OAR 848-035-0020: Required Hours and Period for Completion

(1) All licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are required within each certification period to complete 24 hours of continuing competence consistent with the requirements, minimums and maximums as defined in OAR 848-035-0030. No single qualifying continuing competence activity may be less than .5 hours. (2) Except as provided in parts (3), (4) and (5) of this rule, for purposes of determining whether a licensee has satisfied the continuing competence requirement under this rule, the Board will accept all qualifying continuing competence hours completed any time within the current certification period in which the license was issued or renewed, regardless of the specific date the license was issued or renewed. This includes continuing competence taken by student physical therapists or student physical therapist assistants, outside their program requirements, while they are enrolled in a physical therapy program. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of part (2) of this rule, a licensee must complete and document pursuant to OAR 848-035-0040, all 24 hours of continuing competence hours prior to renewal of license. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of part (1) of this rule, any person who is first issued a license, or who renews a license that lapsed at the end of the prior certification period, must complete continuing competence hours in the current certification period as follows: (a) If initially licensed or renewed anytime during the first year of a certification period (April 1st of an even numbered year through March 31st of an odd numbered year), the individual must complete the full 24 hours of continuing competence required for that certification period. A licensee whose license lapses on April 1st of an even numbered year, regardless of the reason, and who subsequently renews the lapsed license during the first 12 months of a new certification period, shall provide documentation of completion of the continuing competence requirements for the immediately prior certification period before the license will be renewed. For this purpose, the continuing competence activities may be completed in the prior or current certification period, however, any specific activity can only be applied once. (b) If initially licensed or renewed anytime during the second year of a certification period (April 1st of an odd numbered year through March 31st of an even numbered year), the individual must complete one-half (12 hours) of the continuing competence required for that certification period. (c) Thereafter, such licensees must complete the same continuing competence requirements as other licensees. (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this rule and OAR 848-010-0033(6), a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is first licensed between January 1st to and including March 31st of an even numbered year and is renewing a license during an even numbered year is not required to complete continuing competence for the current certification period. Thereafter, such licensee shall be subject to the continuing competence requirement for all subsequent certification periods. (6) Failure to complete the required continuing competence by March 31st of an even-numbered year shall constitute a violation of this Division 35. (7) In individual cases involving physical disability or illness, undue hardship, or active military duty, the Board may grant waivers of the continuing competency requirements or extensions of time to fulfill the requirement. Requests for waiver or extension shall be made to the Board, in writing.