Licensee’s CEU



Are you looking for courses that have been approved by APTA Virginia?


 





 

 

You've got a Question? We've got the Answer! Check out our FAQs.
If you still can't find the answer, please contact us at vpta@vpta.org.
 

 

  • For each physical therapist and physical therapist assistant license renewal is biennial meaning it happens every two years.

 

  • Renewal must happen by December 31 in each even- numbered year, for example the next renewal will be December 31, 2018.

 

  • The need for continuing education hours start at the beginning of the new cycle, for example, January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2018.

 

ONLY EXCEPTION:  For the first biennial renewal for persons newly licensed by exam (new graduates only), the continuing education requirement is waived (you are not required to have any continuing education hours for the current cycle).

 

  • Effective July 17, 2013, the continuing education requirements are:

- Physical Therapists must complete at least 30 hours total - a minimum of 20 contact hours must be type 1 and no more than 10 contact hours can be type 2.

- Physical Therapist Assistants must complete 30 hours total - a minimum of 15 contact hours must be type 1 and no more than 15 contact hours can be type 2.

 

  • Professionals can manually track their credits by using the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form to keep your information. The form is found at this website.

 

  • Alternatively, Virginia physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may use the CEU Locker system, provided as a service of the VPTA.  Click Here for more details.
  • Type 1 continuing education courses are any organized program of study, classroom experience or similar experience such as online coursework, webinars, podcasts, face to face workshop etc.

 

  • Type 1 course MUST relate directly to your clinical practice of physical therapy such as:

the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care, (iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v) appropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing health care system.

 

  • Type 1 courses have been approved or provided by one of the following organizations or its component

The Virginia Physical Therapy Association The American Physical Therapy Association Local, state or federal government agencies Regionally accredited colleges or universities Health care organizations accredited by a national accrediting organization granted authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to assure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation

 

  • The American Medical Association- Category 1 Continuing Medical Education course The National Athletic Trainers Association The Federal of State Boards for Physical Therapy (FSBPT)

     

Note:

  • The components of the American Physical Therapy Association are the individual states and individual sections. This means that if you take a course approved by any state section of the APTA (i.e. North Carolina) then it will count for Type I in Virginia. It is not necessary that every course carry the approval of the Virginia Physical Therapy Association to allow you to claim it as Type I.

 

  • You want to find good quality courses to meet this requirement. Always look for (1) learner objectives and (2) up to date references including research studies used as evidence for the coursework offered.

 

  • Course or activities which may or may not be offered by an approved organization, but relate to clinical practice such as in-service presentations.
  • May include but not be limited to consultation with colleagues, independent study, and research or writing on subjects related to practice.

 

IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER A COURSE IS QUALIFIED AS TYPE 1 OR 2 THE VIRGINIA BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY HAS THE FINAL SAY IF YOU ARE AUDITED.

APTA Virgina does NOT approve type 2 education.

For each two year period PTs and PTAs must have a total of 30 continuing education contact hours. PTs must have a minimum of 20 Type I hours and PTAs must have a minimum of 15 Type I hours. All required hours may be Type I.

Type 1 continuing education courses are any organized program of study, classroom experience or similar experience such as online coursework, webinars, podcasts, face to face workshop etc.

Type 1 course MUST relate directly to your clinical practice of physical therapy such as (i) the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care, (iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v) appropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing health care system.

Type 2 continuing education may include but not be limited to consultation with colleagues, independent study, and research or writing on subjects related to practice.

Type 1 courses need to be approved or provided by one of the following organizations or any of its components:

a. The Virginia Physical Therapy Association;

b. The American Physical Therapy Association;

c. Local, state, or federal government agencies;

d. Regionally accredited colleges and universities;

e. Health care organizations accredited by a national accrediting organization granted authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to assure compliance with Medicare conditions of participation;

f. The American Medical Association - Category I Continuing Medical Education course;

g. The National Athletic Trainers' Association;

h. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy;

i. The National Strength and Conditioning Association; or

j. Providers approved by other state licensing boards for physical therapy.

Note: The components of the American Physical Therapy Association are the chapters and sections/academies.

 

You must record your courses and keep the certificates of completion for courses attended.

Brought to you by APTA Virginia, CEU Locker provides secure, long-term storage for your continuing education needs. We hope you find that CEU Locker eases and streamlines the management and record-keeping requirements for licensing in our state, ultimately helping to keep you organized and your practice protected.

 

GET STARTED

You can get started in this system by creating a free CEU Holder account.