Physical therapists work every day with people suffering from everything from a bruised hip to combat trauma. As a result, physical therapy continuing education is critical in keeping up to date on the latest therapies.
Selecting a Speciality
As with many things today, the term PT encompasses a broad range of disciplines. So, in looking at physical therapy continuing education, you really have to focus or one or two areas. You can take classes in athletic training, massage therapy, occupational therapy, special education, and then speech and language therapy. Under occupational, you can further specialize in helping people recover from severe trauma. This can include vehicular accidents and military injuries. There are also geriatric and paediatric specialities; the former helps the aged, and the latter deals with children.
Checking Your State’s Requirements
Every state has varying degrees of requirements as to physical therapy continuing education. As a physical therapist, you’ll be licensed by the state, and can check with their department of professional regulation to see what those rules are. In some cases, classes are required to be taken yearly, others every two years; some classes can be taken online, and with others you have to appear in person. Also, the state’s website can give you a list of approved continuing education providers.
The Four Forms of Physical Therapy Continuing Education
As of 2000, a bachelor’s degree was declared to not be enough to practice in this field; a master’s or doctorate is required, and there are four ways to earn either. With the master’s degree, you can either get a direct entry or a transitional. The former is if you have a bachelor’s degree in another subject and you want to switch to PT, and it generally lasts two years. The latter is if your bachelor’s is in PT, and is often completed in a year. The doctorate is the same way – direct and transitional – and it applies in the same manner.
Online Classes
With physical therapy continuing education, it’s hard to believe that some classes could be offered online – as it is a hands-on profession. However, there are classes related to the non-physical therapy aspects of the profession that you can take this way. You can learn about reimbursement policies, dealing with managed care (HMO’s), professional ethics, and fraud and abuse. Then there are some physical courses that also don’t require you to practice on a live patient. You can study the anatomy of various areas of the body, and learn about skin lesions and their treatment. Depending on the requirements of your state, these forms of physical therapy continuing education may be enough.
Check with the Association
The American Physical Therapy Association can be helpful in dealing with physical therapy continuing education. Their website – apta.org – has a plethora of information about the various educational programs available – both online and at colleges near you. They can also advise you as to dealing with state regulators to insure they accept the classes you take.
By: Gust Lenglet
Posts Tagged ‘Occupational Therapy’
Steps in Getting Physical Therapy Continuing Education
February 8th, 20106 Important Things to Know About Special Education – Independent Evaluations at Public Expense
November 21st, 2009
Are you the parent of a young child that you believe may have autism, but special education personnel disagree? Was your child recently tested, by school personnel and you disagree with the test results? Parents are entitled to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE’s) at Public expense, under certain circumstances. This article will discuss 6 things that you need to know about IEE’s at public expense.
An IEE is an Independent Educational Evaluation that is conducted by a qualified person who does not work for your school district.
Below are the 6 things that you must know about IEE’s at public Expense;
1. Parents are entitled to an IEE at public expense if they disagree with the school districts evaluation. You may disagree with the tests, how the tests were conducted, the results of the tests, or how the results of the tests were interpreted. If your child was tested and you believe that they have an undiagnosed disability, such as autism, then you would be entitled to an IEE at public expense.
Several areas of disagreement may be included in one IEE at public expense. For Example: If your child needs testing by a Neuro psychologist and an occupational therapy evaluation, these can be handled at the same time, though by different personnel.
2. School personnel may ask you what you disagree with, but they can not require you to answer.
3. If you ask for an IEE at public expense the school district has two choices; either pay for the evaluation, or file for a due process hearing to prove that their evaluation is correct. The problem is, that most states do not state how long special education personnel have to decide, which course they are going to take. If you feel that your school district is taking too much time making a decision, try filing a state complaint with your state special education department.
4. If special education personnel in your district, agree to pay for the IEE at public expense, they must pay for the entire evaluation.
5. In your request for an IEE at public expense include the qualifications that you want the evaluator to have. This is especially critical if you believe that your child needs to be seen by a Neuro psychologist; due to the cost of the evaluation.
Also include in the request the areas that you want tested. IDEA states that school personnel and parents must agree on areas to be tested, but does not state that they must agree on the tests. If the areas to be tested cannot be agreed upon, the school district should file for a due process hearing.
For Example: Because my child’s IQ dropped 40 points I am asking for a comprehensive independent evaluation conducted by a Neuro psychologist to include: testing for any undiagnosed disabilities or neurological problems, IQ testing, academic and functional level testing, adaptive behavior testing. I am also asking for an evaluation with a Registered Occupational Therapist because I disagree with the school’s evaluation.
6. School districts can make criteria for IEE’s at public expense but only under 2 circumstances. A. They must allow for parents to ask for a waiver of criteria if the situation warrants, and B. The criteria must not prevent the parent from getting an IEE at public expense.
An IEE at public expense can help diagnose undiagnosed disabilities, help you figure out what special education and related services your child needs, help you with placement recommendations etc. By knowing these important things about IEE’s at public expense, you will be able to help your child get the services that they need and deserve.
By: JoAnn Collins
