Professional competence in physical therapy.

Defining, assessing, and measuring ongoing or continuing professional competence in physical therapy has been receiving more attention, perhaps due in part to the increasing reality of direct access (e.g., examination and treatment of patients without referral), increased professional autonomy, and the transition to the doctor of physical therapy as the entry-level degree. The purpose of this paper is to review recent initiatives related to competence beyond initial licensure and give examples of the multidimensional nature of assessing continuing professional competency in physical therapy.