Section 485.70 - Personnel qualificationsThis section sets forth the qualifications that must be met, as a condition of participation, under § 485.58 , and as a condition of coverage of services under § 410.100 of this chapter.
(a) A facility physician must be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who-(1) Is licensed under State law to practice medicine or surgery; and(2) Has had, subsequent to completing a 1-year hospital internship, at least 1 year of training in the medical management of patients requiring rehabilitation services; or(3) Has had at least 1 year of full-time or part-time experience in a rehabilitation setting providing physicians' services similar to those required in this subpart.(b) A licensed practical nurse must be licensed as a practical or vocational nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable.(c) An occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter.(d) An orthotist must- (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;(2) Have successfully completed a training program in orthotics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and(3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in orthotics.(e) A physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter.(f) A prosthetist must- (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;(2) Have successfully completed a training program in prosthetics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and(3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in prosthetics.(g) A psychologist must be certified or licensed by the State in which he or she is practicing, if that State requires certification or licensing, and must hold a masters degree in psychology from and educational institution approved by the State in which the institution is located.(h) A registered nurse must be a graduate of an approved school of nursing and be licensed as a registered nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable.(i) A rehabilitation counselor must- (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;(2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree; and(3) Be eligible to take the certification examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.(j) A respiratory therapist must complete one the following criteria: (1)Criterion 1. All of the following must be completed:(i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable.(ii) Have successfully completed a nationally-accredited educational program for respiratory therapists.(iii)(A) Be eligible to take the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists; or(B) Have passed the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists.(2)Criterion 2: All of the following must be completed: (i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable.(ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Care.(k) A respiratory therapy technician must-(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;(2) Have successfully completed a training program accredited by the Committees on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education; and(3) Either- (i) Be eligible to take the certification examination for respiratory therapy technicians administered by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc,; or(ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc.(l) A social worker must-(1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable;(2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from a school accredited or approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and(3) Have 1 year of social work experience in a health care setting.(m) A speech-language pathologist must meet the qualifications set forth in part 484 of this chapter.48 FR 56293, Dec. 15, 1982. Redesignated and amended at 50 FR 33034, Aug. 16, 1985; 51 FR 41352, Nov. 14, 1986; 60 FR 2327, Jan. 9, 1995; 72 FR 66408 , Nov. 27, 2007; 73 FR 69941 , Nov. 19, 2008; 74 FR 62014 , Nov. 25, 2009; 82 FR 4591 , Jan. 13, 2017; 86 FR 61622 , Nov. 5, 2021; 88 FR 36510 , June 5, 2023 82 FR 4591, 1/13/2017; 86 FR 61622, 11/5/2021; 88 FR 36510, 8/4/2023