Beginning January 1, 2004,
all orthotists and prosthetists shall report
continuing competency activities every three
years.
Example:
If your birthday is on
January 1, 2004, you will have three years
to accumulate the required number of hours.
You will continue to accumulate and report
continuing competency hours every three
years thereafter.
Each licensed orthotist and prosthetist
shall complete a professional enhancement
plan describing the goals the licensee will
develop to maintain proficiency in their
practice. A professional enhancement plan
must be completed in the first year of each
three-year reporting period. The plan may
focus on one specific area of practice or
broader areas as determined by the
individual’s goals. You need not submit the
Plan to the Department. The Plan should be
kept on file in your office to monitor your
progress and to rate the activities. You
will need to submit the plan if audited.
Continuing Competency activities are broken
down into two categories:
- Category One activities are structured
activities that are sponsored by nationally
or regionally recognized organizations
listed in
WAC 246-850-150.
- Category Two activities are those, which are
generally independent and/or unsupervised
listed in subsection (2) of
WAC 246-850-150.
The rules require that all licensees obtain
continuing competency hours as follows:
- Licensed orthotists must accumulate a
minimum of 45 hours of continuing competency
(CC) hours every three years in the area of
orthotics.
- Licensed prosthetists must accumulate a
minimum of 45 hours of CC hours every three
years in the area of prosthetics.
- Individuals who are licensed in both
disciplines must accumulate a minimum of 60
CC hours every 3 years.
- For individuals licensed in one discipline,
a maximum of eighteen Category 2 CC hours
may be earned in any three-year reporting
period.
- For individuals licensed in both
disciplines, a maximum of twenty-four
Category 2 continuing competency hours may
be earned in any three-year reporting
period.
Your annual renewal form will indicate when
continuing competency hours are due.
WAC 246-850-150: Classification of Categories of continuing competency
Professional Enhancement Plan
