§ 485.70 Personnel qualifications.

This section sets forth the qualifications that must be met, as a condition of participation, under § 485.58, and as a condition of coverage of services under § 410.100 of this chapter. (a) A facility physician must be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who— (1) Is licensed under State law to practice medicine or surgery; and (2) Has had, subsequent to completing a 1-year hospital internship, at least 1 year of training in the medical management of patients requiring rehabilitation services; or (3) Has had at least 1 year of full-time or part-time experience in a rehabilitation setting providing physicians' services similar to those required in this subpart. (b) A licensed practical nurse must be licensed as a practical or vocational nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable. (c) An occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter. (d) An orthotist must— (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable; (2) Have successfully completed a training program in orthotics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and (3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in orthotics. (e) A physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant must meet the qualifications in § 484.115 of this chapter. (f) A prosthetist must— (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable; (2) Have successfully completed a training program in prosthetics that is jointly recognized by the American Council on Education and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics; and (3) Be eligible to take that Board's certification examination in prosthetics. (g) A psychologist must be certified or licensed by the State in which he or she is practicing, if that State requires certification or licensing, and must hold a masters degree in psychology from and educational institution approved by the State in which the institution is located. (h) A registered nurse must be a graduate of an approved school of nursing and be licensed as a registered nurse by the State in which practicing, if applicable. (i) A rehabilitation counselor must— (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable; (2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree; and (3) Be eligible to take the certification examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. (j) A respiratory therapist must complete one the following criteria: (1) Criterion 1. All of the following must be completed: (i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable. (ii) Have successfully completed a nationally-accredited educational program for respiratory therapists. (iii)(A) Be eligible to take the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists; or (B) Have passed the registry examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care for respiratory therapists. (2) Criterion 2: All of the following must be completed: (i) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable. (ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Care. (k) A respiratory therapy technician must— (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable; (2) Have successfully completed a training program accredited by the Committees on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) in collaboration with the Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education; and (3) Either— (i) Be eligible to take the certification examination for respiratory therapy technicians administered by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc,; or (ii) Have equivalent training and experience as determined by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy, Inc. (l) A social worker must— (1) Be licensed by the State in which practicing, if applicable; (2) Hold at least a bachelor's degree from a school accredited or approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and (3) Have 1 year of social work experience in a health care setting. (m) A speech-language pathologist must meet the qualifications set forth in part 484 of this chapter.