Vermont Office of Professional Regulation: Physical Therapists

The Office of Professional Regulation, commonly known as “OPR,” is a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. OPR’s mission is to protect the public from incompetent or unethical practitioners through a system of licensure. The Office achieves this by supporting boards and advisor groups that oversee licensure of 50 professions (such as architects and tattooists) and approximately 80,000 licensees.

A physical therapist licensee must document completion of a total of 24 CE hours during the two-year licensing period preceding renewal. A physical therapist assistant licensee must document completion of 16 CE hours during the two-year licensing period preceding renewal.

CE hours must be obtained in subjects related to either the professional practice of physical therapy or patient/client management:

• The professional practice of physical therapy includes but is not limited to professional accountability, professional behavior and professional development.

• Patient/client management includes but is not limited to examination, evaluation and diagnosis and prognosis; plan of care; implementation; education; and discharge.

Each licensee shall retain such documentation for a period of five years after the course or activity concludes. The Office shall perform a random audit of licensees’ continuing competency activity requirements.