Qualifications For Licensure

(1) To qualify for licensure by examination, a Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapist Assistant must: (a) Be of good moral character; and GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (b) If sitting for the physical therapist examination, be a graduate of a school of physical therapy accredited by CAPTE; or, if sitting for the physical therapist assistant examination, be a graduate of a school for physical therapist assistants accredited by CAPTE or other accrediting bodies at the discretion of the Board; and (c) Pass to the satisfaction of the Board an examination conducted by it to determine fitness for practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. (d) An applicant shall submit with their application: verification of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-58-103. (2) To qualify for licensure by reciprocity a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant must possess a current and unrestricted license from another U.S. jurisdiction and comply with either (a), (b) or (c) below. (a) Credentials required for individuals who attained certification, registration or licensure in another state or country from July, 1995, to date: 1. Be of good moral character; 2. Graduate from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program accredited by CAPTE or other accrediting bodies at the discretion of the Board; 3. Pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.07, obtain verification of licensure status from all states in which they hold or have held a license; 4. Candidates qualifying for licensure by reciprocity must have passed the licensing examination with a criterion referenced passing point; and 5. An applicant shall submit with their application: verification of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-58-103. (b) Credentials required for applicants who attained certification, registration, or licensure in another state or country from December 29, 1981 to July, 1995. 1. Be of good moral character; 2. Graduate from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program accredited by CAPTE or other accrediting bodies at the discretion of the Board; 3. Pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.07, obtain verification of licensure status from all states in which they hold or have held a license, or any verification materials from other accrediting bodies at the discretion of the Board; 4. Candidates qualifying for licensure by reciprocity must have passed the licensing examination with a minimum converted score of seventy-five (75), based on one point five (1.5) sigma below the national mean for the examination. This applies to the score of each individual part as well as the total score; and 5. An applicant shall submit with their application: verification of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-58-103. (c) Credentials required for applicants who attained certification, registration or licensure in another state or country from July 1, 1976 to December 28, 1981: GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 1. Be of good moral character; 2. Graduate from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program accredited by CAPTE or a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program approved by the American Medical Association; 3. Pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.07, obtain verification of licensure status from all states in which he holds or has held a license; and 4. Candidates qualifying for licensure by reciprocity must have passed the licensing examination with a minimum converted score of seventy-five (75), based on one point five (1.5) sigma below the national mean for the examination. This applies to the score of each individual part as well as the total score. 5. An applicant shall submit with their application: verification of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-58-103. (d) Credentials required for applicants who were registered, certified or licensed as a PT or PTA in another state or country prior to July 1, 1976, must comply with the applicable provisions of T.C.A. § 63-13-307(c). (3) Applicants for licensure by examination for foreign educated physical therapists/physical therapist assistants shall submit all the following information: (a) Application. Submission of a complete application establishing that the applicant has met the qualifications as set forth in these rules. (b) Educational Credential Review. Submission of an education credentials review directly to the Board from an approved credentialing agency using the most recent edition of the FSBPT Coursework Tool for FEPT and physical therapist assistants for the purpose of evaluating and verifying that the applicant’s education substantially equivalent to a curriculum approved by the Board. The curriculum must be evaluated in accordance with the FSBPT Guidelines. (c) English Language Proficiency Requirement. 1. The approved English proficiency examination is the most recent Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 2. The TOEFL minimum passing score is twenty-two (22) in writing; twenty-four (24) in speaking, twenty-two (22) in reading, and twenty-one (21) in listening. The minimum passing scores must be acquired in one (1) test administration. 3. Applicants who graduated from an educational program accredited by CAPTE or a non-CAPTE accredited college, university or professional training school located in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States are exempt from the English proficiency requirement. (d) Ethics and Jurisprudence Requirement. Submission of proof that the applicant has within six (6) months of applying for licensure successfully completed four (4) hours of ethics and jurisprudence training. (e) Proof of successful passage of the NPTE. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (f) Criminal Background Checks. At the applicant’s expense, an applicant for licensure shall consent to a criminal background check as specified by the Board of Physical Therapy during the application process. (g) Supervised Clinical Practice. 1. The non-CAPTE applicant must complete a minimum of 480 clinical hours to be completed in not more than six (6) months. If an applicant has possessed a license in good standing in another state for five (5) or more years, the applicant shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain 480 clinical hours set forth in this part. 2. The non-CAPTE applicant must work under onsite supervision for the entirety of the supervised clinical practice. “Onsite supervision” means supervision provided by a physical therapist who is continuously onsite and present in the department or facility where services are provided. The supervising therapist is immediately available to the person being supervised and maintains continued involvement in the necessary aspects of patient care. 3. The clinical supervisor must have the following qualifications: (i) Minimum of 1 year of clinical experience; (ii) An unrestricted license to practice as a physical therapist in the state where the supervised clinical practice is being completed; and (iii) Provides direct patient care in their current role. (h) Applicants who graduate from a CAPTE accredited educational program shall be exempt from the supervised clinical practice requirement in Rule 1150-01-.04(3)(g). (4) The recognized credentialing agency must evaluate the curriculum in a manner similar to the FCCPT educational credentials review process. (a) The applicant must have credentials that comply with the applicable provisions of T.C.A. § 63-13-307(d) if the applicant was registered, certified, or licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in another state or country prior to July 1, 1976. (b) After receiving written approval from the Board regarding the credentials in subparagraph (a), the applicant must have participated in and successfully completed a Board-approved supervised clinical practice period to provide a broad exposure to general physical therapy skills, pursuant to guidelines approved and issued by the Board and in accordance with Rule 1150-01-.04(3)(g). (5) Requirements to Qualify to Perform Electrophysiologic Studies (a) Applicants for licensure as a Physical Therapist who seek to conduct diagnostic electromyography (invasive needle study of multiple muscles for diagnosis of muscle and nerve disease), pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.02 (See Practice of Physical Therapy), while practicing must submit to the Board’s administrative office documented evidence of possessing current Electrophysiologic Clinical Specialist (ECS) certification from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. (b) Applicants for licensure as a Physical Therapist who seek to conduct surface electrophysiological studies (motor and sensory conduction, and somatosensory GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 evoked potentials), and kinesiologic studies (invasive needle study of the muscles to determine the degree and character of a muscle during certain movements) pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.02 (See Practice of Physical Therapy), while practicing must submit to the Board’s administrative office documented evidence of possessing the theoretical background and technical skills for safe and competent performance of such studies. (c) Supervision – The supervision of applicants who seek to conduct diagnostic electromyography, surface electrophysiological studies, and kinesiologic studies shall be consistent with sound medical practice. (6) In determining the qualifications of applicants for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, only a majority vote of the Board shall be required. (7) An applicant shall submit with their application: verification of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United States pursuant to T.C.A. § 4-58-103.