Mandatory continuing education: A survey of the literature and a comment on the implications for physical therapy

Abstract

This study reviews the history and recent literature on mandatory continuing education (MCE) for professionals, especially those in health care fields. The literature suggests that MCE has significantly increased the number of continuing education programs and has resulted in a greater variety, better distribution, and improved quality of programs. Less clear are the impacts of MCE on professional learners; while MCE clearly increases knowledge of participants, it has not been empirically proven to assure their professional competence. The attitudes of participating professionals about MCE are mixed. To date, physical therapists appear to be minimally involved with MCE, as evidenced by the fact that only a third of state licensing agencies require CE for relicensure to practice physical therapy. Responsible agencies within physical therapy may wish to consider the advantages and disadvantages of promoting MCE for their profession.