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New Massachusetts Physical Therapy Continuing Competence Requirements: Getting Ready for 2024

on December 15, 2023

If you’re a physical therapist in Massachusetts, there’s a new update to your license renewal process that you should know about. As of May 2022, the Massachusetts Board of Allied Health Professionals requires that all PTs and PTAs complete 24 points of continuing competence every two years. This requirement is being phased in with prorating until August of 2024, but as we approach the end of 2023 and kick off 2024, it’s important for Massachusetts physical therapists to make sure they are prepared to meet this updated requirement.

Fortunately, meeting these new requirements is easy and convenient on Medbridge, with many courses available to help you stay up to date with your practice and ahead in your career. Keep reading to learn more!

Massachusetts Physical Therapy Continuing Competence Requirements

In a nutshell:

24 continuing competence points
At least 2 points should be in ethics/jurisprudence
Due every 2 years with license renewal
Due by license holder’s birthday

In Massachusetts, continuing competency is measured in points, the value of which depends on the activity you do. You can complete these requirements through continuing education, such as coursework and seminars—like the online courses and webinars offered through MedBridge, or through professional activities such as presenting research or leading a workshop.

Below is the breakdown of types of CC activities and their value in points:

Table listing ways to get continuing competence points and any limitations

To qualify toward your license renewal, all continuing competence activities should directly relate to physical therapy and exceed basic knowledge of the practice. In addition, all activities should have Board approval. The Massachusetts Board approves coursework and activities that are sponsored or endorsed by the following institutions:

CAPTE
FSBPT, APTA, or another physical therapy association
Another state’s licensing board
Another governmental health agency or teaching hospital

You can verify whether your course or activity will count by contacting the Board.

And don’t forget to retain proof of completed coursework, publication, or other necessary paperwork for at least five years after your license renews. The Board may request this information for a periodic, random audit. You can read more about such requirements in Section 7.02 of this document.

Can I Use MedBridge in Massachusetts?

Yes, you can use online continuing education provider MedBridge to complete Massachusetts physical therapy continuing competence requirements. MedBridge offers hundreds of courses for Massachusetts PTs and PTAs looking to renew their license.

In their vast library of online courses and webinars, you’ll discover a wide range of topics, from wound care and manual therapy to telehealth and patient management. Whether you prefer self-guided study or a live experience, MedBridge offers both formats all year long. An annual subscription grants unlimited access to their courses and a front-row seat to live, interactive webinars. You can read more about my experience using MedBridge to fulfill all of my continuing education in this MedBridge review.

What About the Ethics/Jurisprudence Requirement?

As part of your continuing competence activities, the Board asks that at least 2 points cover ethics or Massachusetts law/jurisprudence. You can easily satisfy this requirement on MedBridge. There are dozens of ethics and jurisprudence courses on MedBridge that are already approved for Massachusetts license renewal.

One example is Ethics for Physical and Occupational Therapy Professionals by Ron Scott. This 98-minute course covers everything you need to know to stay up-to-date on state laws, from HIPAA rules and fiduciary duty to malpractice prevention. Take Dr. Scott’s course and you’ll have met—just like that—the 2-hour ethics requirement set by the Massachusetts Board.

Phase-In Details of the CC Requirements

Before May 2022, Massachusetts PTs and PTAs didn’t have to worry about meeting a continuing competence requirement. To help the transition, the Board is phasing in this requirement, prorating the amount of necessary points until August of 2024.

See the table below to determine how many continuing competence points you’ll need to complete, based on when your license is due:

Table listing potential license expiration dates and the number of points needed for that date.

And that 2-point ethics requirement? You don’t have to worry about it until after July 2024. All licenses due in August 2024 or later will require all 24 CC points, with at least 2 of those points covering ethics or jurisprudence.

Massachusetts Physical Therapy License Expiration Date

If you didn’t already know, your Massachusetts PT or PTA license expires biennially on your birthday (happy birthday!).

How much is the renewal fee?

It costs $100 to renew a Massachusetts PT or PTA license.

Tim Fraticelli, DPT, MBA, CFP®

Tim Fraticelli is a Physical Therapist, Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of PTProgress. He loves to teach PTs and OTs ways to save time and money in and out of the clinic, especially when it comes to therapy documentation or continuing education. Follow him on YouTube for weekly videos on ways to improve your physical and financial health.