The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board University of Cincinnati PT Program

The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and

Athletic Trainers Board

University of CincinnatiPT Program

January 12, 2010 OTPTAT Board 2

Topics to Cover Role of the Board Purpose of Regulation National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Licensure Process Keeping Your License The Board vs. the Professional Association The Role of the PT, PTA, & Unlicensed

Personnel


Role of the Board

The Mission of the OTPTAT Board is to Protect the Public, NOT the Licensee


Role of the BoardThe mission of the Ohio Occupational

Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board is to actively promote and protect the health of

the citizens of Ohio through effective regulation of the professions of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic training.


The Purpose of Regulation… Regulation is intended to:

Ensure public protection; Offer assurance to public that

practitioner is competent to provide safe services; and

Provide a means to discipline individuals who fail to comply with the profession’s standards.

*Schmitt, Kara & Shimberg, Benjamin. (1996). Demystifying Occupational and Professional Regulation. Lexington, KY: The Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation.


The Board’s Authority The Revised Code empowers the Board to

regulate the professions of OT, PT, & AT. Board members appointed by the

Governor to three-year terms. The law authorizes the Board to adopt

administrative rules (Administrative Code). Authorizes hiring an Executive Director.


Major Responsibilities of the Board Establish Entrance Requirements

Education Training and Experience Assessing initial competence

Rule Making Discipline Assuring Continued Competence


OTPTAT Board Info Joint Board consisting of an

Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Section

Total of 8 full-time staff 2 Admin Staff, 3 Investigative Staff, 3

Licensure Staff PT Section has 9 Section members


Is This Within My Scope of Practice? Contact the Board if you have any

questions, but realize… There are no licensed practitioners on

staff; We aren’t lawyers & can’t give legal

advice; Staff will often suggest you send your

question in writing (via mail or email) for an answer.


The Exam National Physical Therapy Examination

(NPTE) Includes both PT and PTA Exams PT: required for licensure in all 50 states Same passing score in all states


What is the Purpose of the NPTE?

Provides examination service to regulatory board licensing or certifying PT/PTAs

Provides consistent and defensible standards for evaluation of entry level candidates

Designed to assess minimal entry level competence of the candidate


National Physical Therapy Examination PT Exam – 250 multiple choice questions

5 hour exam with 5 sections of 50 questions One 15 minute break after section 2 finished 50 questions do not count toward passing score

May take other breaks between sections but clock does not stop

Each question has 4 possible options with one correct answer

Exam is computerized


A Sample Question A patient is referred to physical therapy with a diagnosis of pes anserine bursitis. The physical therapist selects ultrasound as part of the intervention. The ultrasound should be applied to the area:

1. Proximal to the lateral femoral condyle2. Proximal to the medial femoral condyle3. Distal to the medial tibial condyle4. Distal to the lateral tibial condyle


How is the Passing Score SetTwo different methods for determining

passing scores: Norm referenced

Based on the population “grading on the curve”

Criterion referenced Based on an absolute standard Each judge estimates the % of new grads

who will answer each question correctly (the difficulty of the question)


Equating

Problem: Since questions vary in levels of difficulty, and each form is made up of different questions, how do we assure each form of the exam has a passing score that represents the appropriate standard that was determined by the Modified Angoff Study?

Answer: As much as possible, develop forms of the

exam that represent the same level of difficulty

Equate the forms so that the they are on the same scale of difficulty


Describes the process of putting forms of the exam on the same difficulty scale so that the passing score of each form represents the defined level of minimal competence.

Each form is scaled so that it is scored on a range from 200 (not getting any questions correct )to 800 (getting all the questions correct)

Candidates must achieve a scaled score of 600 to pass

Equating


“FAIR” is when…

The passing score represents the same level of knowledge even though candidates taking different forms may need to answer a different number of questions in order to pass


What’s Involved In Taking The NPTE?

Application returned to candidate

Apply for licensure with a

state

License application approved?

Candidate can register

for NPTE

Candidate receives

ATT letter

Contact Prometric for appointment

Candidate takes NPTE

FSBPT reports score to jurisdiction

Jurisdiction reports score to candidate

YES

NO

Apply for a license with

a state

License application approved

Candidate registers for NPTE

Candidate receives

ATT letter

Candidate contacts

Prometric for appointment

Candidate takes the

exam

FSBPT reports score to the jurisdiction

Jurisdiction reports score to the candidate

Application returned to

the candidate

NO

Y

E

S


Helpful Hints on taking the NPTE Carefully and

thoroughly read the NPTE Candidate Handbook

All the information you need to know about the exam is included in the handbook.

www.fsbpt.org


Hints on taking the NPTE… Schedule Early Test Early Plan Ahead Do not register for the exam until you are

ready to take the exam. Confirm your test date and appointment Make sure your name on your ID matches

the name on your Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter


Hints for Taking the NPTE No partying the night before Give yourself plenty of time to arrive Pace yourself during the exam

≈ 50 seconds per question Studies have shown this is adequate time


Scheduling a Test Date Authorization to Test letter (ATT)

60 days to sit for the exam One state only

Prometric Test Center Over 300 test centers in the United States On-line scheduling described in ATT letter Candidate may take the exam at any test

center that offers the exam irrespective of which state applied to


Examination Costs for Students

Cost of the examination paid to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) $370

Application fee paid to Ohio OTPTAT Board $100

Cost of the computer examination service paid to Prometric $70.60


Cheating on the Exam The Board and the FSBPT take cheating

very seriously. Rule 4755-27-05 (B)(2) states:

A licensee shall not cheat or assist others in conspiring to cheat on the NPTE or jurisprudence exam

Your license can be disciplined for violating this rule

Sharing recalled exam items is a form of cheating and a violation of U.S. copyright law


Cheating – Recent FSBPT Actions Individual offered to sell copy of PEAT

NPTE scores won’t be transferred for at least 6 months $10,000 penalty Completion of ethics remediation program

Individual posted actual exam items on PT study website NPTE scores won’t be transferred for at least 6 months $25,000 penalty Completion of ethics remediation program

In both situations, the individual was also referred to the appropriate state board for potential disciplinary action


Ohio Revised Code Requirements R.C. 4755.48 (B) states: “No person shall

practice or in any way imply or claim to the public… to be able to practice physical therapy or to provide physical therapy services, including practice as a PTA, unless the person holds a valid license under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code.”


Licensure If you practice without an

Ohio license, you will be disciplined for practicing physical therapy without a license!!

“Licensure Applicant” status eliminated in 2007


How Do I Get Licensed?1. Graduate from CAPTE program;2. Apply to OTPTAT Board to sit for NPTE;3. Register with FSBPT to sit for NPTE;4. Receive ATT from FSBPT;5. Pass NPTE and PT Laws & Rules exam.

Note: Effective March 24, 2008, all applicants for initial licensure need a criminal records check conducted by both the BCI and FBI.


State Application Information

In this state: http://otptat.ohio.gov

If you’re applying in another state: http://www.fsbpt.org to obtain a directory of State PT Boards


Submitting the Application Applicants for initial licensure can submit a

paper application or apply on-line Paper applications can be downloaded

from the Board’s website Apply on-line through the Ohio e-License

Center https://license.ohio.gov Select “Application Site” option




Criminal Records Checks HB 104 requires the Board to receive the

results of a criminal records check before issuance of a license.

The law requires the applicant to submit the results of a criminal records check conducted by both the FBI and Ohio BCI.

Only applies to initial license applications. No fingerprints needed for renewal or reinstatement.

http://ag.state.oh.us/business/fingerprint/index.asp





What Happens if I Fail? May only take the exam three times within

a rolling 12 month period You must submit a new examination

application to retake NPTE in Ohio Analyze how you can improve

FSBPT Performance Feedback Adequate preparation


I Have My License. Now What? Your first renewal:

Check your authorization to practice letter to determine when your initial license expires.

All PT licenses expire on January 31 of even numbered years.

If initial issue date is on or before October 1, 2009, your license will expire on 1/31/2010.

If initial issue date is after October 1, 2009, your license will expire on 1/31/2012.


I Have My License. Now What? PT Licensees (OAC 4755-23-06):

You are exempt from CE for first renewal.

Must submit 24 contact hours of CE. All CE activities must have an Ohio

Approval Number (issued by OPTA). All CE must be completed in 24-month

period ending on January 31.


I Have My License. Now What? What happens on February 1?

If you did not renew, your license automatically expires.

Renewal means the Board received AND processed your renewal application.

To return to active practice in Ohio, you must submit a reinstatement application.


Correct Use of Credentials PT is the professional credential that

authorizes you to legally practice physical therapy in Ohio

MSPT, MPT, DPT are academic degrees To correctly use both the professional &

academic credentials, a physical therapist should use: Jane Doe, PT, DPT or John Doe, PT, MPT A PT should not simply use Jane Doe, DPT or

John Doe, MPT


OTPTAT v. OPTAThe Alphabet Soup of the Profession OTPTAT is your state regulatory agency. It

licenses individuals and enforces the practice act.

OPTA is the state professional association. Along with the APTA, it advocates on the state/federal level for the profession.

The professional association the licensing board.

State licensure does not require OPTA membership.


Supervision & Delegation Rules Changes to rules 4755-27-01 to 4755-27-

04 went into effect on May 1, 2008. These changes clarified and modified the

role of unlicensed personnel.


PT Responsibilities Rule 4755-27-03 (C) outlines the tasks that

a physical therapist cannot delegate. These include, but are not limited to:

Interpreting physician referrals Initial patient evaluation Developing plan of care Assessing competence of other personnel Adjustment of plan of care Performing final evaluation


PTA Responsibilities Under PT supervision, the PTA may:

Carry out duties appropriate to established PT services

Adjust treatment procedure within the established plan of care

Review medical information with medical persons, family, or the patient

Progress patient treatment program within parameters of the plan of care

Document in patient records


Other Licensed Personnel vs. Unlicensed Personnel

Other Licensed Personnel

Any person holding an Ohio license to practice as a health care practitioner other than a PT/PTA

Unlicensed Personnel

Any person who is on the job trained


Other Licensed Personnel Category includes individuals such as: ATs,

RNs, OTs, LMTs, etc., providing services pursuant to the PT plan of care

Responsibility for care rendered lies at all times with the PT

Must work under direct supervision of a PT or PTA, as delegated by the PT


Other Licensed Personnel Direct supervision = PT/PTA in same

building & able to immediately respond to needs of patient

PT/PTA must have involvement with patient during each visit

Delegation done in accordance with knowledge of the other licensed personnel


Unlicensed Personnel Responsibility for care rendered lies at all

times with the PT Support the delivery of PT services by

personally assisting the PT / PTA/ PT Student / PTA Student while one of these individuals is concurrently providing services to the same patient


Unlicensed Personnel May be assigned ROUTINE duties that

assist in the delivery of PT operations, including: Maintenance & care of equipment and supplies Preparation, maintenance, and cleanup of

treatment areas Transportation of patients Office & clerical procedures Assisting patients preparing for, during, and at

the conclusion of treatment (eg: changing clothes)


Supervision PT has ultimate responsibility for all care

and services delivered as physical therapy PT shall select appropriate portions of the

program to be delegated and shall direct PTA in delegated functions

PT must assure that care is provided in accordance with state law


Supervision of the PTA Supervising PT not required to be

physically on site or on location Supervising PT must be available by

telecommunications at all times and able to appropriately respond to patient’s needs

Supervising PT should have regularly scheduled & documented conferences with the PTA Board recommends at least 1x per month


Supervision of Students Students must be enrolled in CAPTE

program Must function under on-site supervision at

all times Student PT needs PT supervision Student PTA needs PT or PTA supervision

Supervisor must countersign all student documentation


Regional Licensure RequirementsInformation for Ohio in parens () MI IN KY WV PA

Temporary Licensure (No)

No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Jurisprudence exam (Yes)

Yes No No No No

# of times indiv may sit for exam(No limit)

No limit

No limit

No limit

No limit

2x then remedi-

ation

CE Required?# of Hours (24/12) No CE No CE

30 hrs20 hrs

20 hrs20 hrs

20 hrs(only for practice w/o referral cert)


Change of Address Ohio law requires all licensees to

notify the Board, in writing, of a change of address within THIRTY days of the change.

Failure to notify the Board, could result in the delay of the processing of your renewal application.


Contacting the Board You may contact the Board by any of the

following methods: Internet: http://otptat.ohio.gov Email: [email protected] Phone: 614-466-3774 Fax: 614-995-0816 PT Section

Ohio OTPTAT Board77 S. High Street, 16th FloorColumbus, OH 43215-6108

Documents

The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board University of Cincinnati PT Program