Physical Therapists and Assistants

Welcome!

The Oklahoma Physical Therapists Committee is happy to welcome you to their new website. We hope you find much useful information. We are grateful to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision for the support of this site.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our main office at 405-962-1400.

• Approved Continuing Education Courses
• Continuing Education Approval Form
• Physical Therapists' Newsletters

"Physical therapy" means the use of selected knowledge and skills in planning, organizing and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury, encompassing preventive measures, screening, tests in aid of diagnosis by a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, dentistry, or podiatry and evaluation and invasive or noninvasive procedures with emphasis on the skeletal system, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary function, as it relates to physical therapy.

The Physical Therapy Committee assists the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision in conducting examinations for applicants and to advise the Board on all matters pertaining to the licensure, education, and continuing education of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and the practice of physical therapy.

Agendas & Minutes

Forms & Resources

If you are unable to open the PDF files below, right-click on the "Download" link, select "Save Target", save it to your computer, then "Open" it from your computer.

Links

Public Information

• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
• American Physical Therapy Association

Professional Information

• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
• American Physical Therapy Association
• Oklahoma Physical Therapy Association

Laws

If you are unable to open the PDF files below, right-click on the "Download" link, select "Save Target", save it to your computer, then "Open" it from your computer.

Rules

Proposed Rules / Notices

Policies

Guidelines

Continuing Education Requirements

Cycle ends January 31 every even year

If you are a Physical Therapist you must obtain forty (40) hours of approved continuing education every two (2) years (i.e. — from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2024, etc.).

If you are a Physical Therapist Assistant you must obtain thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education every two (2) years (i.e. — from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2024, etc.).

The continuing education requirements (methods of obtaining hours) and a list of approved continuing education courses are available on our web site. The list is updated after every Committee meeting. If a course is not on the list it has not been approved. The application to request approval is also available on the web site.

Please note that the number of hours on your certificate of completion may not match the number of hours approved by the Committee – always check the approved course list.

If you have questions regarding continuing education please contact our office.

435:20-9-2. Professional development requirements for renewal

(a) Beginning with the renewal period ending January 31, 2000 and every two years thereafter, the applicant for renewal of licensure shall sign a statement indicating whether or not professional development requirements have been fulfilled for the preceding two-year period.

(b) Effective February 1, 2022 and every two years thereafter, physical therapists will be required to show proof of forty (40) approved contact hours and/or PDU equivalent and Physical Therapist Assistants will be required to show proof of thirty (30) approved contact hours and/or PDU equivalent.

(1) At least half of the required hours must be professional development coursework.

(2) Three of the required hours must contain ethics education that includes the APTA Guide for Professional Conduct and the APTA Code of Ethics.

(3) No professional development hours may be carried over from one compliance period to another.

(c) Any applicant for renewal who cannot meet the requirements for professional development may not renew until deficient professional development units (PDUs) are obtained and verified. Additionally, within the next compliance period the licensee will be required to obtain double the required units of approved PDUs.

(d) Each licensee is responsible for maintaining evidence/proof/record of participation in a 22 professional development experience for a minimum of four years, two compliance periods. Copies of such proof shall be submitted to the Board upon request. Such proof shall include:

(1) date, place, course title, schedule, presenter(s), etc.,

(2) number of contact hours/PDUs for the activity,

(3) proof of completion, such as abstracts, certificates of attendance, or other certification of completion.

(e) Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant initially licensed in Oklahoma during the second year of a compliance period shall be exempt from the professional development requirements for that first renewal period.

(f) The Physical Therapy Committee shall conduct random audits of the professional development records of the number of licensees that time and resources permit. The Physical Therapy Committee may appoint a sub-committee to review audits and requests for approval of professional development experiences and make recommendations to the Physical Therapy Committee for disposition.

(g) Penalties for failure to comply with professional development requirements may be assessed after notice and hearing as required by law. Penalties may include imposition of additional PDUs, probation of license, suspension of license, or revocation of license.

(h) Failure to maintain records of professional development rebuts the presumption that professional development requirements have been completed.

(i) Misrepresenting compliance with professional development requirements constitutes a fraudulent application.

435:20-9-3. Professional development categories

(a) Approval for professional development activities

(1) To receive initial approval for a professional development offering submission of an Application for Approval of Physical Therapy Professional Development form is required. The application must include the following information:

(A) Course title with an abstract, summary or course syllabus and sufficient evidence demonstrating relevancy, recency and consistency with current practice.

(B) A program agenda complete with a breakdown of all time spent in instructional and non-instructional periods to include meals. (PDU will be awarded for instructional hours only.) (If a course is six hours or longer, the agenda must include at least a 30 minute lunch.)

(C) The course or program's goals and objectives sufficient to provide information for evaluation of relevance and practical application to the field of physical therapy beyond basic preparation of the licensee. If basic information is needed, the licensee will complete the professional self- reflection form to demonstrate current knowledge and competency of the topic and rationale as to why this course should be approved.

(D) Documentation of instructor background/expertise relevant to the field of physical therapy.

(E) Location of the program, including the address, city, state, and zip, or Internet site.

(F) Contact name, phone number and address of course sponsors or publishers.

(G) Specific date(s) of course participation.

(H) Method of certifying attendance and instructional hours. (Adjustment of PDU awarded may occur within the approval process.)

(2) Individual participants are responsible for maintaining these records.

(3) Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants working less than 250 hours per year may submit a request for a lesser professional development requirement.

(4) Pre-approval is required for guaranteed credit.

(b) Synchronous professional development opportunities.

(1) Synchronous education – Real time participation in a course, workshop or conference.

(2) Presentation of program - A licensee who presents an original professional development program targeted towards peers and other health care professionals may receive professional development credit of 1.5 PDU per contact hour of instruction for the first presentation of this original material. No additional PDU for subsequent presentations within the compliance period.

(3) Post Graduate Studies - Successful completion of post graduate education course work related to physical therapy will be awarded professional development credit of up to 16 PDU for each college credit course based on credit hours, syllabus, and learning objectives.

(c) Asynchronous educational and competence opportunities. For licensees participating in a non-interactive course offered by videotape, satellite transmission, webcast, DVD, or other electronic media, one hour of participation earns one PDU. This method must include a posttest proficiency assessment in order to be accepted.

(d) Other professional development activities.

(1) Publication - Writing for professional publication may be awarded professional development credit. Acceptance for publication must occur within the current compliance period. Contact hours will not be approved for repeat publication of the same material. Licensee must present copy of published material to receive credit.

(A) Each published paper/book and/or chapter/or case study will receive fifteen (15) PDUs.

(B) Each published book review will receive of ten (10) PDUS.

(2) Study groups - A series of meetings designed for intense study in a physical therapy related topic. A minimum of four participants and four hours of participation are required for professional development eligibility. Those seeking approval for a group study project shall submit a full description including an outline of the topics and subtopics, references, or copies of the printed materials, a time and place of study, the methods to be used, the number of hours of credit sought, and any other information relevant to the evaluation of the proposed projects. The maximum number of PDUs of this type allowed during a compliance period is 12.

(3) Collaboration with educational programs:

(A) Supervising Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant students as a clinical instructor.

(i) Continuous direct supervision of students and/or candidates for licensure can earn up to 10 PDUs in this category in a compliance period. Forty (40) hours of direct supervision will earn one (1) PDU regardless of the number of students and/or candidates for licensure being supervised.

(ii) The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a clinical instructor with the name of the school/program and the length of time of clinical placement.

(B) Presentations as a guest lecturer for Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Programs earns 2 PDU for the first presentation of original material, up to 4 PDU for two presentations of original material in a compliance period. No additional PDU for subsequent presentation may be earned within a compliance period. The licensee shall submit materials including: syllabus, curriculum vitae demonstrating expertise, statement of objectives, and strength of evidence demonstrating references used within last 5 years.

(4) Research/Publication/Presentations

(A) Publication:

(i) Authorship or co-authorship of a book relating to physical therapy earns up to fifteen (15) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii) The licensee must present a copy of published material to receive credit.

(B) Research (published only):

(i) Principal or co-investigator, project director, or research assistant earns five (5) PDU, up to ten (10) PDU in a compliance period, provided a licensee may only earn five (5) PDU for one original publication.

(ii) The licensee shall submit research proposal/abstract, final results and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(C) Presentations at professional workshops, seminars, conferences related to physical therapy earns 1.5 PDU per contact hour of instruction for the first presentation of original materials. A licensee may not earn additional PDU for subsequent presentations of the same materials within the compliance period. The licensee shall submit materials including: brochures or program, curriculum vitae demonstrating expertise, a statement of objectives and strength of evidence demonstrating references used within last 5 years.

(5) Advanced Training:

(A) Specialty certification. Achievement of an APTA or APTA Section-recognized specialty certification related to physical therapy/Advanced Proficiency for PTA will be awarded ten (10) PDU for initial certification and five (5) PDU for recertification. Credit will be granted for certification obtained with the compliance period in which the certification was granted. The licensee shall submit proof of certification for PDU determination.

(B) Residences/Fellowships. For fellowships conferred by organizations credentialed by APTA in a specialty area of the practice of physical therapy, ten (10) PDU shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation up to a maximum of twenty (20) PDU per compliance period for this activity.

(i) The licensee shall submit the certificate conferred on the licensee or evidence that all requirements of the fellowship program have been met.

(ii) For completion of a residency program in physical therapy offered by an APTA credentialed organization, ten (10) PDU shall be awarded for each full year of clinical participation, up to a maximum of twenty (20) PDU per compliance period for this activity.

(iii) The licensee shall submit the certificate conferred on the licensee or evidence that all requirements of the fellowship program have been met.

(6) Physical Therapy organizations

(A) Participation in the national physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i) Participation as a board member, committee chair, task force member or delegate to a national assembly earns five (5) PDU per position for a maximum of ten (10) PDU.

(ii) The licensee shall submit materials documenting the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(B) Participation in a state physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i) Participation as a voting board member or committee chair earns five (5) PDU per position for a maximum of ten (10) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii) The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(C) Participation in a regional or district physical therapy or multidisciplinary organization that includes physical therapy:

(i) Participation as a district officer earns two (2) PDU per position for a maximum of four (4) PDU in a compliance period.

(ii) The licensee shall submit materials listing the licensee as a participant (for example minutes) as well as a description of the position and a summary of the licensee's involvement.

(D) Membership in the APTA for one year earns one PDU, up to two PDU in a compliance period.

(i) The licensee shall submit membership card or certificate for each year of the compliance period.

(ii) Membership in an APTA section for one year earns one half PDU, up to one PDU in a compliance period. Additional PDU are not awarded for membership in more than one section. Section membership is validated by membership card.

(E) Learning opportunities not listed above may be considered for professional development credit, but will require pre-approval if submitted by the requested deadline.

(F) Learning opportunities not accepted include but are not limited to:

(i) Regularly scheduled education opportunities provided within an institution, such as: rounds or on-the-job required in-service training such as CPR, blood- borne pathogens, equipment or procedural updates.

(ii) Staff meetings.

(iii) Meetings, workshops or seminars held by personnel with less medical training than registered physical therapists or physical therapist assistants.

(iv) Publications for the lay public.

(v) Presentations to lay groups and non-professionals.

(vi) Teaching personnel, students or staff within one's job requirement.

435:20-9-3.1. Approval of providers

(a) The Board shall approve a provider if it is satisfied that the provider's programs have met the standard set forth in 435:20-9-4(a) of this section.

(b) Once a provider is approved, the professional development activities offered by that organization are approved for credit and no application must be made to the Board for approval.

(c) The provider must submit the course information to the Board for posting on the Board website.

(d) The following organizations are considered approved providers:

(1) Any agency or board responsible for licensing individuals to practice physical therapy in the United States or Canada.

(2) The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), including any Sections, Academies, credentialed residencies and fellowships and its accrediting subsidiaries.

(3) State Chapters of APTA.

(4) The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and any accrediting subsidiary.

(5) The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

(6) Any providers approved or accredited by the agencies or organizations listed in subparagraphs (1) through (5) of this paragraph.

(7) Physical therapist and physical therapist assistant programs approved by an agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.

35:20-9-4. Guidelines for the audit process

(a) The Physical Therapy Committee will, each compliance period, randomly or for cause select licensees for verification that all professional development requirements have been met.

(b) Those being audited will receive notification and have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the correspondence to submit proof of professional development to the Committee.

(c) The Physical Therapy Committee or its appointed sub-committee shall review the documentation of each individual for compliance with established professional development standards.

(d) Those found to be in compliance shall be notified.

(e) Those found not to be in compliance shall be notified, by certified mail, within five (5) working days following the determination of non-compliance. They will be given specific information concerning areas of deficiency, what further information is needed to bring them into compliance, given opportunity to submit additional documentation and/or appear in person at the next Physical Therapy Committee meeting.

(f) A summarized report shall be submitted to the Physical Therapy Committee listing the names of those audited who are in compliance with professional development requirements. Those not in compliance shall be listed with notation of deficiencies found and/or recommendations.

Newsletters

Licensing Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I obtain written verification of a license?
   Please use our Online Bill-Pay site to order your license verification letter or you may send a written request with the fee of $25. Verifications that are accompanied by the appropriate fee are processed and mailed daily.
2. When will I get a renewal notice?
   Although there is no statutory requirement to give notice, the Board does mail renewal notice postcards to your mailing address on file and several emails to email on file starting approximately sixty (60) and thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of a license. Please keep the Board informed of your current mailing and email address at all times. If you did not receive a notice, contact the Board office and a duplicate will be sent. Any renewal post-marked after the expiration date is considered late and the late fee will be required. Not receiving a renewal notice is not grounds for waiving the late fee.
3. How do I renew my license and update my personal/practice profile to include my address and emails?
   Go to the Licensee/Applicant Login page to see if your profession can renew online. If your profession is not listed please contact the Board immediately.
4. When and How can I get a new wallet card?
   Go to Print/Download your Wallet Card and login with the same credentials you used to renew online. If you did not renew online and/or your profession is not listed as one that can renew online please contact the Board to obtain your PIN number. You will have access to your current wallet card and your license profile page 24/7. We stopped printing and mailing wallet cards since early 2018.