25. The board shall establish continuing professional education and competency requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which requirements shall be a condition of retaining licensure. As used in this section, “continuing professional education and competency” means the lifelong process of maintaining and documenting the application of knowledge, skills and behaviors required to function effectively, safely, ethically and legally, through ongoing self-assessment, development, and implementation of a personal learning plan and subsequent reassessment. The board shall:

a. Approve only such continuing professional education and competency programs as are available to all physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in this State on a nondiscriminatory basis;

b. Establish standards for continuing professional education and competency programs;

c. Accredit educational programs offering credits towards the continuing professional education and competency requirements; and

d. Establish the number of credits of continuing professional education and competency required of each applicant for license renewal. Each credit shall represent or be equivalent to one hour of actual course attendance, or in the case of those electing an alternative method of satisfying the requirements of P.L.2003, c.18 (C. 45:9-37.34b et al.), shall be approved by the board and certified pursuant to procedures established for that purpose.

L.2003, c.18, s.25; amended 2017, c.121, s.9.