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.

[48 FR 56293, Dec. 15, 1982. Redesignated and amended at 50 FR 33034, Aug. 16, 1985; 51 FR 41352, Nov. 14, 1986; 60 FR 2327, Jan. 9, 1995; 72 FR 66408, Nov. 27, 2007; 73 FR 69941, Nov. 19, 2008; 74 FR 62014, Nov. 25, 2009; 82 FR 4591, Jan. 13, 2017]