Disclaimer: Arkansas does not require pre-approval of CE courses but this service is available for Continuing Education Sponsors who like to have their CE courses pre-approved for marketing purposes.  The APTA AR is the entity charged by the AR State Board of Physical Therapy to provide this service. 

Cost for pre-approval is $50 per course approved.

APTA Arkansas Criteria for Pre-Approval of Continuing Education Courses

1. The content is relevant to physical therapy practice (clinical practice, clinical education, clinical research, clinical science, clinical management, professional ethics, Arkansas laws relating to the practice of physical therapy).
   1. Must have significant content to improve professional competence in physical therapy
   2. Must be designed to increase or enhance knowledge or skills of current standards in physical therapy practice
   3. Programs that deal with the internal affairs of an organization do not qualify for approval
2. Course objectives are clearly stated and identify the knowledge and/or skills that the participants should acquire during the course.
   1. Course objectives must be clearly stated and relevant to physical therapy
   2. Course objectives must include the expected outcome for participants that relate the practice of physical therapy
3. The course content is consistent with the stated objectives. Course content must be appropriate to achieve the objectives.
4. The instructional methods are appropriate to achieve the objectives
   1. Methods must be appropriate to the subject matter taught
   2. Methods must allow suitable time for participants to absorb the material presented
   3. Must describe instructional aids and resource materials utilized
5. The instructor(s) have appropriate qualifications and credentials in the content areas presented in the course.

APTA Arkansas Policies on Approval of Continuing Education Courses for Providers

1. The association used the term “continuing education units” (CEUs) to define the credit given in course approval. CEUs are based on contact hours. Sixty (60) minutes of time spent in the educational portion of the course equals one contact hour. Credit is not given for registration, meals, or breaks. Ten contact hours equal 1 CEU.
2. A course will not be evaluated for approval if the applicant does not submit all of the information required on the application.
3. A course submitted by the provider should be received thirty (30) days prior to the date for which approval is sought.
4. Once a course is approved that approval never expires.  The only time you will need to resubmit a course is if something significant changes such as change in content.
5. If approval of the course is denied, the course provider may appeal the decision to the APTA AR Executive Committee, consisting of the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.  When appealing it is important to provide any additional information for consideration that you may have.
6. Providers of continuing education courses approved by the association are prohibited from self-promotion of programs, products, and/or services during the presentation of the program.
7. At the conclusion of a continuing education course approved by the association, the participant must be provided a letter or certificate of completion that will indicate the number of CEs earned and the course approval number assigned by the association
8. Continuing education course providers are required to maintain records of participant attendance for three years so they may be able to verify a person’s attendance as needed if the licensee is audited.
9. APTA AR will maintain a database that includes a summary of approved continuing education courses. It will include the course name, approval number, the date(s) of the course, the location of the course, the number of CEUs awarded, and contact information for the course provider.
10. APTA AR will not maintain records of individual names of participants attending continuing education courses. It is the licensee’s responsibility ot maintain his/her own records for continuing education.
11. Approved courses will be posted on the APTA AR website. Course information will include title, provider, location, date(s), approved number of hours, and contact information.

This application fee is not refundable even if the course is denied approval.