On Saturday, October 27, 2018, Virginia will participate in the 16th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a DEA sponsored initiative providing citizens of the Commonwealth with an opportunity to dispose of potentially dangerous controlled substances from their medicine cabinets in an environmentally safe manner.

Healthcare practitioners are encouraged to advise patients about this service and to remind them it is free and anonymous with no questions asked. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites coordinated with law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia.

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to read a letter from DHP Director Dr. David Brown.

You can use the DEA website to enter your zip code to find a local collection site.

---

Effective June 1, 2018, the Virginia State Board of Physical Therapy will be going to an online license verification system using our agency's License Lookup feature.  While applicants or licensees may request paper or pdf copies of license verifications as needed or required, the online resource will serve as the official hard copy and proof of licensure for all individuals and establishments licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions. License Lookup is updated in real time and available 24/7 to anyone seeking public licensure information on healthcare practitioners in Virginia.

If a hard copy verification is required, please click here for instructions and fees.

---

Board Recognizes FSBPT’s oPTion Assessment Tool

Effective February 7, 2018, updates to the Board’s regulations became effective to recognize the oPTion online assessment tool offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) as a means for physical therapists to self-assess their competency level and to review PT concepts.  The updates replace reference to the Practice Review Tool (PRT), which was discontinued by FSBPT in November 2016.

According to FSBPT,
oPTion is a self-assessment tool created by the FSBPT to allow physical therapists to compare their knowledge, skills, and abilities to current entry-level general physical therapy practice. It is also an opportunity to review PT fundamentals.

Licensees may earn continuing education credit for completion of the oPTion assessment tool (18VAC112-20-131(B)(5)):
5.  A physical therapist who can document that he attained at least Level 2 on the FSBPT assessment tool may receive five hours of Type 1 credit for the biennium in which the assessment tool was taken. A physical therapist who can document that he attained at least Level 3 or 4 on the FSBPT assessment tool may receive 10 hours of Type 1 credit for the biennium in which the assessment tool was taken. Continuing competency credit shall only be granted for the FSBPT assessment tool once every four years.

In addition, licensees seeking reinstatement of their lapsed or inactive licenses have the choice of using the FSBPT assessment tool to meet certain requirements for reinstatement or reactivation, as applicable.  For more information, please refer to 18VAC112-20-135 (Inactive License) and 18VAC112-20-136 (Reinstatement Requirements), or contact the Board with questions.

oPTtion - self-assessment tool

aPTitude - Online CEU tracking

For more information or to access oPTion, please visit FSBPT’s oPTion webpage.

---

Opioid Addiction Crisis Declared a Public Health Emergency in Virginia

On November 21, 2016 Governor McAuliffe issued a News Release stating that State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine has declared Virginia’s opioid abuse crisis a Public Health Emergency in the Commonwealth.

Visit the Virginia Department of Health for more information.
Download Commissioner Levine’s message to healthcare practitioners on dispensing Naloxone.

---

Consumer Information

This information has been added to assist the public in understanding Physical Therapy practice and selecting a Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapist Assistant.

• Verify a Physical Therapist/Physical Therapist Assistant license (License Lookup)
• Learn Physical Therapy basics
• Choosing Wisely
• Understanding Your Rights
• How to file a complaint

---

Important Licensure Renewal Information

Please click here to read important information regarding your 2018 renewal.

---

Licensure Verification and Change of Name/Address Information

Please click here for information on how to request a verification of licensure.

Please click here for information on how to change your address or make a name change.

---

Online Licensing - Physical Therapy licensees can renew a license, change an address and request a duplicate license online. 

---

Use aPTitude for Tracking your CEU's

Read more about the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) aPTitude System

---

Continuing Education Courses

To review Type 1 and Type 2 continuing education requirements for renewal and reinstatement of a Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapist Assistant license please click here for more information.

---

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses
Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment.  The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license.  For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.

---

Discipline Case Information:

The Board of Physical Therapy would like to share with you the top three types of cases that came before the board during FY15 (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015) and that resulted in disciplinary action:

• Fraudulent billing cases
• Cases that resulted from out of state disciplinary orders
• Continuing Education violations

---

Healthcare Workforce Data Findings

Virginia’s Physical Therapist Workforce: 2016

Virginia’s Physical Therapy Assistant Workforce: 2016

---

Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation -  More information...
The Adult Protective Services Program at the Virginia Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new online educational opportunity for mandated reporters of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older or incapacitated individuals. This online training course has been developed for, and with the assistance of, mandated reporters and APS professionals to assist mandated reporters in understanding adult abuse and their responsibilities as mandated reporters. Read More...(word .doc)