Florida Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Practice Exam

In order to earn one contact hour, how many clinical hours must a clinical instructor complete?

1. 100

2. 120

3. 160

4. 180

The correct answer is: 160

To earn one contact hour, a clinical instructor must complete 160 clinical hours. This is established by the regulatory guidelines that dictate the relationship between clinical practice and continuing education units in the physical therapy field. Essentially, contact hours are a measure of professional development, reflecting the amount of direct instruction or clinical engagement provided by the instructor. The requirement of 160 hours ensures that the instructor has engaged in a significant amount of clinical teaching and direct patient interaction, which is vital for the quality of instruction provided to students in the clinical setting. By meeting this threshold, the clinical instructor demonstrates thorough experience and expertise, which is crucial for effectively mentoring and guiding students in their learning. This standard is set to maintain high educational quality and ensure that clinical instructors are adequately prepared to train future physical therapists.