4160056 Amendments to Physical Therapist Assistant Regulations.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

 

The Interim Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth in sections 302 (14) and 503(b) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code §§ 3-1203.02 (14) and 3-1205.03(b)) (“Act”), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of his intent to adopt the following amendments to Chapter 82 (Physical Therapist Assistants) of Title 17 (Business, Occupations, and Professions) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

The purpose of these amendments is to clarify the requirements for applicants educated in foreign countries to prove their educational training is “substantially equivalent” to applicants who graduated from a professional physical therapy assistant education program accredited by an agency recognized for that purpose by the United States Department of Education, or which is approved by the Board of Physical Therapy, in accordance with section 504(j) of the Act (D.C.

Official Code § 3-1205.04(j)(2)); and to limit the number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

that may be accepted in any renewal period, or for reinstatement or reactivation of a license, for approved online courses, home study courses, video courses, telecourses, videoconferences, and teleconference activities, to fifteen (15) credit hours.

 

The Interim Director intends to take final rulemaking action to adopt the proposed rules in not less than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. The proposed rules shall not become effective until a Notice of Final Rulemaking is published in the D.C. Register.

 

Chapter 82, PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS, of Title 17, BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS, is amended as follows:

 

A new Section 8203, APPLICANTS EDUCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, is added to read as follows:

 

8203          APPLICANTS EDUCATED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

 

8203.1       The Board may grant a license to practice as a physical therapist assistant to an applicant who has been educated outside of the United States if the applicant :

 

(a)        Provides proof from the Physical Therapist Assistant Educational Equivalency Review (PTA-EER) that the applicant’s education is substantially equivalent to the requirements of physical therapist assistants educated in an education program accredited in the United States;

 

(b)        Passes the Board-approved English proficiency examination, if the applicant’s native language is not English; and

 

(c)        Complies with the examination requirements of section 8204.

 

8203.2       A determination that the applicant’s education is “substantially equivalent” shall include the following findings:

 

(a)        The applicant graduated from a physical therapist assistant education program that prepares the applicant to engage without restriction in the practice of physical therapist assistance;

 

(b)        Written proof that the applicant’s school is recognized by its own ministry of education or equivalent governmental authority; and

 

(c)        Completion of a credentials evaluation as directed by a credentialing board or equivalent body that determines the candidate has met uniform criteria for educational requirements as further established by rule.

 

 

Section 8206, CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:

 

A new subsection 8206.5 is added to read as follows:

 

8206                CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

 

8206.5             Beginning with the licensure period ending January 31, 2015, not more than one-

                        half (1/2) of the total required number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

                        may be accepted in any renewal period, or for reinstatement or reactivation of a

                        license, for approved online courses, home study courses, video courses,

                        telecourses, videoconferences, and teleconference activities.

 

The current subsections 8206.5-8206.12 are renumbered as 8206.6-8206.13.

 

 

All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking action shall submit written comments, not later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, to Kenneth Campbell, General Counsel, Department of Health, Office of the General Counsel, 899 North Capitol Street, N.E., 5^th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002.  Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the address listed above, or by contacting Angli Black, Administrative Assistant, at [e-mail], [phone].