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Chapter 08. Continuing Education Requirements

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Regulation .01 Scope.Copy Citation

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This chapter governs:
A.
A licensee applying for renewal;
B.
An individual applying for reinstatement of licensure; and
C.
Providers of continuing education.

Regulation .02 Definitions.Copy Citation

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A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“APTA” means the American Physical Therapy Association and its:
(a)
Academies;
(b)
Sections; and
(c)
State chapters.
(2)
CE Hour.
(a)
“CE hour” means a period of 60 minutes in which the licensee is engaged in a learning activity.
(b)
“CE hour” does not include any portion of continuing education devoted to registration, breaks, social networking, or meals.
(3)
“Continuing education (CE)” means learning experiences that:
(a)
Include a licensee’s direct participation; and
(b)
Are designed to enhance the professional practice of physical therapy and limited physical therapy.
(4)
“Provider” means an individual or group who designs and develops CE activities.

Regulation .03 Continuing Education Requirements.Copy Citation

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A.
Continuing education is a requirement for renewal or reinstatement of licenses for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which may be obtained by:
(1)
Postgraduate studies which include academic and professional studies that enhance competencies or instill new knowledge or skills, or both;
(2)
Attendance at or presentation of seminars, conferences, courses, or workshops;
(3)
Authoring, co-authoring, or editing of a book, book chapter, peer-reviewed journal article, or abstract;
(4)
Home or self-directed study;
(5)
Research;
(6)
Workplace and community service contributions, and leadership relevant to the development of personal and professional competence; or
(7)
Supervision of physical therapists or physical therapist assistant students in a clinical rotation.
B.
Continuing education eligible for CE hours shall:
(1)
Be relevant to the professional practice of physical therapy;
(2)
Be directed to a professional audience; and
(3)
Promote continuous professional development.
C.
The Board shall have final approval of the relevancy of the continuing education.
D.
Continuing education shall have clear and concise written statements of:
(1)
Learning outcomes; or
(2)
Instructional objectives.
E.
Continuing education offered by the following organizations is automatically approved by the Board:
(1)
APTA; and
(2)
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
F.
Continuing education approved by APTA is automatically accepted by the Board

Regulation .04 Continuing Education Course Approval.Copy Citation

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A.
To obtain approval of continuing education, a provider shall submit the following information to the Board 6 weeks before the activity commencement date:
(1)
An application on a Board-approved application form, accompanied by any required fee set forth in COMAR 10.38.07.02;
(2)
A complete hour-by-hour agenda of the CE;
(3)
A clear and concise written statement describing the CE’s:
(a)
Learning outcomes; or
(b)
Instructional objectives;
(4)
Curriculum vitae for each instructor describing the instructor’s competence in the CE subject matter and skill in instructional methodologies; and
(5)
If an instructor is not licensed by the Board or does not hold a Maryland compact privilege and plans to perform physical therapy in conjunction with the CE, an application for a restricted license obtained from the Board.
B.
Public Representations.
(1)
If the CE is approved by the Board, the Board shall notify the provider of the approval, including the number of approved CE hours.
(2)
If a provider receives notification under §B(1) of this regulation, the provider may represent that the CE has been approved by the Board.
(3)
Approved CE certificates and advertisements shall contain the following statement: “This continuing education has been approved by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for ______ CE hours.”
(4)
A record of CE attendees shall be retained by the provider for at least 4 years.
(5)
The provider shall submit to the Board for approval any CE changes, such as changes in:
(a)
Instructor;
(b)
Agenda;
(c)
Content;
(d)
Learning outcomes;
(e)
Instructional objectives; or
(f)
Length.
C.
Term of Approval.
(1)
The Board shall approve the CE for a period of 4 years.
(2)
At the expiration of the 4-year approval period, the provider:
(a)
May resubmit the CE; and
(b)
Shall meet the approval requirements of §A of this regulation.
D.
A licensee may submit a request for review of continuing education from the Board if the:
(1)
Continuing education is not already approved or disapproved by the Board; and
(2)
Licensee submits a request to the Board at least 30 days prior to the commencement of the CE activity containing, but not exclusive to, information set forth in Regulation .08 of this chapter.
E.
The Board may request payment of a continuing education review as set forth in COMAR 10.38.07.02.

Regulation .05 Renewal Requirements.Copy Citation

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A.
A licensee shall:
(1)
Earn CE hours between June 1 and May 31 during the 2-year period before renewal; and
(2)
Maintain records of the CE subject matter, certificates of completion, hours, date, and CE hours to present to the Board on request.
B.
CE hours completed after May 31 of the year of the renewal may not be accepted.
C.
All renewal applications shall be accompanied by a continuing education form to be completed by the licensee.
D.
A physical therapist shall earn 30 CE hours for the renewal period.
E.
A physical therapist assistant shall earn 20 CE hours for the renewal period.
F.
CE hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next.
G.
Failure to substantiate CE hours if requested by the Board shall result in denial of license renewal or reinstatement of a license.
H.
If the licensee has met all the requirements for renewal, the Board may renew a license for the first renewal period following the issuance of the original license without requiring the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to complete any CE hours if, at the time of renewal, the original license was issued 1 year or less before the renewal period.

Regulation .06 Auditing Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements.Copy Citation

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A.
The Board shall audit the continuing education records of as many licensees as time and resources allow.
B.
The Board shall send an audit letter to those to be audited at the close of the renewal period.
C.
At the time of audit, the audited licensees shall submit documentation relating to compliance with CE requirements as set forth in this chapter.
D.
The Board may request from the licensee evidence of achieving the CE hours.

Regulation .07 Reinstatement Requirements.Copy Citation

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A.
A physical therapist shall earn 30 CE hours in the 2-year period immediately preceding reinstatement.
B.
A physical therapist assistant shall earn 20 CE hours in the 2-year period immediately preceding reins.

Regulation .08 Continuing Education Professional Development Criteria.Copy Citation

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CE activities meeting the criteria for continuing education requirements for the practice of physical therapy may include:
A.
Postgraduate academic course work in physical therapy taken at an accredited college or university, which may earn 10 CE hours per course credit;
B.
Attendance at Board-approved or APTA-approved continuing education, which may earn 1 CE hour for every approved hour;
C.
Presentation of continuing education, which may earn 2 CE hours for every hour of presentation with presentations of the same subject matter receiving CE hours only once in a renewal period;
D.
Authoring, co-authoring, or editing of a book, book chapter, or peer- reviewed journal article, which may earn 30 CE hours with proof accompanying the request for approval;
E.
Authoring an abstract, which may earn 10 CE hours;
F.
Completion of an approved self-directed study course, which may earn 1 CE hour per interactive hour;
G.
Completion of an approved home study course, which may earn 1 CE hour per interactive hour;
H.
Completion of continuing education relevant to workplace and community service contributions, and leadership relevant to the development of personal and professional competence, which may earn 1 CE hour only once in a renewal period;
I.
Supervision of physical therapists or physical therapist assistant students in a clinical rotation, which may earn 10 CE hours only once in a renewal period (1 CE hour equals 40 hours of supervision); or
J.
Research, which may earn 10 CE hours.
Chapter annotations
Authority: : Health Occupations Article, §§13-206 and 13-311, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: December 9, 1991 (18:24 Md. R. 2644)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective November 7, 1994 (21:22 Md. R. 1878)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective November 7, 1994 (21:22 Md. R. 1878)
History: Regulations .01 — .03 repealed and new Regulations .01 — .03 adopted effective September 23, 1996 (23:19 Md. R. 1376)
History: Regulation .03I amended effective July 12, 1999 (26:14 Md. R. 1083)
History: Regulations .01—.03 repealed and new Regulations .01—.08 adopted effective March 18, 2002 (29:5 Md. R. 504)
History: Regulation .01C amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .03B, D amended effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 515)
History: Regulation .03E adopted effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 515)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 515); November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .05 amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .05A, B amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 846)
History: Regulation .06B, C amended effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 515)
History: Regulation .06C, D amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .07 amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .08 amended effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 976)
History: Regulation .08B, F amended effective February 25, 2008 (35:4 Md. R. 515)