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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
NOTICE OF FINAL 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) (2007 Repl.)) (“Act”), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of the adoption of the following amendments to Chapter 82 (Physical Therapist Assistants) of Title 17 (Business, Occupations, and Professions) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
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) (2007 Repl. & 2012 Supp.)); 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.
These rules were published in the D.C. Register as proposed rulemaking on January 25, 2013 at 60 DCR 0786. No written comments were received from the public in connection with this publication during the 30-day comment period and no changes have been made from the rulemaking. These final rules will be effective upon publication of this notice 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.
