PTBCCT CEU Policy

CEU Policy

Continuing education units (CEUs) are required for applicants applying for the CCTT Examination and for CCTTs to maintain their CCTT status for each biennial period. CE requirements are intended to maintain competence, update current knowledge, and enhance clinical skills and judgment beyond the levels required for entry-level practice. CE activities must focus on increasing knowledge, skills and abilities related to the practice of Physical Therapy with emphasis on Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics.

As information continually changes, it is important for professionals to learn the latest evidence specific to the evaluation and management of patients with cervical spine and temporomandibular pain/dysfunction syndromes. CE requirements are meant to ensure that applicants applying for the CCTT examination and CCTT’s who maintain their CCTT status:

  • Stay on the cutting edge in the field of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics
  • Obtain current professional development information
  • Explore new knowledge in specific content areas
  • Master new physical therapy-related skills and techniques
  • Expand approaches to effective physical therapy
  • Further develop professional judgment
  • Conduct professional practice in an ethical and appropriate manner

Thank You

Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics

The PTBCCT Application Review/CEU committee reserves the right to deny any course or allowable number of CEUs for Category 1 and Category 2, whose content does not meet the criteria, supporting documentation is not provided or if the course content deems to be inappropriate towards our specialty and our profession. In case the CEUs are not approved, the Committee will provide feedback and the PT will have the opportunity to revise their documentation. Should the PT require more than one revision, a $20 fee will be paid for each repeated revision.

Category 1: Criteria for the 100 CEUs submitted towards applying for the CCTT Examination

This category pertains to the criteria for the 100 CEUs that requires approval as part of the Application Protocol to sit for the CCTT Examination. All 100 CEUs to be completed within the past 10 years prior to the deadline of March 1st of the year the application is being submitted. If a course begins before March 1 of the year the application is submitted, but is completed after March 1, but before the testing date of the same year, CEUs from this course can be submitted for approval. CEUs are based on contact hours. Contact hours are defined as the number of actual clock hours spent in direct participation in a structured education format as a learner. 1 CEU or .1CEU is equivalent to 1 contact hour (60 minutes).

  1. A minimum of 85 of the 100 CEUs must be specific to our area of specialty. Course content specific to our specialty includes the cervical spine, temporomandibular and orofacial (including cervicogenic headache) pain/dysfunction. The committee is looking for a balance of CEUs in the aforementioned categories

For a list of suggested in person / online courses – click here

  1. A maximum of 15 of the 100 CEUs can be obtained from courses whose content consists of concussion, dizziness, vestibular, sleep disorders, facial palsy, movement disorders of the head and neck, and cancer related dysfunction of the head and neck.

The instructor(s) of all courses in #1 and #2 must be a healthcare professional that has a 4-year degree from an accredited university

CEU courses, conferences, home study programs, etc. that cover additional topics that do not pertain to our specialty as stated in #1 and #2, cannot be counted towards the required CEUs. Proper documentation* is required that will identify only approved topics and the number of CEUs for that topic.

If the course content covers a mixture of approved topics as stated in #1 and #2, proper documentation* is required that will separate topics #1 from topics #2. This is necessary to know that the maximum number of CEUs for #2 are not exceeded.

* Documentation to consist of:

  • Course syllabus, course description or course handouts.
  • The applicant must identify directly on the documentation the approved topic(s) and the appropriate number of CEUs for that topic. Without proper documentation, your application will be denied until proper revisions are made. (click here for example 1, example 2, example 3)
  • All CEUs submitted for approval must be accompanied by a Certificate of Attendance or a Certificate of Completion. The certificate must include the following:
    • participants name
    • course name
    • course date
    • course sponsor
    • total number of CEUs
  • If the course certificate does not contain the necessary information, then supporting documentation must be provided.

 

Category 2: Criteria for the 30 CEUs submitted towards biennial CEU documentation

A) CEUs for every Reporting Period

  • 30 CEUs are required to be submitted for approval for every 2-year reporting period.
  • The 2-year reporting period for CEUs will be due on or before 11:59pm EST April 15.
  • The Biennial CEU Documentation Form will be made available on the PTBCCT website from January 1st thru 11:59pm EST April 15.
  • 30 CEUs must be obtained during the biennial period that extends from April 16 through April 15. The exceptions are:
    • If a course begins before April 16 and is completed during the biennial reporting period, this course can be submitted for approval.
    • If a course begins before the April 15 deadline for that reporting period and is completed after the biennial deadline for that reporting period, this course can only be submitted for approval for the next biennial reporting period.
  • Newly certified CCTTs during an even year (2024, 2026, 2028, 2030 etc.) must complete 30 CEUs for their first biennial CEU reporting period.
  • Newly certified CCTTs in an odd year (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031 etc.) must complete 15 CEUs for their first biennial CEU reporting period.

    The next 4 reporting periods for CEUs are:

    30 CEUs for the period April 16, 2024 thru April 15, 2026   –   due by 11:59pm EST April 15, 2026

    30 CEUs for the period April 16, 2026 thru April 15, 2028   –   due by 11:59pm EST April 15, 2028

    30 CEUs for the period April 16, 2028 thru April 15, 2030   –   due by 11:59pm EST April 15, 2030

    30 CEUs for the period April 16, 2030 thru April 15, 2030   –   due by 11:59pm EST April 15, 2032

    B) CEU Calculation – CEUs are based on contact hours. Contact hours are defined as the number of actual clock hours spent in direct participation in a structured education format as a learner. 1 CEU or .1 CEU is equivalent to 1 contact hour (60 minutes).

    C) Archiving of Documentation – It is the responsibility of the PT to keep all documentation submitted for CEU approval for a minimum of 2 years

    D) Non-compliant and Reinstatement Policy for insufficient CEUs
    For insufficient CEUs refer to the “Non-compliant and Reinstatement Policy”

    2A:  CEU course, conference, home studies, etc

    A minimum of 15 of the 30 CEUs must be specific to our area of specialty. Course content specific to our specialty includes,

      • Temporomandibular Disorders
      • Cervical Spine Disorders
      • Cervicothoracic Spine Disorders
      • Headache Disorders.
      • Orofacial Pain Disorders
      • Facial paralysis Disorders
      • Vocal Disorders
      • Swallow Disorders
      • Vestibular Disorders
      • Concussion Disorders
      • Breathing Disorders
      • Sleep Disorders
      • Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
      • Oral Myofunctional / Oral Cavity Disorders
      • Occlusal Disorders
      • Oral Appliance Therapy
      • Cancer of the Head/Neck
      • Head, Neck, TMJ, Nasopharyngeal and Throat Anatomy
      • Body / Mind Stress Reduction Therapy for the purpose of de-sensitization of pain related to head, neck and orofacial areas.
      • Medication for the management of pain and biopsychosocial issues (anxiety and depression)
      • All pre-conference and main conference lectures that were attended at the AAOP Scientific Conference. (Certificate of Attendance is only required)
    • The instructor(s) of all courses must be a healthcare professional that has a 4-year degree from an accredited university
    • Each course submitted for approval must be accompanied by a Certificate of Attendance or a Certificate of Completion. The certificate must include the following:
      • participants name
      • course name
      • course date
      • course sponsor
      • total number of CEUs

    Without a Certificate of attendance, all CEUs will be denied.

    • Each course submitted must be accompanied by the following documentation:
      Course syllabus, course description and/or course handouts.

    If documentation is not provided, the course and CEUs may be denied.

    Should 30 CEUs not be achieved in 2A, additional CEUs can be achieved in 2B, 2C and/or 2D

    2B: Professional Development

    • A maximum of 15 CEUs can be achieved in this category
    • The content of possible activities listed below must be related to topics identified in 2A.
    • All possible activities must be done during reporting period to receive CEU credit. The exception are publications whose writing began before the reporting period but must be published within the reporting period.
    Possible Activities Number of CEUs Required Documentation
    Speaker at a conference or study club attended by healthcare professionals 15 CEUs per lecture. Lecture to be no less than 45 minutes Letter of acknowledgement from the conference coordinator or chairperson of study club (date of presentation must be included in the letter). Course syllabus and objectives.
    Speaker at a conference or study club attended by non-healthcare professionals 10 CEUs per lecture. Lecture to be no less than 45 minutes Letter of acknowledgement from the conference coordinator or chairperson of study club (date of presentation must be included in the letter). Course syllabus and learning objectives.
    Panelist at a conference attended by healthcare professionals 1 CEU per topic for a max of 3 topics Letter of acknowledgement from the conference coordinator (date and title of presentation must be included in the letter)
    Created and taught for the first time a course presented in person or online to healthcare professionals. The course must offer CEUs to the participants. >3-8 hour course - 5 CEUs
    9 - 15 hour course - 10 CEUs
    >16 hour course - 15 CEUs    		 Course objectives, course syllabus, course outline to include timetable and topics covered, course certificate provided to participants and bio of the instructor.

    If the course was presented in a state that requires CEU approval, a letter from the state’s physical therapy association showing that the course was approved for CEUs.

    The same course cannot be used for future reporting periods.
    Author of an article in a peer reviewed journal Primary = 15 CEUs per article

    Secondary = 10 CEUs per article

    		 Guidelines for authors and copy of article
    Author of an abstract in a peer reviewed journal Primary = 5 CEUs per abstract

    Secondary = 5 CEUs per abstract

    		 Guidelines for authors and copy of abstract
    Author of a published textbook Primary = 15 CEUs per book

    Secondary = 10 CEUs per book

    		 Copy of title page, including the publication date
    Primary author of a chapter in a published textbook 15 CEUs per book Copy of title page, including the publication date and table of contents or list of contributors
    Author of a poster presentation at a conference– peer reviewed or refereed Primary = 10 CEUs per presentation

    Secondary = 5 CEUs per presentation

    		 Letter of acknowledgement from the conference coordinator.

    Title of poster presentation.
    Primary author of published multimedia material

    (CD-ROM, audio or video)

    		 15 CEUs per publication Copy of publication and copy of multimedia CD, CDROM or DVD, etc.
    Primary author of a home study course 5 CEUs Copy of syllabus and learning objectives
    Primary author of a Pilot Study published in a peer reviewed journal 10 CEUs Guidelines for authors and copy of article
    Primary author of a Guest editorial published in a peer reviewed journal 10 CEUs Guidelines for authors and copy of article
    Exam item writer (4) 5 CEUs per year of active item writing Letter of acknowledgment from exam company

    Category 2C – Post-Certification College/University Coursework Professional Development

    • A maximum of 15 CEUs can be achieved in this category
    • The content of possible activities listed below must be related to topics identified in 2A.
    • The college/university attended must be accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.
    • In order to be eligible, a course must be assigned credit hours and listed on an official transcript.
    • In order for practicum courses, clinical and internship experiences to be eligible, credit hours must be earned and listed as such on an official transcript.
    • 1 classroom hour of lecture or lab = 1 CEU, submit course syllabus indicating how many hours course met per semester.
    • Teaching a college course is acceptable for CE credit. 1 classroom hour of lecture or lab = 1 CEU, if you can show this is the first time you have taught the course or if the course is updated since it was previously offered, proper documentation is required. The course must be relevant to topics as identified in 2A.
    • Non-credit college courses are not acceptable for CE credit.

    Courses must be listed individually.

    Do not list the entire degree program or school semester as a single document.

    Possible Activities Number of CEUs Documentation Required
    College/university official course 1 CEU=1 hour of classroom time, as pertains to college/university Official transcript from accredited college/university
    Residency as defined by the PTBCCT domain, must pertain to Cervical Spine, TMD, OFP, Headaches, Oral surgery, neuropathic pain, sleep disorders, biopsychosocial issues and related dental/medical pathology) 15 CEUs per year as determined by residency program Official transcript from accredited college/university or letter from residency program coordinator

    2D: Individualized Options

    • A maximum of 15 CEUs can be achieved in this category
    • The content of possible activities listed below must be related to topics identified in 2A.
    • Healthcare professional with whom the observation is occurring with must have a 4-year degree from an accredited university
    • Possibly activities must have an educational component. Possible activities are not for the sole purpose of marketing.
    • CE credit is NOT earned for viewing educational multimedia (e.g., videotapes, DVDs).
    Possible Activities Number of CEUs Required Documentation
    Observation of a medical/dental professional (office or surgery) or at CCTT (office) maximum of 1 CEU per observation. Observation time to be > one hour Letter or email (that contains the healthcare professional’s name and address) verification from the medical/dental professional (office or surgery) or CCTT outlining the therapist’s experience, patient(s) diagnosis and treatment that was observed.