately the responsibility of the practitioner to be aware of changes to their continuing education requirements. Check your state board’s website to make sure you are up to date on your requirements, as they frequently change.
