ARC 9398C - Iowa Administrative Rules

Adopted and Filed

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants—continuing education, 803.2(3)

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ARC 9398C

INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS DEPARTMENT[481]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to continuing education

The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing hereby amends Chapter 803, “Continuing Education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code chapters 148A and 272C and 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapters 148A and 272C and 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686.

Purpose and Summary

This rulemaking implements 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686. Chapter 803 sets forth continuing education and training requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The intended benefit of this chapter is to ensure that licensees maintain up-to-date practice standards and, as a result, provide high-quality services to Iowans. The Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy reviewed the continuing education requirements in the fall of 2023 pursuant to Executive Order 10. Subrule 803.2(3) is amended to comply with the statutory changes from 2024 Iowa Acts, House File 2686, allowing a licensee to carry over up to 50 percent of excess completed continuing education hours from the previous renewal cycle. This rulemaking grants physical therapists the ability to carry over up to 20 hours of continuing education earned in excess of the 40 hours required by Iowa law every two years. This rulemaking grants physical therapist assistants the ability to carry over up to 10 hours of continuing education earned in excess of the 20 hours required by Iowa law every two years.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on February 19, 2025, as ARC 8862C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●March 11, 2025

No one attended the public hearing. No public comments were received. No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rulemaking

This rulemaking was adopted by the Department on June 13, 2025.

Fiscal Impact

This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 481—Chapter 6.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rulemaking will become effective on August 13, 2025.

The following rulemaking action is adopted:

ITEM 1.Amend subrule 803.2(3) as follows:

803.2(3) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium except for a new licensee.Licensees who complete continuing education hours in excess of the requirements for renewal may apply up to 50 percent of the required hours to the following renewal period. Physical therapist licensees may apply a maximum of 20 hours from the previous renewal period. Physical therapist assistant licensees may apply a maximum of ten hours from the previous renewal period. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.

[Filed 6/16/25, effective 8/13/25]

[Published 7/9/25]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 7/9/25.