Board Action on Dry Needling; SB 1154; Rules
In accordance with legislative directives in SB 1154 passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2014, the Board of Physical Therapy has drafted rules to set standards of education and training for the intervention "Dry Needling". The Board requested public comment from April 2, 2015 to May 2, 2015. The results of the survey can be downloaded below.
The Board reviewed the survey results at the Board's May 19, 2015 Board Meeting.The following rules were adopted May 19, 2015 and are being processed for publication with an effective date of July 1, 2015.
RULES:
A.A.C. R4-24-313: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF CARE AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS FOR DELIVERY OF DRY NEEDLING SKILLED INTERVENTION
A. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2015 AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH A.R.S. §32-2044(25), A PHYSICAL THERAPIST SHALL MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS ESTABLISHED IN PARAGRAPH (C) BEFORE PROVIDING THE SKILLED INTERVENTION “DRY NEEDLING”, AS DEFINED IN A.R.S. §32-2001(4).
B. A PHYSICAL THERAPIST OFFERING TO PROVIDE OR PROVIDING “DRY NEEDLING” INTERVENTION SHALL PROVIDE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (C) TO THE BOARD WITHIN 30 DAYS OF COMPLETION OF THE COURSE CONTENT IN PARAGRAPH (C) OR WITHIN 30 DAYS OF INITIAL LICENSURE AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST IN ARIZONA.
C. COURSE CONTENT THAT MEETS THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS FOR “DRY NEEDLING” SHALL CONTAIN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. THE COURSE CONTENT SHALL BE APPROVED BY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES PRIOR TO THE COURSE(S) BEING COMPLETED BY THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
a. COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION IN PHYSICAL THERAPY EDUCATION,
b. AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION,
c. STATE CHAPTERS OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION,
d. SPECIALTY GROUPS OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION, OR
e. THE FEDERATION OF STATE BOARDS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY.
2. THE COURSE CONTENT SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
a. STERILE NEEDLE PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:
i. THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, OR
ii. THE U.S. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
b. ANATOMICAL REVIEW,
c. BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS
d. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND INDICATIONS FOR “DRY NEEDLING”,
3. THE COURSE CONTENT REQUIRED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, PASSING OF BOTH A WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND PRACTICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE CONTENT. PRACTICE APPLICATION COURSE CONTENT AND EXAMINATIONS SHALL BE DONE IN PERSON TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF PARAGRAPH C.
4. THE COURSE CONTENT REQUIRED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SECTION SHALL TOTAL A MINIMUM OF 24 CONTACT HOURS OF EDUCATION.
D. THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE INTERVENTION “DRY NEEDLING” INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. “DRY NEEDLING” CANNOT BE DELEGATED TO ANY ASSISTIVE PERSONNEL.
2. CONSENT FOR TREATMENT FOR THE INTERVENTION “DRY NEEDLING” IS THE SAME AS REQUIRED UNDER A.A.C. R4-24-301.
3. DOCUMENTATION OF THE INTERVENTION “DRY NEEDLING” SHALL BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A.A.C. R4-24-304.
In addition to the above changes, A.A.C. R4-24-208 will be updated to require all physical therapists to state on their license renewals if they have completed Dry Needling training in accordance with the above standards.
