A physical therapist’s education doesn’t end once they’ve finished their residency and earned their Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). These important milestones mark the beginning of their commitment to lifelong learning. From there, each one will take a unique route for their own professional development (PD). They’ll need both formal and informal education to move their careers forward. These experiences can help PTs specialize or diversify their practice. Hands-on clinical experience provides one valuable type of learning. They’ll also take part in volunteer work, advocacy or leadership roles. 

After obtaining full licensure, they’ll need to take a certain number of formal continuing education (CE) course hours to stay licensed. However, continuing education credits are only one part of ongoing PD.

For physical therapists, pursuing continuing competence is a matter of public safety. This article defines continuing education and professional development. It also discusses why these are important for physical therapists.

Why do physical therapists need continuing education and professional development?

Physical therapy is a dynamic practice that’s continually changing. Every PT has a responsibility to stay up to date with new research and innovations. Professional development helps them provide consistently safe and effective treatment. It includes treatment modalities, practice and care management techniques, and much more. As they advance their careers, PTs should also polish their people skills and personal ethics. Professional development is a broad term for ongoing self-improvement in one’s career. Continuing education units (CEUs) measure the minimum learning you need to maintain licensure.

You have a lot of agency to decide what continuing education topics and types of professional development you want to pursue. Your PD plan is your unique, structured road map to your long-term career goals. Some of these goals might include earning certifications or becoming a board-certified specialist. Your steps toward becoming a specialist would include getting a certain type of experience and then applying and taking an exam. Keep in mind that your career should support a healthy and rewarding lifestyle. You might value things like work-life balance and financial stability.

Each person should reflect, assess and adjust their unique professional development plan often. Continuing education is just one small part of it. Your PD should include a broad range of different learning experiences. You should also be an active member of your professional community. You might pursue certifications, work with a mentor, and volunteer with associations or advocacy groups. You should keep track of your PD activities in a document you can use to update your résumé or CV as needed.

Professional development basics

Professional development begins with your academic education and clinical learning experiences. It’s a part of your career that will continue throughout your professional life span. It should be driven by self-assessment and the needs of your community and your practice. PD is how you gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ll need to provide the best possible service to your patients and your community. 

There are no hard-and-fast rules about what counts or doesn’t count as PD. Even day-to-day challenges with patients can be a form of it. Determining your personal values and taking steps to enact them in your career is a big part of it, too. The APTA’s core values of professionalism include accountability, compassion, integrity and others. 

You should plan regular reflection time at least once a year. Take time to assess your own performance, where you are in relation to your career goals, and the needs of your practice and your patients. These are the key elements that will help you determine what types of professional development you need to get to your next milestones. If you’re working with a mentor, they should also have some valuable input on what education and experiences will be most helpful. 

The following are some common professional development goals for physical therapists:

• Identifying your core values and putting them into practice
• Sharpening the skills you need to work independently in your practice
• Gaining experience with evidence-based treatment practices
• Keeping up with an evolving health care system 
• Staying up to date with contemporary clinical and practice management techniques
• Acquiring new responsibilities in your clinical role

Continuing education basics

Continuing education is a type of required professional development that’s measured in contact hours. This basic requirement helps ensure that you have the knowledge and skills you need for safe, effective and legal practice. Physical therapists in every state must take a certain number of CE credit hours per licensing period. These requirements vary by state. One CE credit is equal to 10 contact hours. Most states require between 10 and 40 contact hours or one to four CEUs per licensing period.

According to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), research has shown that CE alone doesn’t ensure competence and prevent harm to patients. This is why regulating bodies sometimes use the term “continuing competence” instead. FSBPT suggests continuous self-assessment in three areas. These include jurisprudence and ethics, skills and knowledge related to your role, and “healthy practice.” By healthy practice, they mean the conditions under which safe, effective and ethical practice is most likely to thrive.

The following are some examples of continuing education course topics:

• Clinical reasoning and decision-making
• Nervous system anatomy and function
• Professionalism as an individual and a team member
• Affirming care for transgender patients
• Biopsychosocial and environmental aspects of aging
• Foundations of telehealth 
• Sports nutrition

Where can I access continuing education credits and professional development?

Many different organizations provide continuing education credits. Some are national-level member associations. Others are colleges and universities, government agencies, and private practices. These courses are often available online, though there are also in-person workshops that can count as CEUs. 

Physical therapy practices provide different types of professional development to their employees. At Lattimore PT, we empower our team to take a “hands-on” approach so they can take steps to create the best possible treatment outcomes for our patients. We also have internal committees that oversee compliance, leadership and sports performance. Employees can take part in these committees to ensure consistency across our practice while gaining valuable experience.

You should be aware of your state’s requirements for CEU accreditation. Some states may require you to take courses that are accredited by a local organization. Other states don’t require continuing competency courses to be accredited. Several different organizations provide accreditation for continuing education courses. These include state licensing boards, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and others. 

Get the continuing education and professional development opportunities you want at Lattimore PT

We know that taking care of our team is the best way to ensure the best treatment outcomes for our patients at Lattimore Physical Therapy. That’s why we’re invested in creating opportunities for learning, growth and leadership at every point in their careers. The caring and proactive approach we encourage with our team is called “the Lattimore Way.” We ensure that our PTs aren’t overbooked so they can spend quality time with each of their patients and get to know them. We recognize team members when they do good work. This lifts up the entire team because we can leverage each person’s success by learning from each other.

Are you ready to take the next step in your PT career, but not sure what that looks like? Get in touch with us today. Let’s talk about educational opportunities at Lattimore PT. Here, you can move your career forward while making a meaningful contribution to your community.