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2. Physical Therapy LicenseApplicants must hold a current unrestricted license topractice physical therapy in the United States, theDistrict of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the VirginIslands.To promote improved health outcomes related tophysical therapy specialty services.All individuals who are newly recertified will be subject to thenew “Maintenance of Specialist Certification (MOSC)”process. Additional information regarding the MOSC can befound online at www.abpts.org.Any additionalquestions/concerns should be addressed to staff at specrecert@apta.org or 800/999-APTA (2782), ext. 3390.3. Application FeeApplicants will be required to pay a non-refundablerecertification assessment review fee of 650 forAPTA members or 910 for non-APTA members.Recertification AssessmentRecertification applications are to be submitted bythe October 31, 2018 application deadline.Recertification candidates, who are unable tocomplete their application online by this deadline,must contact the Recertification/MOSC staff torequest a one-month extension of the applicationdeadline. A late application fee of 300 will becharged and late applications must be uploaded tothe Portal by November 30, 2018.To recertify, candidates must meet minimum eligibilityrequirements, including a current physical therapy licenseand a minimum number of direct patient care hours sinceinitial certification. All eligible candidates must complete acompetency assessment to achieve recertification. TheRecertification Application is available for online submissionat www.abpts.com. Select online application and log-in withyour APTA ID number to begin your application submission.Certified specialists must choose one of the followingassessment options.4. Patient Care ExperienceCandidates are required to document evidence ofcontinued direct patient care activities in the specialtyarea, the equivalent of 200 hours per year since thedate of most recent certification. For example, if youare applying in October 31, 2018 for recertification in2019 and were certified in 2009, you must document2,000 hours of direct patient care in the specialtyarea. However, if you were certified in 2009, youwould need to document 1,800 hours. 200 of thetotal hours must have occurred within the last three[3] years.Specialist Certification ExaminationCandidates who wish to sit for the specialist certificationexamination must select this option on the RecertificationApplication. The Specialist Certification Program will sendthese candidates specific instructions on registering inations will be offered nationwide via computerizedtesting. Candidates may select a date within the testingperiod of March 2-16, 2019.Professional Development PortfolioThe Professional Development Portfolio consists ofdocumenting professional development activities relatedto specialty practice. Examples are continuing educationor college courses, teaching, presentations, professionalwriting, professional services, clinical supervision,research, and direct patient care beyond the minimumrequirement.Direct patient care in the specialty area must includeactivities in each of the elements of patient/clientmanagement applicable to the specialty area andincluded in the Description of Specialty Practice(DSP). These elements, as defined in the Guide toPhysical Therapist Practice, are examination,evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention.See instructions on documenting patient careexperience. Also, see enclosed copy of additionalinformation on what activities constitute direct patientcare.APTA Clinical ResidencyCandidates who have completed an APTA-accreditedClinical Electrophysiologic residency program after theirlast certification date may submit evidence of successfulcompletion in lieu of a Professional Development Portfolio(PDP).5. Patient ReportsIn addition to the PDP, three [3] actual (uneditedsince completed; the report as sent to the referringindividual), comprehensive patient reports of clinicalelectrophysiologic examinations must be submitted.Submitted cases must be representative ofabnormal findings and include one of each of thefollowing: (1) one report must be for a patientwith a proximal level compromise representinga radiculopathic process; (2) one report must befor a patient demonstrating a peripheral nerveentrapment, and (3) one report must be for apatientdemonstratingapolyneuropathicprocess. Instructions and sample patientreports are located in Appendix 3.Clinical Electrophysiologic Physical TherapyRequirements for RecertificationThe minimum eligibility requirements established by theABPTS for recertification are as follows1. Certification StatusApplicants must hold current certification as st by the American BoardofPhysicalTherapy Specialties (ABPTS).2

Candidates submit an application and review fee forrecertification to document that they meet minimum eligibilityrequirements. Candidates either 1) state they intend toregister for the next written examination, or 2) submit theirProfessional Development Portfolio (PDP), or 3) submitevidence of successful completion of an APTA-accreditedClinical Electrophysiologic residency, within the past 10years, in lieu of the PDP or exam. Candidates who choosethe PDP assessment must submit their portfolio withsupporting documentation.The Specialist CertificationProgram redacts and distributes the recertificationapplications and PDPs for peer review. Candidates mustmeet all requirements by the deadline. The SpecialtyCouncil will only consider experience completed by thedeadline date toward recertification requirements.Noresumes or CVs accepted.term or applying for recertification by professionaldevelopment portfolio (PDP) during their term. Attemptingto recertify during the term of appointment limits thecandidate to recertification by PDP only. Section XIV. I ofthe ABPTS Policies and Procedures Manual containsdetailed information on recertification for individuals involvedin the specialist certification program. Because certainconditions apply to these individuals, please contact APTA’sSpecialist Certification Program to obtain a copy of thepolicy.Recertification for Individuals Who HaveCompleted an APTA-Accredited ClinicalResidencyRecertification candidates who have completed an APTAaccredited Clinical Electrophysiologic residency programmay submit evidence of successful completion in lieu of aProfessional Development Portfolio (PDP). Completion of apost-professional clinical fellowship program, even if it isAPTA-accredited, CANNOT be used for recertification in lieuof a PDP. The candidate must still meet all other eligibilityrequirements, including current certification by the AmericanBoard of Physical Therapy Specialties: current licensure topractice physical therapy in the United States or any of itspossessions or territories; evidence of continued directpatient care activities in the specialty area, the equivalent of200 hours per year since the date of most recentcertification, with 200 of the total hours occurring within thelast three (3) years; and any other minimum eligibilityrequirements specific to the specialty area, e.g., ACLS,emergency care certification, CPR, etc.Recertification Assessment Fee andApplication DeadlineThe non-refundable recertification assessment fee of 650for APTA members or 910 for non-APTA members mustbe submitted with your application for recertification byOctober 31, 2018.Late applications that are submitted by November 30,2018 will be accepted ONLY with a 300 late fee.You can submit payment of the recertification fee in thefollowing ways: online by credit card (MasterCard, VISA,Discover, or AMEX) or by mail with check or money order(payable to APTA). If you submit your payment by mail,you must also complete and include a recertificationpayment form with your payment.In order to qualify under this option, the clinical residencyprogram must meet the following criteria:Submit checks or money orders to:APTA Accounting DepartmentRecertification ApplicationSpecialist Certification ProgramPO Box 75701Baltimore, MD 21275-57011. The clinical residency program must be based on acurriculum plan reflective of the Description of SpecialtyPractice in the specialty area. Note that this is a prerequisite for the program to be accredited by the APTA.2. The program must have been APTA-accredited as aresidency in the specialty area at the time that thecandidate completed the program.Recertification for Individuals Involved in theSpecialist Certification ProgramSpecialty Council members, ABPTS members, cut scorestudy participants, Committee of Content Experts (CCE),Specialization Academy of Content Experts (SACE)members (item writers and reviewers), and appointedcommittees who are intimately involved in the developmentand administration of the specialist certification examinationwill not be eligible to sit for the Specialist CertificationExamination in their specialty area during and for two yearsfrom the date of involvement in the process.An explanation of the rationale for these criteria is asfollows:The Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) is structuredso recertification candidates can demonstrate professionaldevelopment activities that reflect the scope of the ClinicalElectrophysiologic DSP. To become accredited by theAPTA, a Clinical Electrophysiologic residency program musthave a curriculum that addresses every aspect of theClinical Electrophysiologic DSP.Becoming an APTAcredentialed program is the only way that the AmericanBoard of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) currentlyrecognizes that a program has proven its curriculum isbased on the DSP. Having successfully completed thatcurriculum is the assurance that ABPTS requires fromrecertification candidates to demonstrate professionaldevelopment activities in the specialty area. Please notethat APTA-accredited fellowships are, by definition, moreABPTS members may recertify via the professionaldevelopment portfolio during and immediately after theirterm is complete. Members of the Specialty Councils,Committee of Content Experts (CCE), SpecializationAcademy of Content Experts (SACE), Committee of ContentExperts (CCE), and cut score study committees have theoption of applying for recertification after completion of their3

focused in their curriculum and thus do not have curriculumplans reflective of the entire scope of the DSP. Completionof a fellowship, even if accredited by the APTA, is notsufficient to substitute for submission of a PDP, althoughactivities undertaken as part of the fellowship could be usedfor points in the PDP.some specialists know that they may have difficulty meetingthe recency eligibility requirements in their tenth year ofcertification due to an employment change.Thesespecialists benefit by recertifying early while they are certainthat they still meet all eligibility requirements.Emeritus StatusIn addition, when a program is reviewed for accreditation,only the aspects of the program that are current at the timeof the review are relevant. Program design and curricularcontent prior to the review process is not reviewed. There isno feasible way to accredit a program retroactive to the dateof the review; and any attempt to do so could not besubstantiated and would therefore be arbitrary. Thus,graduation from a program prior to its accreditation does notmeet the recertification criteria.Board-certified specialists who are retiring from physicaltherapy practice and active patient care, or a therapist whodoes not participate in direct patient/client care but mayperform occasional demonstrations or supervision ofpatient/client care of less than five hours per week, have anoption to retain their credential by petitioning to ABPTS forthe designation "emeritus." You must currently hold thecertification to apply for the emeritus status. The option ofpetitioning for emeritus status will not be available once acertification has lapsed. Emeritus status considerationrequires completion of an emeritus status application and aone-time application fee of 100. For more information g.Please contact Recertification staff at 800/999-2782, ext.3390 for verification of your eligibility to apply forrecertification under this option prior to submitting yourapplicationWhen to Begin the Recertification ProcessBenefits of RecertificationCertified specialists may apply for recertification startingwithin three (3) years of the expiration date of their ten (10)year certificate and therefore, have three (3) separateopportunities to recertify. For example, a candidate whosecertificate expires in June 2021 may apply for recertificationby the application deadline in 2018, 2019, or 2020. Ifhe/she recertifies successfully, the new certificate expirationdate will be June 2030 regardless of the year that theapplication was submitted. You are not penalized forrecertifying early.Candidates who are recertified will: receive a certificate recognizing board recertification inClinical Electrophysiologic specialty area be recognized by their peers at APTA’s annualCeremony for Recognition of Clinical Specialists andRecertification Reception; receive a board certified specialists lapel pin in theirspecialty area;The opportunities for recertification in 2018, 2019, and 2020are as follows: 1. 2019continue to have their name listed in the Directory ofCertified Clinical Specialists; have indicated to the public that they have documentedongoing professional development and currentknowledge, skills, and abilities in orthopedics.Candidates may submit an application for recertificationby October 31, 2018 for a certification that expires onJune 30, 2019.2. 2020Candidates may submit an application forrecertification by October 31 of 2018 or 2019 for acertification that expires on June 30, 2020.Steps to Apply for RecertificationCandidates submit an application online forrecertification to document that they meet minimumeligibility requirements. Withtheirapplication,candidates either 1) state they intend to register for theexamination, 2) have completed an APTA-accreditedresidency program, or 3) submit their ProfessionalDevelopment Portfolio (PDP). Candidates who choosethe PDP assessment must submit a typewritten portfolioon the appropriate PDP forms with supportingdocumentation with their application. Curriculum vitaeand resumes are not accepted. The recertificationapplication and Professional Development Portfolios areblinded and distributed for peer review.3. 2021Candidates may submit an application forrecertification by October 31, 2018, 2019, or 2020 fora certification that expires on June 30, 2021.Considerations on Recertifying BeforeExpiration YearSpecialists may benefit from recertifying early to takeadvantage of the three (3) opportunities ABPTS provides torecertify before their expiration date. If candidates apply intheir 7th or 8th year, they are able to reapply forrecertification before their certificate expires if they are notsuccessful during their first or second attempts. In addition,Recertification applications must be completed onlineand Professional Development Portfolios and supporting4

documents must be uploaded to the application onlinein Word or .pdf formats.It is the applicant’sresponsibility to ensure that all forms are velopment Portfolio forms must be typewritten.Incomplete applications or forms improperly completedwill be returned and will res

Clinical Electrophysiologic Recertification Candidate Guide A Recertification Candidate Guide has been prepared to provide you with important information regarding the recertification pr