The Role of the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board Kent State University - Ashtabula PTA Program

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board2 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board3 Role of the Board The Mission of the OTPTAT Board is to Protect the Public, NOT the Licensee

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board4 Role of the Board The 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board5 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board6 History of the Board  Statutory Authority for the Board Contained in Chapter of the Ohio Revised Code (the law).  OT’s First Licensed in  Licensure of PT’s Added in  Athletic Trainer Licensing Starts in 1990.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board7 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board8 Major Responsibilities of the Board  Establish Entrance Requirements Education Training and Experience Assessing initial competence  Rule Making  Discipline  Assuring Continued Competence

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board9 Composition of the Board  Joint Board consisting of an Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Section  Total of 8 full-time staff  PT Section has 9 Section members

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board10 OTPTAT Board Info  Staff: 2 Administrative Staff, 3 Investigative Staff, and 3 Licensure Staff  Website -  Any Board-related information you need can be obtained from the website: e.g.: Applications, Laws and Rules, Newsletter, etc.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board11 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 ) for an answer.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board12 The Exam  National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)  Includes both PT and PTA Exams  PT: required for licensure in all 50 states  PTA: required for licensure in 44 states (as of Feb 2007)  Same passing score in all states

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board13 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board14 National Physical Therapy Examination  PTA Exam – 200 multiple choice questions 4 hour exam with 4 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board15 What is on the Exam?  The Test Content Outline Based on the Analysis of Practice Made up of knowledge statements that are required to perform the tasks that are done by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants within the first 5 years of practice Minimal competence Determines the number of questions in each content area Not based on what was learned in school but on what is occurring in practice

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board16 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 YESYES

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board17 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. 

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board18 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board19 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board20 Ohio Revised Code Requirements  R.C (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 to of the Revised Code.”

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board21 Licensure  If you practice without an Ohio license, you will be disciplined for practicing physical therapy without a license!!

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board22 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 will need a criminal records check conducted by both the BCI and FBI.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board23 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board24

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board25

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board26

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board27

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board28

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board29 State Application Information In this state: If you’re applying in another state: to obtain a directory of State PT Boards

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board30 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  Additional remediation required in Ohio for applicants who fail more than 3 times  Analyze how you can improve FSBPT Performance Feedback Adequate preparation

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board31 Examination Costs for Students  Cost of the examination paid to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) $350.  Application fee paid to Ohio OTPTAT Board $100.  Cost of the computer examination service paid to Prometric $60.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board32 I Have My License. Now What?  Your first renewal: Check your authorization to practice letter to determine when your initial license expires. All PTA licenses expire on January 31 of odd numbered years.  If initial issue date is on or before October 1, 2008, your license will expire on 1/31/2009.  If initial issue date is after October 1, 2008, your license will expire on 1/31/2011.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board33 I Have My License. Now What?  PT Licensees (OAC ): Licenses expire on January 31 of odd numbered years. Must submit 12 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. You are exempt from CE for first renewal.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board34 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board35 OTPTAT v. OPTA The 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board36 How are they different? OPTAOTPTAT Board MembershipVoluntary Mandatory: must be licensed Purpose Promote the profession Protect the public Service To the membership To the public

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board37 PT Responsibilities  Rule (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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board38 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board39 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board40 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board41 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board42 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board43 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)

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board44 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board45 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

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board46 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.

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board47 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 Select “Application Site” option

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board48

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board49

10/28/2008OTPTAT Board50 Contacting the Board  You may contact the Board by any of the following methods: Internet: Phone: Fax: PT Section Ohio OTPTAT Board 77 S. High Street, 16th Floor Columbus, OH