Delaware



Temporary License Requirements/Availability[1][edit | edit source]

2611. Temporary license or registration.


-Candidate must submit a written applicantion on forms provided by the Boaard.


-The boards MAY issue a temporary license to a person who has applied and are eligible to take the examination provided of this title.


-Available to an applicant only with respect to the applicant's first apllication for licensure.  


-MUST be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist


-Expires automatically upon the failure of a licensure or registration examination and upon such expiration, the temporary license must be surrendered to the Board and may NOT be renewed.  


-In all other cases a temporary license may be renewed only once.









Requirements for License[1][edit | edit source]

To be eligible for licensure as a physical therapist an applicant shall submit to the Board satisfactory evidence of:

  1. Suitability to practice
  2. Graduation from a school offering a program in physical therapy or physical therapist assistant, which program as offered by such school, has been approved for the educational preparation of physical therapists or physical therapist assistants by the appropriate accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation.


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Supervision[1][edit | edit source]

At any given time, a Physical Therapist shall not supervise more than:

-2 Physical Therapist Assistants

-2 Athletic Trainers

-Physical Therapist Assistant and 1 Athletic Trainer.


    • While a Physical Therapist may supervise up to two Physical Therapist Assistants, only one of those Physical Therapist Assistants may be off-site.


Direct supervision in connection with support personnel means a licensed Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant or Athletic Trainer shall be personally present and immediately available within the treatment area to give aid, direction, and instruction when procedures are performed.


Support personnel means a person(s) who performs certain routine, designated physical therapy tasks, or athletic training tasks, under the direct supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant or Athletic Trainer. There shall be documented evidence of sufficient in-service training to assure safe performance of the duties assigned to the support personnel.


Physical Therapy Students[1][edit | edit source]

-MUST be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist while performing such works or acts of physical therapy as related to their respective course of study.

Continued Competence[1][edit | edit source]

Three CEU's are required for every license renewal which is required every 2 years for Physical Therapists.  The required CEU's shall be completed no later than January 31 of every odd-numbered year and every 2 years after such date. Effective as of the license renewal period beginning February 1, 2013, the required hours shall include 0.2 units of Ethics and completion of a CPR course, which will count for 0.1 unit.

13.1.1 One CEU will be given for every 10 hours of an approved continuing education course. (1 contact hour = .1 CEU).

13.1.2 CEU's shall not be carried over from one biennial period to the next.

13.1.3 CEU requirements shall be prorated for new licensees. If the license is granted during the six month period shown below, the following will be required for renewal:

13.1.3.1 If an applicant is granted a license during the first six months of a license period, between the dates of February 1 of an odd-numbered year and July 31 of that year, the new licensee must complete 2.5 CEUs.

13.1.3.2 If an applicant is granted a license during the second six months of a license period, between the dates of August 1 of an odd-numbered year and January 31 of an even-numbered year, the licensee must complete 2.0 CEUs.

13.1.3.3 If an applicant is granted a license during the third period of six months during a license period, between the dates of February 1 of an even-numbered year and July 31 of an even-numbered year, the licensee must complete 1.5 CEUs.

13.1.3.4 If an applicant is granted a license during the last period of six months during a license period, between the dates of August 1 of an even-numbered year and January 31 of an odd-numbered year, the licensee must complete .5 CEUs.

13.2 Each course must include topics relevant to the field of health care as it pertains to Physical Therapy or Athletic Training. Approval of CEU's shall be within the discretion of the Board.

13.2.1 Continuing education units that have been previously approved during the current licensing period by another agency such as a national governing body or a fellow state licensing board shall be acceptable to the Examining Board for the State of Delaware as appropriate CEU's.

13.2.2 Any sponsors or licensees wishing to receive prior written approval of CEU courses from the Board must complete a CEU Application Form. Board approval shall expire 3 years after the approval date. If the course is amended at any time during the 3 years, the sponsor or licensee shall submit a new Application Form.

13.2.3 Hardship. An applicant for license renewal may be granted an extension of time in which to complete CEU hours or a total or partial waiver of CEU requirements upon a showing of hardship. Hardship may include, but is not limited to, disability, illness, extended absence from the country and exceptional family responsibilities. No extension of time or waiver shall be granted unless the licensee submits a written request to the Board prior to the expiration of the license.

13.2.4 CEU's may be earned through Board approved courses in colleges and universities, extension courses, independent study courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, lectures, videotapes, professional presentations and publications, and in-services oriented toward the enhancement of their respective professional practice. CEU programs shall be conducted under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction. The program may include staff development activities of agencies and cross-disciplinary offerings.

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GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUACATION COURSES

13.2.5 The following are examples of acceptable continuing education which the Board may approve. The Board will determine the appropriate number of contact hours for these categories of continuing education, subject to any limitation shown below.

13.2.5.1 professional meetings including national, state, chapter, and state board meetings

13.2.5.2 seminars/workshops

13.2.5.3 staff/faculty in-services

13.2.5.4 first time presentation of professionally oriented course/lecture (0.3 CEU/hour per presentation)

13.2.5.5 approved self studies including: videotapes, if:  there is a sponsoring agency,there is a facilitator or program official present, the program official is not the only attendee correspondence course, if a sponsoring agency provides a certificate of completion

13.2.6 The following are also examples of acceptable continuing education in the amount of CEU's shown.

13.2.6.1 university/college courses:

1.0 CEU for each 3 credit profession-related course per semester

0.8 CEU for each 3 credit profession-related course per trimester

0.7 CEU for each 3 credit profession-related course per quarter

13.2.6.2 passing of licensing examination (1.5 CEU's)

13.2.6.3 original publication in peer reviewed publication (0.3 CEU)

13.2.6.4 original publication in non-peer reviewed publication (0.1 CEU)

13.2.6.5 holding of an office (0.3 CEU), to include:executive officer's position for the national or state professional associations (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) member, Examining Board of Physical Therapists

13.2.6.6 acting as the direct clinical instructor providing supervision to a Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant or Athletic Trainer student officially enrolled in an accredited institution during an internship (40 contact hours = 0.1 CEU)

13.2.6.7 acting as the direct clinical instructor providing supervision to an Athletic Training student officially enrolled in an accredited Athletic Training Education Program (40 contact hours = 0.1 CEU).

13.3 Proof of continuing education is satisfied with an attestation by the licensee that he or she has satisfied the requirements of Rule 13.0.

13.3.1 Attestation shall be completed electronically.

13.3.2 Licensees selected for random audit will be required to supplement the attestation with attendance verification pursuant to Rule 13.4.

13.4 Random audits will be performed by the Board to ensure compliance with the CEU requirements.

13.4.1 The Board will notify licensees within sixty (60) days after January 31 that they have been selected for audit.

13.4.2 Licensees selected for random audit shall be required to submit verification within twenty (20) days of receipt of notification of selection for audit.

13.4.3 Verification shall include, but is not limited to, the following information:

13.4.3.1 Proof of attendance. While course brochures may be used to verify contact hours, they are not considered to be acceptable proof for use of verification of course attendance;

13.4.3.2 Date of CEU course;

13.4.3.3 Instructor of CEU course;

13.4.3.4 Sponsor of CEU course;

13.4.3.5 Title of CEU course; and

13.4.3.6 Number of hours of CEU course.

13.4.4 The Board shall review all documentation submitted by licensees pursuant to the CE audit. If the Board determines that the licensee has met the CE requirements, his or her license shall remain in effect. If the Board determines that the licensee has not met the CE requirements, the licensee shall be notified and a hearing may be held pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. The hearing will be conducted to determine if there are any extenuating circumstances justifying the noncompliance with the CE requirements. 

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?[edit | edit source]

The state of Delaware's practice act does not appear to be restrictive.  They allow direct access for consumers without a prescription from a licensed medical physician.  Physical therapist may treat the patient for up to 30 days before a licensed medical physician must be consulted and physical therapy treatments must be terminated until done so.  They also allow temporary licensure which allows those who qualify to take the boards to practice without an official license.  Although these individuals can practice they must still be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist.  Even though this state's practice act does not appear to be restrictive there are still rules and regulations that help to govern the practice of physical therapy in the state of Delaware.

Is there anything unusual about this act?\[edit | edit source]

There was nothing unusual about the state of Delaware's practice act regarding physical therapy.


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References[edit | edit source]

References will automatically be added here, see adding references tutorial.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 State of Delaware. The Official Website of the First State. Reviewed April 18,2012; accessed April 22,2012. Available from http://delcode.delaware.gov/index.shtml

Disclaimer:   Informational Content is assimilated from the state practice act is a resource only and should not be considered a  substitute for the content within the state practice act.  All state practice acts can change and it is recommended that you refer to the original resource in the link above.