Part 52, Registration of Curricula for Physical Therapist Assistants

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§ 52.43 Physical therapy

Definitions. As used in this section:
1. “Basic health sciences content area” shall mean coursework which includes, but is not limited to, the following curricular areas:
  1. human anatomy specific to physical therapy;
  2. human physiology specific to physical therapy;
  3. neuroscience;
  4. kinesiology or functional anatomy; and
  5. pathology.
2. “Medical sciences content area” shall mean coursework in clinical medicine pertinent to physical therapy which includes, but is not limited to, the following curricular areas:
  1. neurology;
  2. orthopedics;
  3. pediatrics;
  4. geriatrics;
  5. cardiopulmonary;
  6. pharmacology; and
  7. general medical/surgical metabolic conditions.
3. “Clinical sciences: examination and evaluation content area” shall mean coursework in examination and evaluation which includes, but is not limited to, the following curricular areas:
  1. integumentary system;
  2. musculoskeletal system;
  3. neuromuscular system;
  4. cardiopulmonary system; and
  5. metabolic problems.
4. “Clinical sciences: interventions content area” shall mean coursework in interventions which includes, but is not limited to, the following curricular areas:
  1. integumentary interventions;
  2. musculoskeletal interventions;
  3. neuromuscular interventions;
  4. cardiopulmonary interventions;
  5. airway clearance techniques;
  6. debridement and wound care;
  7. electrotherapeutic modalities;
  8. functional training in community and work, job, school, or play reintegration, including instrumental activities of daily living, work hardening, and work conditioning;
  9. functional training in self-care and home management, including activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living;
  10. manual therapy techniques;
  11. patient-related instruction;
  12. physical agents and mechanical modalities;
  13. prescription, application, and, as appropriate, fabrication of assistive, adaptive, orthotic, protective, supportive, and prosthetic devices and equipment; and
  14. therapeutic exercise, including aerobic conditioning.
5. “Related professional content area” shall mean coursework which includes, but is not limited to, the following curricular areas:
  1. professional behaviors;
  2. administration;
  3. community health;
  4. research and clinical decision making;
  5. educational techniques;
  6. medical terminology;
  7. communication related to client/patient care;
  8. legal and ethical aspects of physical therapy practice;
  9. psychosocial aspects in physical therapy practice;
  10. emergency procedures;
  11. cultural competency; and
  12. consultation, screening and delegation.
6. “Clinical education content area” shall mean clinical practice experiences under the following conditions:
  1. Such clinical practice experiences shall consist of no less than 800 total hours of clinical education supervised by a physical therapist that include at least 560 hours of full-time clinical internships. For purposes of this subparagraph full-time shall mean no less than 35 hours per week.
  2. Clinical education shall include physical therapist-supervised application of physical therapy theory, examination, evaluation, and intervention.
Curriculum. In addition to meeting all applicable provisions of this Part, to be registered as a program leading to licensure in physical therapy which meets the requirements of section 77.1 of this Chapter, the program shall result in a master’s or higher degree, or its equivalent, and shall require the student to have completed at least 150 semester credit hours or its equivalent of postsecondary study, including a total of at least 90 semester credit hours, or their equivalent, in the following content areas:
1. basic health sciences;
2. medical sciences;
3. clinical sciences: examination and evaluation;
4. clinical sciences: interventions;
5. related professional; and
6. clinical education.