Continuing Professional Competency Manual Physical Therapists

Table of Contents Physical Therapist Continuing Professional Competency (CC) Requirements Manual ............................... 2 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program................................................................................ 3 Compliance with CC Requirements through CPD Program ....................................................................... 3 Step 1: Complete Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT) and Create Learning Goals ......................... 3 Step 2: Create and Execute a Learning Plan .......................................................................................... 4 Step 3: Accrual of Professional Development Activities (PDA) .............................................................. 4 Step 4: Maintain Documentation of PDA .............................................................................................. 6 Deemed Status.............................................................................................................................................. 6 Compliance with CC Requirements through Deemed Status .................................................................... 6 Military Exemption ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Compliance with CC Requirements through Military Exemption .............................................................. 7 Audit of Compliance ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Overview of Required Documentation...................................................................................................... 7 Licensees participating in the CPD Program .......................................................................................... 7 Licensees claiming Deemed Status ........................................................................................................ 8 Questions ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Overview for Physical Therapists ....................... 11

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Physical Therapist Continuing Professional Competency (CC) Requirements Manual What is Continuing Professional Competency (CC)? Pursuant to section 12-41-114.6(3), C.R.S, “continuing professional competency” is defined as “the ongoing ability of a physical therapist to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as a physical therapist according to generally accepted standards and professional ethical standards.” Who is required to participate? Effective after the 2014 license renewal, or upon the completion of the first renewal of a license thereafter, all Colorado licensed physical therapists must satisfy continuing professional competency requirements in order to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a license to practice physical therapy. Physical therapist assistants (PTA) are not required to participate. How do I comply with Colorado’s physical therapist CC requirements? Per statute, licensed physical therapists will comply with the continuing professional competency requirement by one of three methods:  Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program administered by the Board (section 12-41114.6(1)(b), C.R.S.)  Deemed Status (section 12-41-114.6(1)(c), C.R.S.)  Active Duty Military Exemption (section 12-70-102, C.R.S.) What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)? Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the Board’s program and one way a licensee can satisfy the continuing professional competency requirements in order to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a license. For each renewal period, the CPD program consists of the following elements: 1. A Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT) and establishment of learning goals; 2. Development of a Learning Plan; and 3. Accrual of 30 points through Professional Development Activities (PDA), at least 15 points must be accrued from Category I activities. Do I have to complete an Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (AKS)? As of November 1, 2016, completion of an AKS is no longer a requirement. Once every ten years, you may receive credit for completing an approved AKS. oPTion, as administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), is approved for 10 Category I points. To register, visit FSBPT at www.fsbpt.org/oPTion. What are Professional Development Activities (PDA)? Professional Development Activities (PDA) are learning activities undertaken to increase a licensee’s knowledge and skill or hone existing knowledge and skill for the purpose of continuing professional development. PDA are organized into Category I, II and III activities with corresponding point values (see the Learning Plan and the Professional Development Activities (PDA) List). Thirty (30) PDA points, at least 15 points of these being from Category I activities, must be accrued each renewal period. 2 Rev. 1/2017

How do I choose continuing education courses and PDA? The Board does not preapprove specific courses or providers. A licensee shall determine which activities and topics will meet his/her Learning Plan and goals and select an appropriate provider. PDA must be relevant to the licensee’s practice as a physical therapist and pertinent to his/her Learning Plan and goals. How long do I need to keep documentation of my PDA activities? Documentation of PDA must be kept for 2 renewal cycles (4 years), see the Board’s Professional Development Activities (PDA) List for a complete list of the documentation required for each PDA. How do I keep documentation of my PDA activities? Documentation should be kept in an organized and easily retrievable manner. The Board recommends the use of aPTitude, a free online resource available through the FSBPT website. This free online resource allows a licensee to easily find, track and manage PDA. More information can be found at www.fsbpt.org/aPTitude. Do I send my completed RSAT, Learning Plan, certificates of completion, etc. to the Board? Do not send documentation to the Board or DPO unless, or until, you are notified of an audit of compliance. Any documentation received that was not requested will not be kept or returned to the licensee. If I indicate that I need improvement in my practice, can I be disciplined by the Board or can any of this information be used in a civil action? No, any records or documentation regarding the continuing competency program can only be used to determine if a physical therapist is maintaining continuing competency as required. Pursuant to section 12-41-114.6(2), C.R.S., “Records of assessments or other documentation developed or submitted in connection with the continuing professional competency program are confidential and not subject to inspection by the public or discovery in connection with a civil action against a licensed physical therapist. A person or the board shall not use the records or documents unless used by the board to determine whether a licensed physical therapist is maintaining continuing professional competency to engage in the profession.” How can I find more information about these requirements? The information used to create this User’s Manual can be found in the Physical Therapy Practice Act, specifically section 12-41-114.6, C.R.S., Board Rule 213 and the Board’s website. To access statues, rules and policies, visit the Board’s website at www.colorado.gov/dora/Physical_Therapy . To access the CC page, visit www.colorado.gov/dora/Physical_Therapy_CPC. Questions can also be directed to the Continuing Competency (CC) Helpdesk by email at [email protected] or by phone at 303-8942363.

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Participation in the Board’s CPD program is one way to comply with CC requirements. Licensees who cannot claim Deemed Status or do not qualify for a Military Exemption must participate in the CPD program. In order to renew, a licensee will attest to his/her compliance with the CPD program.

Compliance with CC Requirements through CPD Program Step 1: Complete Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT)and Create Learning Goals Per Board Rule 213 A.8, the RSAT is “a reflective practice tool in which a licensee can reflect upon his/her knowledge and skills pertaining to the foundational areas of physical therapy practice taking into account the licensee’s current level and area of practice.” A licensee will complete the approved RSAT that is available on the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO’s) webpage at www.colorado.gov/dora/Physical_Therapy_CPC_Forms. It is to be completed once per 2-year renewal period and will be kept by the licensee. No points will be awarded for the completion of the RSAT. A licensee should not submit the RSAT to the Board unless requested by DPO on behalf of the Board. The RSAT is a personal assessment that takes into account a licensee’s current skill level, as well as how important the licensee feels the skill actually is to his/her current or planned practice. It consists of questions to be answered on a numerical scale. The questions cover multiple dimensions of professional skills related to the practice of physical therapy. The dimensions covered are diverse and intended to help a licensee honestly reflect on his/her practice and realize potential areas for improvement. Results from the RSAT will guide a licensee in creating learning goals that the licensee will work toward over the renewal period. Licensees will create between 2 and 4 learning goals for each renewal period. These learning goals serve as a resource to guide a licensee’s professional development and continuing competency activities. An assessment of knowledge and skills (AKS), which is defined as an objective third-party assessment that compares a licensee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to the standards for entry-level practice, may be completed once every 10 years, in lieu of the RSAT. An approved AKS will also count for points toward the 30 point requirement of the CPD Program. Currently, only the AKS called “oPTion,” offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is approved and is worth 10 Category I points. Please visit www.fsbpt.org/oPTion, to register.

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Step 2: Create and Execute a Learning Plan Per Board Rule 213 A.5, the Learning Plan is “a Board approved form through which a licensee documents his/her goals and plans of learning that were developed from his/her RSAT and AKS (when appropriately applied).” A licensee will use the approved Learning Plan form that is available on the CPD website. If selected for an audit of compliance, a signed and executed Learning Plan containing the licensee’s goals will be submitted to DPO. Otherwise, a Learning Plan(s) will not be sent to the Board but will be retained by the licensee for the appropriate retention period. The Learning Plan provides a framework to guide continuing competency activities over a renewal period. The form contains checkboxes with approved continuing competency activities and corresponding point values to alert the licensee of potential ways he/she may earn points to achieve the learning goals created. A Learning Plan is completed for each learning goal that is created. Learning goals are created from the results of the RSAT (or AKS). During the renewal period, a Learning Plan can be modified/updated but must be finalized before a license is renewed.

Step 3: Accrual of Professional Development Activities (PDA) Per Board Rule 213 A.7, Professional Development Activities (PDA) are “learning activities undertaken to increase the licensee’s knowledge and skill or hone existing knowledge and skill for the purpose of continuing professional development.” A licensee must accrue 30 points of PDA each 2-year renewal cycle, at least 15 points must be Category I activities. Points are used in lieu of continuing education units (CEU) or contact hours to allow credit for non-continuing education type activities. For example, participating in a journal club earns fewer points than completing a course at an accredited university, but credit is given for both. This flexibility is what makes a continuing competency program unique and more pragmatic than simply requiring continuing education hours. PDA are separated into Category I, Category II and Category III activities and each category has a corresponding point value. Category I consists of PDA with the highest point values while Categories II and III contain a diverse list of activity options. The Board has created a resource that details the possible activities in each category, the point value of each activity and the documentation that is required for each activity. This resource is entitled the Professional Development Activities (PDA) List and is available on the CPD website. Another useful Board resource is the Physical Therapy Board Standards for Continuing Education Activities. This document provides the criteria and standards for determining if an activity can be a Category I activity. Licensees should consult these resources, along with the Learning Plan, when considering and selecting PDA.

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The Board will not pre-approve courses or providers. The licensee will determine and select activities and topics that meet his/her Learning Plan and goals and select appropriate and relevant continuing competency activities. PDA must be relevant to a licensee’s practice as a physical therapist and pertinent to his/her Learning Plan and goals. The Board may accept or reject PDA that do not meet the criteria as established by the Board, the standards of quality as defined in the State Physical Therapy Board’s Professional Development Activities List, the Physical Therapy Board Standards for Continuing Education Activities and Board Rule 213. All PDA must be completed during the licensee’s renewal period and will only count for one 2-year renewal period.

Step 4: Maintain Documentation of PDA Licensees shall maintain documentation of PDA as described in the Professional Development Activities (PDA) List, e.g. certificates of completion, transcripts, letters of acknowledgment, etc. for two renewal periods (4 years). A licensee can organize and retain documentation in a manner that is best for the licensee, i.e. electronically or in paper format Documentation of PDA will be retained by the licensee and will not be sent to the Board or DPO unless, or until, notification is received specifically requesting such documentation. Following each renewal period, an audit of compliance will be conducted. Only at that time will documentation be provided to the Board/DPO. The Board strongly recommends the use of aPTitude, a free online service offered by FSBPT, to organize continuing competency activities and store documentation of PDA. This free online service allows a licensee to create a free account and:  Maintain licensure information and record of PDA in a single place  Securely store PDA completion documents  Upload documentation of completed PDA and store in preparation for an audit  Be reminded of licensure renewal and CC deadlines  Track CC/CE completion progress for one or many states  Find potential continuing education courses and activities by filtering for type, value, location, topic, instructor, etc.

Deemed Status Deemed Status is one way to comply with CC requirements.

Compliance with CC Requirements through Deemed Status It is incumbent on the licensee to determine if he/she qualifies. To claim Deemed Status, the licensee will attest to compliance with Deemed Status requirements at the time a license is renewed license. If employed by a Colorado State Department (or work for a provider with a contractual agreement with a State of Colorado department) and that department has a continuing professional competency program, or formalized requirements, that must be met as a condition of employment (or job description) then the licensee may be able to claim Deemed Status. Employers who simply provide learning opportunities are not the same as an employer with continuing professional competency requirements. Likewise, simply being an employee of (or contractor with) a State Department does

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not in itself qualify a licensee for Deemed Status. The intent of Deemed Status is to eliminate the duplication of regulatory requirements within the State of Colorado. It is not an exemption; rather it is another way to meet continuing professional competency requirements. Licensees claiming Deemed Status will successfully complete their State Department’s continuing professional competency program, or formalized requirements, in lieu of the Board’s CPD Program. To be eligible for Deemed Status, the State Department’s program, or formalized requirements, should satisfy the definition of Continuing Professional Competency. Pursuant to section 12-41-114.6(3), C.R.S., the definition of Continuing Professional Competency is “the ongoing ability of a physical therapist to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skill, and judgment to practice as a physical therapist according to generally accepted standards and professional ethical standards.” Please note that changes in employment during the renewal cycle may affect the licensee’s ability to claim this status.

To qualify for Deem Status, a licensee must have been employed by (or contracted with) a Colorado State Department for the ENTIRE 2-year DORA renewal cycle and must be in compliance with that State Department’s continuing professional competency program, or formalized requirements, at the time that the DORA license is renewed. If a licensee is not employed by (or contracted with) a Colorado State Department for the ENTIRE 2-year DORA renewal cycle, then he/she must participate in the Board’s CPD Program. The learning activities completed for the State Department may qualify for credit in the CPD Program. You likely qualify for Deem Status if you can answer “yes” to the following five questions:     

Are you an employee of a Colorado State Department or employed by an agency that holds a contract with a Colorado State Department? Do you participate in that State Department’s continuing professional competency program or formalized requirements? Does that continuing professional competency program, or formalized requirements, meet the definition of Continuing Professional Competency pursuant to section 12-41-114.6(3), C.R.S.? Have you been employed by (or contracted with) that Colorado State Department for the ENTIRE 2-year DORA renewal cycle? At the time that you are renewing your DORA license, are you in compliance with that State Department’s continuing professional competency program, or formalized requirements?

Licensees claiming Deem Status are subject to an audit of compliance.

Military Exemption A Military Exemption is one way to comply with CC requirements.

Compliance with CC Requirements through Military Exemption Pursuant to section 12-70-102, C.R.S., a licensee who has been called to federally funded active duty for at least 120 days for the purpose of serving in a war, emergency or contingency may be eligible to receive an exemption from the continuing professional competency requirements for the renewal of a license. 7 Rev. 1/2017

The time frame of a renewal cycle is defined as the period from six (6) weeks prior to the expiration date of the current license through sixty (60) days following the expiration date. The qualified service period must fall within the defined renewal period or up to 6 months prior to the renewal period. A Military Exemption must be approved by the Division of Professions and Occupations. A licensee seeking a Military Exemption from licensing fees and continuing competency requirements must submit a request in writing and follow the procedure found on DPO’s website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora-military/renewal-fee-waiver. Questions regarding military exemptions can be emailed to [email protected].

Audit of Compliance Following each renewal period, DPO will conduct an audit of compliance. All licensed physical therapists who participate in the CPD program and those who claim Deemed Status are eligible. A licensee will be notified by mail if he/she has been selected to participate in an audit of compliance. Do not provide documentation of compliance unless, or until, a notice of audit is received. Any documentation received that was not requested, will not be retained by the Board or DPO and will NOT be returned to the licensee. A Licensee should always retain a copy of documentation for his/her records.

Overview of Required Documentation Licensees participating in the CPD Program In order to show compliance with the CPD program, a licensee shall provide all of the following:  The signed and executed Learning Plan containing the licensee’s goals in the form and manner approved by the Board.  Documentation of 30 points of Professional Development Activities (PDA) in compliance with the State Physical Therapy Board’s Professional Development Activities List for documentation requirements for PDAs.

Licensees claiming Deemed Status To satisfy an audit of compliance for Deemed Status the licensee shall provide all of the following:  A verifiable document from the Colorado state department or contractual entity specifying continuing professional competency requirements were successfully met. For example, a copy of an “Active” Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Special Services Provider license, a letter from a supervisor or HR department, etc.  A verifiable letter from the employer showing dates of employment, including any breaks in employment.

Questions Please contact the Continuing Competency Helpdesk with any questions, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 303-894-2363.

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Glossary of Terms Assessment of Knowledge and Skills AKS

An objective third-party assessment that compares a licensee’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to the standards for entry-level practice. American Physical Therapy Association

APTA

An individual membership professional organization that represents physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and physical therapy students. Colorado State Physical Therapy Board

Board

The body that regulates physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Colorado by approving license/certification applications, enforcing the practice act, rules and regulations that govern the profession and reviewing complaints against physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to determine if the laws, rules or regulations have been violated. Continuing (Professional) Competency

CC

The ongoing ability of a physical therapist to learn, integrate, and apply the knowledge, skills, and judgment to practice as a physical therapist according to generally accepted standards and professional ethical standards. Continuing Education Unit

CEU

One CEU is generally ten contact hours of participation in organized continuing education/training under responsible and qualified direction and instruction. Continuing Professional Development

CPD

The Board program through which a licensee can satisfy the continuing professional competency requirements in order to renew, reinstate, or reactivate a license.

Department of Regulatory Agencies

DORA

DPO

The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is the state agency charged with preserving the integrity of the marketplace and promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado. It has nine divisions that oversee the regulation of banking, civil rights, financial services, insurance, professions and occupations, real estate, securities, and utilities. Division of Professions and Occupations The Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) is one of nine divisions that make up the Department of Regulatory Agencies. DPO is charged with consumer protection through the licensure and enforcement of approximately

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50 different professions, occupations and businesses. FSBPT

Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy FSBPT is a non-governmental agency that develops and provides resources for Physical Therapy licensing authorities such as the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), Practice Review Tool (PRT) and aPTitude.

PDA

Professional Development Activities Learning activities undertaken to increase the licensee’s knowledge and skill or hone existing knowledge and skill for the purpose of continuing professional development.

Points

Units used to measure accrual of Professional Development Activities (PDA), based on activity value, time spent, etc.

Policy

A public non-enforceable course or principle of action adopted by the State Physical Therapy Board and used for purposes of educating and providing guidance.

PRT

Practice Review Tool A multiple-choice assessment of knowledge and skills that presents realistic case scenarios to participants that describe clinical situations; each scenario contains about five multiple-choice questions; participants receive a certificate of completion as well as a detailed “Feedback Report” which breaks down their performance in each of the knowledge areas and body systems. The Practice Review Tool is administered by FSBPT.

RSAT

Reflective Self-Assessment Tool A reflective practice tool in which a licensee can reflect upon his/her knowledge and skills pertaining to the foundational areas of physical therapy practice taking into account the licensee’s current level and area of practice.

Rule

One of a set of enforceable regulations adopted by the State Physical Therapy Board through a public rule-making hearing, clarifying intent and purpose of statute. A Board rule must be consistent with statute.

Statute

A law passed by Colorado's General Assembly and Governor requiring an identified party to perform a particular act or to act in a particular manner for a specific reason. The statute governing the practice of physical therapy in Colorado is known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act.

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Overview for Physical Therapists

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