# Title 61.5 — North Dakota Board of Physical Therapy

## Article 61.5-03 — Continuing Competence

## Chapter 61.5-03-04 — Competence

### § 61.5-03-04-01. Evidence of competence.

1. Qualification for manual therapy as defined in subsection 3 of North Dakota Century Code
section 43-26.1-01 and subsection 6 of North Dakota Administrative Code section
61.5-01-02-01, other than high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manual therapy, include:
a. Graduate of a United States accredited, entry-level physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant program.
b. Foreign-educated licensees would have to show evidence of entry-level training in
manual therapy techniques as part of their curriculum.
c. Physical therapist assistants may perform soft tissue mobilization and peripheral joint
mobilization when the physical therapist has determined that the physical therapist
assistant has the necessary degree of education, training, and skill for safe patient care.
2. Qualification for high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manual therapy must include one or more
of the following:
a. Graduate from entry-level, commission on accreditation of physical therapy education
accredited doctor of physical therapy programs within the state of North Dakota.
b. Graduates from other physical therapy programs would have to submit evidence showing
that high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust techniques were included in their entry-level
educational program.
c. Hold the orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) or sports clinical specialist (SCS)
certification with documentation that high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust techniques were
included in the study program.
d. Complete a formal, credentialed manual therapy fellowship or other certification.
e. Successful completion of post entry-level education in high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust
techniques.
3. In addition to the above criteria, licensees are also bound by the regulations listed in North
Dakota Century Code section 43-26.1-13 regarding practicing beyond their scope of practice
or performing substandard physical therapy care as being grounds for disciplinary actions and
North Dakota Century Code section 43-26.1-11 concerning patient care management.
Physical therapists are mandated by North Dakota Administrative Code section 61.5-03-01-02
to obtain twenty-five units of continuing competence every two years.
History: Effective April 1, 2006; amended effective January 1, 2016; April 1, 2020.
General Authority: NDCC 43-26.1-03(5)
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-26.1-03(7), 43-26.1-14(1)
