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Board removes AHP Healthcare from approved continuing-competency list; licensing staff report faster processing times
Summary
The Physical Therapy Board voted 4–0 to remove AHP Healthcare from the list of recognized continuing competency approval agencies. Licensing staff updated the board on application increases, processing times and audit pass rates.
The Physical Therapy Board of California voted 4–0 June 26 to withdraw recognition of AHP Healthcare as a continuing-competency approval agency, and licensing staff reported rising application volumes and varied processing times.
Why it matters: removal from the board’s registry of recognized approval agencies affects providers that supply continuing education credits to licensees and may require affected providers and licensees to seek alternate approved providers.
Valerie Kearney, manager of the licensing services unit, and Paul Rowe, application and licensing lead, told the board initial applications rose 8% year-over-year in the first three quarters of fiscal 2024–25. US-educated physical therapist (PT) applications were up 5% and physical therapist assistant (PTA) applications were up 17% over the same time last year. Rowe reported foreign-educated initial applications were down 19% and military applications rose 50%.
Rowe said processing times for completed applications averaged 29 days for U.S.-educated applicants, 48 days for foreign-educated applicants and 8 days for military applicants, based on completed applications in the reported period. He said the board’s targeted turnaround is 45 days for completed U.S. graduate applications and 90 days for new graduate applications.
On continuing-competency compliance, staff reported audits of 212 PT licensees with a 94% pass rate and 68 PTA audits with an 81% pass rate for the same reporting period.
On AHP Healthcare, staff recommended withdrawal of recognition; a motion to remove AHP Healthcare passed 4–0 on a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded yes votes from Karen Bridal, Daniel Pew, Neil Armstrong and Talakila; one member was absent. Board minutes note no public comments were received on the motion.
During public comment time related to licensing, DPT program director Elise Sherbina Amon asked about automation for licensing once exam scores arrive. Paul Rowe said the board’s Breeze licensing system can be set to issue licenses automatically when FSBPT (the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy) transmits scores, but scores often arrive in “waves” as FSBPT performs forensic checks before distribution.
The licensing update included an operational note that the board terminated its recognition of AHP Healthcare; staff will notify stakeholders and update the registry of recognized approval agencies.
