A PT with a BS or MS in Physical Therapy can qualify to treat without a referral by completing 30 CCUs in the area of differential diagnosis. Treatment without a referral under this qualifier cannot exceed 10 consecutive business days.
The 30 CCUs can be from several courses/activities and can be tickled out of a larger course as long as there is documented evidence supporting the number of CCUs in the area of differential diagnosis. . The course(s) do not need to be approved through the Continuing Competence Approval Program, but if not CCAP-approved, the CCUs cannot be used to meet the renewal requirement.
The PT Board will not publish a list of acceptable courses/activities in the area of differential diagnosis for PTs to choose from. A PT should use their professional judgement based on the course outline/content as to whether or not the course covers the area of differential diagnosis. And if so, how many CCUs can be attributed to differential diagnosis considering one (1) contact hour = one (1) CCU.
Documented proof that the 30 CCUs have been completed should be maintained in the event that the PT Board requests that they be submitted.