Adopted Amendments: N.J.A.C. 13:39A-8.1 and 8.5

Advertising and Solicitation Practices; Use of Professional Credentials and Certifications

Proposed: March 16, 2009 at 41 N.J.R. 1161(a).
Adopted: June 16, 2009 by the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, Karen E. Wilk, P.T., Chairperson.

Filed: March 9, 2010 as R.2010 d.098, with substantive changes not requiring additional public notice and comment (see N.J.A.C. 1:30-6.3).
Authority: N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.18.

Effective Date: June 21, 2010.
Expiration Date: December 19, 2011.

Summary of Agency-Initiated Change:

The title of the certification provided as an example in N.J.A.C. 13:39A-8.1 was incorrect in the notice of proposal. The title "Orthopaedic Certified Specialist" should be "Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist." The Board has changed N.J.A.C. 13:39A-8.1 to use the correct title for this certification.

Federal Standards Statement

A Federal standards analysis is not required because there are no Federal laws or standards applicable to the adopted amendments to N.J.A.C. 13:39A-8.1 and 8.5.

Full text of the adoption follows (additions to proposal indicated in boldface with asterisks *thus* ; deletions from proposal indicated in brackets with asterisks *[thus]*):

13:39A-8.1 Advertising and solicitation practices

(a)-(h) (No change.)

(i) Any licensed physical therapist advertising certification in a specialty area shall possess certification by a certifying entity and shall maintain documentary proof of certification from the entity as part of his or her records. A licensed physical therapist who advertises a specialty certification shall include the full name of the certification and the certifying entity in any advertisements and *, except as provided in (j) below,* shall not use initials or acronyms for the certification or certifying entity. For example, *except as provided in (j) below,* a licensee may indicate in advertisements that he or she is an Orthopaedic *[Certified]* *Clinical* Specialist certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties but shall not indicate that he or she is an OCS certified by the ABPTS.

*(j) A licensed physical therapist who has included the full name of a certification and certifying entity in an advertisement pursuant to (i) above may use initials or acronyms for that certification immediately following its full name. For example, a licensed physical therapist who indicates that he or she is an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist certified by the American Board of Physical Therapists in an advertisement may use the acronyms OCS and ABPTS after these full names (Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapists (ABPTS).*

13:39A-8.5 Use of professional credentials and certifications

(a) (No change.)

(b) A licensee shall use the designation "physical therapist" or "physical therapist assistant" or the abbreviation "PT" or "PTA" in conjunction with the use of his or her name and license number. Academic degree designations, including initials, may be placed after the name and the title.

(c) (No change.)