Tennessee Physical Therapy Association

We are including this cover letter to assist you in completing the application materials. An application form, “Policies on Approval of Continuing Education Courses for Providers”, and “Criteria for Approval of Continuing Education Courses” are enclosed.

Three (3) copies of the application and all attachments to the application must be submitted to the TPTA office 6 weeks prior to the date of the course if approval prior to that date is sought.

If this is a request for a re-approval, only two (2) copies of everything is required along with a copy of the prior approval letter.

All sections of the application form must be completed. Please type or print legibly. A course will not be evaluated for approval if the application form is incomplete or illegible. If information is included as an attachment, you must state that on the application form.

Please use this checklist to make sure that these items are included with the application:

Course brochure
Course content and schedule (if not included in the brochure)
Course objectives that complete the following statement: At the end of this course, the participants will be able to …
A thorough description of the method used to assess a participant’s attainment of the course objectives. This is not the same as the participants’ evaluation of the course and instructor(s). Failure to adequately address this requirement is the most common reason for approval being denied.
Sample evaluation form that the participants complete to evaluate the course
Sample letter or certificate of attendance
Presenter(s) qualifications (if not included in the brochure). Please limit to 2 pages.
Check or money order payable to Tennessee Physical Therapy Association

Approved courses will be posted on the TPTA website. Information will include the title, provider, location, the initial date of offering, approved number of hours and contact information. A 20% discount for more extensive advertising in the Volunteer Voice or on the website is available for approved courses.

Mail application form, fee payment, and all attachments to:

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association
Attn: CEU Approval
4205 Hillsboro Road
Suite 317
Nashville, TN 37215

If you have any questions, contact the TPTA office at 615-269-5312.

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association
Policies on Approval of Continuing Education Courses
For Providers

1. TPTA uses the term “continuing education units” (CEUs) to define the credit given in course approval. CEUs are based on contact hours. Sixty (60) minutes of time actually spent in the educational portion of the course equals one contact hour. Credit is not given for registration, meals, or breaks. Ten contact hours equal 1 CEU.

2. A course will not be evaluated for approval if the applicant does not submit all of the information required on the application.

3. An application submitted by the provider of a continuing education course must be received at the TPTA office 6 weeks prior to the date for which initial approval is sought.

4. The provider of a continuing education course may submit the application after the date of the course for up to one year.

5. Approval for a continuing education course is valid for a 12 month period from the initial approval date. For traditional onsite courses, the date of the initial approval is the date the course is first presented. The course may be offered again – exactly as it was approved with the same curriculum and presenter(s) – on additional dates within the 12 month period from the initial approval date with no additional fee. If the course will be offered on multiple dates in different locations, this should be indicated on the application.

6. If approval of a continuing education course is denied, the course provider may appeal the decision to the TPTA Executive Committee.

7. Providers of continuing education courses approved by TPTA are prohibited from self-promotion of programs, products, and/or services during the presentation of the program.

8. At the conclusion of a continuing education course approved by TPTA, the participant must be provided a letter or certificate of completion that will indicate the number of CEUs earned and the course approval number assigned by TPTA.

9. Continuing education course providers are required to maintain records of participant attendance and course evaluation forms for three years.

10. TPTA will conduct an annual audit of a random sample of continuing education course providers to determine compliance with maintenance of records of participant attendance and course evaluation forms.

11. TPTA will maintain a database that includes a summary of approved continuing education courses. It will include the course name, the TPTA assigned approval number, the date(s) of the course, the location of the course, the number of CEUs awarded, and contact information for the course provider.

12. TPTA will not maintain records of individual names of participants attending continuing education courses. It is the licensee’s responsibility to maintain his/her own records for continuing education.

13. Approved courses will be posted on the TPTA website. Posted information will include the title, provider, location, the initial date of offering, approved number of hours, and contact information. If the course will be offered on multiple dates in different locations, the provider must provide a website address. The posting will then include the phrase “Please see provider website for additional dates and locations”. A 20% discount for more extensive advertising on the website or in the Volunteer Voice is available for approved courses.

Tennessee Physical Therapy Association
Criteria for Approval of Continuing Education Courses

1. The content is relevant to physical therapy practice (clinical practice, clinical education, clinical research, clinical management, clinical science, professional ethics, Tennessee laws relating to the practice of physical therapy).

(a) Must have significant content to improve professional competence in physical therapy
(b) Must be designed to increase or enhance knowledge or skills of current standards in physical therapy practice
(c) Programs that deal with the internal affairs of an organization do not qualify for approval

2. Course objectives are clearly stated and identify the knowledge and/or skills that the participants should acquire during the course.

(a) Course objectives must be clearly stated and relevant to physical therapy
(b) Course objectives must include the expected outcome for participants that relate to the practice of physical therapy

3. The course content is consistent with the stated objectives.

(a) Course content must be appropriate to achieve the objectives

4. The instructional methods are appropriate to achieve the objectives.

(a) Methods must be appropriate to the subject matter taught
(b) Methods must allow suitable time for participants to absorb the material presented
(c) Must describe instructional aids and resource materials utilized

5. The instructor(s) have appropriate qualifications and credentials in the content areas of the course.

(a) Must have practical experience or academic credentials in the topic areas presented in the course

6. The method used to assess a participant’s attainment of the course objectives is appropriate.

(a) A variety of methods may be acceptable – e.g. written test, skills observation, participant self-assessment, case studies, discussion, role-playing

7. The evaluation form that the participants must complete is appropriate.