Sec. 20-73b. Continuing education requirements. Waivers and extensions.
Sec. 20-73b. Continuing education requirements. Waivers and extensions. (a)
Except as otherwise provided in this section, each physical therapist licensed pursuant
to this chapter shall complete a minimum of twenty hours of continuing education during
each registration period. For purposes of this section, registration period means the
twelve-month period for which a license has been renewed in accordance with section
19a-88 and is current and valid. The continuing education shall be in areas related to
the individual's practice. Qualifying continuing education activities include, but are not
limited to, courses offered or approved by the American Physical Therapy Association
or any component of the American Physical Therapy Association, a hospital or other
licensed health care institution or a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
(b) Each licensee shall obtain a certificate of completion from the provider of continuing education activities for all continuing education hours successfully completed.
Each licensee shall maintain such written documentation for a minimum of three years
following the license renewal date for which the activity satisfies continuing education
requirements. Certificates of completion shall be submitted by the licensee to the Department of Public Health not later than forty-five days after a request by said department
for such certificates. A licensee who fails to comply with the continuing education
requirements may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 20-73a.
(c) The continuing education requirements shall be waived for licensees applying
for licensure renewal for the first time. The department may, for a licensee who has a
medical disability or illness, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements
or may grant the licensee an extension of time in which to fulfill the requirements,
provided the licensee submits to the Department of Public Health an application for
waiver or extension of time on a form prescribed by said department, along with a
certification by a licensed physician of the disability or illness and such other documentation as may be required by said department. The Department of Public Health may grant
a waiver or extension for a period not to exceed one registration period, except that said
department may grant additional waivers or extensions if the medical disability or illness
upon which a waiver or extension is granted continues beyond the period of the waiver
or extension and the licensee applies to said department for an additional waiver or
extension.
(P.A. 03-209, S. 5; P.A. 06-125, S. 4; P.A. 07-252, S. 42.)
History: P.A. 06-125 made a conforming change in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) by establishing deadline for
submission of certificates of completion to Department of Public Health of not later than 45 days after a department request,
and amended Subsec. (c) by requiring department to develop form application for waivers and extensions based on medical
disability or illness, requiring applications to be supported by medical certification, limiting length of extensions to one
registration period and allowing for the granting of additional waivers or extensions; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (a) to
specify activities that qualify as continuing education activities, effective July 1, 2007.