Section 172-137-011 - CONTINUING EDUCATIONOn or before November 1 of each odd-numbered year, individuals holding an active license in the State of Nebraska must complete at least 20 hours of acceptable continuing education for a physical therapist and 10 hours of acceptable continuing education for a physical therapist assistant during the preceding 24-month period.
011.01ACCEPTABLE SUBJECT MATTER. The Board does not approve continuing education programs or activities. In order for a continuing education activity or program to be accepted for renewal or reinstatement of a license, the activity or program must relate to physical therapy and may focus on research, treatment, documentation, management, or education.011.02CONTINUING EDUCATION HOUR CALCULATIONS. 1 hour of credit will be awarded for each hour of attendance. Credit will not be awarded for breaks or meals. The following provides the hour calculations for acceptable continuing education. 011.02(A)STATE AND NATIONAL MEETINGS. Programs at State and National meetings which relate to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to the practice of physical therapy.011.02(B)FORMAL EDUCATION COURSES. The courses or presentations must be formally organized and planned instructional experiences in which the instructor has specialized experience or training to meet the objectives of the course and which have: (iv) Number of contact hours;(v) A signed certificate of attendance; and(vi) Are open to all licensees and certificate holders.011.02(C)HOME STUDY. The home study program must have a testing mechanism. A licensee or certificate holder may complete a maximum of 10 hours of continuing education by home study each 24-month renewal period.011.02(D)MANAGEMENT COURSES. A licensee or certificate holder may complete a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education utilizing management courses each 24-month renewal period.011.02(E)WEBINARS. A licensee or certificate holder may complete a maximum of 10 hours of continuing education utilizing webinars each 24-month renewal period. Webinars are continuing education activities that meet the following criteria: (i) There is a sponsoring group or agency; and(ii) Attendance is not self-monitored.011.02(F)SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF RESEARCH PAPERS. Completion and publication of a scientific review of a research paper for a professionally recognized database as approved by the Board. 1 contact hour will be awarded for each article published. A licensee or certificate holder will be awarded a maximum of 5 hours each 24-month period. Documentation must include a certificate of completion or a copy of the published review.011.02(G)PUBLICATIONS. Participation in research or other scholarly activities that result in professional publication or acceptance for publication that relates to physical therapy and is intended for an audience of health care professionals. Licensees or certificate holders will be awarded a maximum of 10 hours each 24-month period. This includes: (i) Authoring an article in a non-refereed journal. Earn 5 hours per article: Documentation required - a copy of the article;(ii) Authoring an article in a refereed journal. Earn 10 hours per article: Documentation required - a copy of the article;(iii) Authoring or being a contributing author of a published textbook. Earn 10 hours per book: Documentation required - A copy of the title page;(iv) Authoring a poster presentation. 5 hours per presentation: Documentation required - Letter of acknowledgement; and(v) Authoring a home study course. Earn 5 hours per course: Documentation - Letter of approval.011.02(H)JURISPRUDENCE (NE LAW) EXAMINATION. 5 hours of continuing education will be awarded for passing the Jurisprudence (NE LAW) Examination with a scaled score that is greater than or equal to 600.011.02(I)NEBRASKA LAW TUTORIAL. 1 hour of continuing education will be awarded for passing the Nebraska Law Tutorial with a score of 100%.011.02(J)RESIDENCY OR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. A licensee or certificate holder will be awarded 1 hour for each month of participation for the completion of a residency or fellowship program approved by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. A letter verifying participation from the agency providing the program must be submitted. The dates of participation must be included in the letter.011.02(K)SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION. Obtaining the initial Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certificate issued by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). 4 hours of continuing education will be awarded for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certificate during the 24 months prior to the reinstatement application or license expiration date.011.02(L)SUPERVISION. Direct supervision of students for clinical education:(i) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is supervising the student must be an American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed Clinical Instructor of record at the Basic Level;(ii) The student being supervised must be from an accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program and participating in a full-time clinical experience of varying length. Full-time is defined as clinical experiences with durations of approximately 40 hours per week ranging from 1-18 weeks;(iii) 1 hour will be awarded for every 160 contact hours of supervision of full-time physical therapist student or physical therapist assistant student;(iv) A maximum of 8 hours for physical therapist and 4 hours for physical therapist assistant per 24-month renewal period may be awarded to each individual for supervision of a physical therapist student or physical therapist assistant student; and(v) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must have documentation from the accredited educational program indicating the number of hours spent supervising a student.011.02(M)CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION CERTIFICATION. 2 hours of credit will be awarded for a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Healthcare Provider (CPR) certificate.011.02(N) PRESENTATION. 1 hour credit will be awarded for each hour of scientific presentation by a licensee or certificate holder acting as an essayist or lecturer to licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants if the program relates to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to physical therapy. A licensee or certificate holder may receive continuing education credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period, with a maximum of 4 hours of continuing education for presentations in a 24-month renewal period.011.03NON-ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION. Continuing education credit will not be awarded for programs where the subject matter does not relate to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to the practice of physical therapy, including but not limited to: (A) Business communications and operations;(C) Courses which deal with personal self-improvement, financial gain, or career options;(D) Courses designed for lay persons;(E) Teaching unlicensed or uncertified persons;(F) Courses less than 60 minutes in duration;(G) Physical therapy on-the-job training;(H) Physical therapy orientation programs or staff meetings, including: (i) Orientation to new policies;(v) Responsibilities; and(I) Presentations made by students.172 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 137, § 011
Amended effective 6/20/2020