Maryland

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

There are no temporary license requirements stated in the physical therapy practice act for Maryland.

Requirements for License

Licensure by Examination: U.S Graduates

• Completed Application Form and Exam Questionnaire
• Application fee of $150
• Post-graduation transcripts sent to the Board Office directly from the Registrar's office
  
• Evidence of Registration for the National Physical Therapy Exam
• Passing score on the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination
  

Licensure by Examination: Foreign Educated

All applicants MUST have a social security number

• Completed Application Form and Exam Questionnaire
• Application fee of $150
• Credentials evaluation report for the State of Maryland from an approved credentialing agency
  
• Evidence of Registration for the National Physical Therapy Exam
  
• Passing score on the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination
  
• Evidence of oral competency in the English language. If not taught in English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language will be required (TOEFL).
  

Licensure by Endorsement: U.S Graduates

Applicant must have a current license in another state

• Completed Application Form
• Application fee of $150
  
• Copy of current out of state physical therapy license showing expiration date
  
• Verification of out of state license
  
• Post-graduation transcripts sent to the Board Office directly from the Registrar's office
  
• Copy of Receipt of request to Transfer NPTE Scores to the Maryland Board
  
• Passing score on the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination
  

Licensure by Endorsement: Foreign Educated

• Completed Application Form
• Application fee of $150
  
• Copy of current out of state physical therapy license showing expiration date
  
• Verification of out of state license
  
• Proof of competency in English language (either recent TOEFL scores or a verification from a physical therapy program)
  
• Credentials evaluation report for the State of Maryland from an approved credentialing agency
  
• Copy of Receipt of request to Transfer NPTE Scores to the Maryland Board
  
• Passing score on the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination
  

Licensure by Transfer: U.S Graduates

For applicants that registered to take or have taken the National Physical Therapy Examination in another state but did not obtain licensure in that state

• Completed Application Form and Exam Questionnaire
• Application fee of $150
  
• Post-graduation transcripts sent to the Board Office directly from the Registrar's office
• Evidence that you have registered or have taken the National Physical Therapy Examination in another state
• Copy of Receipt of request to Transfer NPTE Scores to the Maryland Board
  
• Signed and dated statement that you do not hold a physical therapist license in any state
  
• Passing score on the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination
  

Reinstatement of Licensure

Within 3 years of expiration of license and NEVER licensed in another state

• Completed Reinstatement Application
• Reinstatement fee of $400
• Copies of Continuing Education Certificates for courses taken within past 2 years. That is, 30 contact hours or 3.0 CEUS for a physical therapist or 20 contact hours or 2.0 CEUS for a physical therapist assistant
• Signed and dated statement as to whether or not applicant has continued to practice in Maryland after expiration of the license
  

Maryland license lapsed AND Applicant has a current out-of-state license

• Completed Reinstatement Application.
• Reinstatement fee of $400
  
• Copies of Continuing Education Certificates for courses taken within past 2 years. That is 30 contact hours or 3.0 CEUS for a physical therapist or 20 contact hours or 2.0 CEUS for a physical therapist assistant
• Copy of current out of state physical therapy license showing expiration date
• Verification of out of state license
• Signed and dated statement as to whether or not applicant has continued to practice in Maryland after expiration of the license

Supervision

(1) The physical therapy aide shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist when performing those physical therapy treatments that the aide is permitted to perform

(2) Exceptions. An aide may:

(a) Perform non-treatment-related activities, such as secretarial, clerical, and housekeeping duties without direct supervision

(b) Perform patient-related activities that do not involve treatment (such as transporting patients, undressing and dressing patients, removing and applying assistive and supportive devices) without direct supervision

(c) Assist a physical therapist assistant when more than one individual is required to ensure the safety and welfare of the patient during ambulation, transfers, or functional activities without direct supervision

The following activities may be performed by aides under direct supervision:

A. Assist in the practice of gait and ambulation

B. Assist in the practice of functional activities

C. Assist in the practice of transfers

D. Assist in the routine follow-up of specific exercise

E. Assist in the application of hot or cold packs

F. Assist in the procedure of Hubbard tank

G. Assist in the procedure of whirlpool

H. Assist in the application of contrast bath

I. Assist in the application of infrared

J. Assist in the application of paraffin bath

Physical Therapy Students

(20) "Student" means an individual who is currently enrolled in a physical therapy or physical therapist assistant educational program approved by the Board.

The physical therapist shall:

(h) Provide direct supervision of students and aides;

(i) Ascertain and periodically reevaluate the ability of students and aides to perform the assigned duties;

Continued Competence

Chapter 08 Continuing Education Requirements
Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§13-206 and 13-311, Annotated Code of Maryland

.01 Scope.

This chapter governs:

A. A licensee applying for renewal;

B. An individual applying for reinstatement of licensure; and

C. Sponsors of continuing education courses.

.02 Definitions.

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Continuing education unit (CEU)" means the basic unit of measurement for a licensee's direct participation in continuing education consisting of 10 contact hours.

(2) Contact Hour.

(a) "Contact hour" means a period of 60 minutes in which actual learning takes place.

(b) "Contact hour" does not include:

(i) A portion of the program devoted to registration, breaks, meals; or

(ii) Fractions of an hour.

.03 Continuing Education Requirements.

A. Continuing education is a requirement for renewal or reinstatement of licenses for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and may be obtained by:

(1) Postgraduate studies;

(2) Attendance or presentation at seminars, conferences, or workshops;

(3) Authoring, co-authoring, or editing of a book, book chapter, refereed article, or abstract; or

(4) Home study, including internet courses.

B. Professional education eligible for continuing education credit shall be:

(1) Relevant to the clinical practice of physical therapy; and

(2) Directed to a professional audience.

C. The Board shall have final approval of the relevancy of the program to the practice of physical therapy.

D. Continuing education courses shall have course materials that include clear and concise written statements of:

(1) Intended learning outcomes;

(2) Behavioral objectives; and

(3) Performance objectives.
E. Continuing education courses sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association are automatically approved by the Board.

.04 Continuing Education Course Approval.

A. To obtain approval of a continuing education course, a course sponsor shall submit the following materials to the Board 6 weeks before the course:

(1) An application on a Board-approved application form, accompanied by any required fee;

(2) A complete hour-by-hour agenda of the course;

(3) A clear and concise written statement describing the course's intended learning outcomes, behavioral objectives, or performance objectives;

(4) A curriculum vitae for each instructor describing the instructor's competence in the course subject matter and skill in instructional methodologies; and

(5) If an instructor is not licensed by the Board and plans to perform physical therapy in conjunction with the course, an application for a restricted license obtained from the Board.

B. Public Representations.

(1) If a course is approved by the Board, the Board shall notify the sponsor of the approval.

(2) If a sponsor receives notification under §B(1) of this regulation, the sponsor may represent that a course has been approved by the Board.

(3) Approved course certificates and advertisements shall contain the following statement: "This course has been approved by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for ______ CEUs."

(4) A record of course attendees shall be retained by the sponsor for at least 4 years.

(5) The sponsor shall submit to the Board for approval any changes in an approved course, such as changes in speaker, content, or length.

C. Term of Approval.

(1) The Board shall approve a continuing education course for a period of 4 years.

(2) At the expiration of the 4-year approval period, the course sponsor may resubmit the course and shall meet the approval requirements of §A of this regulation.

.05 Renewal Requirements.

A. A licensee shall earn CEUs between April 1 and March 31 during the 2-year period before renewal and maintain the records of the course subject, hours, date, and continuing education units to present to the Board on request.

B. CEUs completed after March 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 3 CEUs equal to 30 contact hours for the renewal period.

E. A physical therapy assistant shall earn 2 CEUs equal to 20 contact hours for the renewal period.

F. CEUs may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next.

G. Failure to substantiate CEUs if requested by the Board shall result in denial of license renewal or of 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 CEUs if, at the time of renewal, the original license was issued 1 year or less before the renewal period.

.06 Auditing Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements.

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:

(1) Continuing education certificates earned between April 1 and March 31 during the 2-year period before renewal; and

(2) A completed continuing education form.

D. The Board may request from the licensee a brochure, agenda, or other material for courses that have not been previously approved by the Board.

.07 Reinstatement Requirements.

A. A physical therapist shall earn 3 CEUs in the 2-year period immediately preceding reinstatement.

B. A physical therapy assistant shall earn 2 CEUs in the 2-year period immediately preceding reinstatement.

.08 Continuing Education Unit Requirements for Physical Therapy Clinical Practice.

A. Continuing Education is a requirement for renewal or reinstatement of licenses for a physical therapy clinical practice.

B. Activities meeting the criteria for continuing education requirements for practice of physical therapy may be classified as follows:

(1) Postgraduate academic course work in physical therapy taken at an accredited college or university may earn 1 CEU per credit hour;

(2) Attendance at Board-approved or American Physical Therapy Association sponsored continuing education courses or workshops may earn 1 CEU for every 10 contact hours;

(3) Presentation of a continuing education course or workshop may earn 2 contact hours for every hour of presentation with presentations of the same subject matter receiving CEU credit only once in a 2-year period;

(4) Authoring, co-authoring, or editing of a book, book chapter, or refereed journal article may earn 3 CEUs with proof accompanying the request for approval;

(5) Authoring an abstract may earn 1 CEU;

(6) Completion of an approved self-study course may earn 1 contact hour per interactive hour;

(7) Completion of an approved internet course may earn 1 contact hour per interactive hour;

(8) Completion of continuing education relevant to the administration of physical therapy practice may earn up to 1.5 CEUs; or

(9) Postgraduate academic course work in administration of the practice of physical therapy may earn a maximum of 1.5 CEUs in each 2-year period.

C. CEUs may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next.

D. Failure to substantiate CEUs if requested by the Board shall result in denial of license renewal or of reinstatement of a license.

E. 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 the physical therapist assistant to complete any CEUs, if, at the time of renewal, the original license was issued 1-year or less before the renewal date.

F. To aid licensees in the selection of appropriate continuing education courses, the Board may review, without charge, a course brochure, outline, or agenda before the licensee attends the course, if the request is submitted at least 1 month before the course date.

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?

The Act appears to be restrictive because it states what is exactly included for each section.  For example, in the Requirements for Documentation section under Standards of Practice, it states which information must be included for different types of patient visits.  Also, in the Activities Which May Be Performed by Aides under Direct Supervision section under Physical Therapy Aide, there is a list of activities that may be performed by aides under direct supervision.

Is there anything unusual about this act?

One of the things I noticed that was unusual about this act was that if the Board issues a notice of initial denial to an applicant for a license, the applicant may not withdraw the application without approval from the Board, which was stated in the Notice of Charges or Notice of Initial Denial section under Rules of Procedure for Board Hearings.  I do not quite understand why the applicant must have an approval from the Board before withdrawing his or her application after initial denial of license.

References

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Disclaimer:   Informational Content is assimilated from the state practice act is a resource only and should not be considered a  substitute for the content within the state practice act.  All state practice acts can change and it is recommended that you refer to the original resource in the link above.