Application Review, Approval And Denial

(1) An electronic application packet shall be completed and submitted to the Board through the Board’s authorized licensure system. Those applicants who prefer to submit a paper application can obtain the appropriate forms from the Board’s administrative office. (2) Initial review of all applications to determine whether or not the application file is complete may be delegated to the Board’s Unit Director. The Board will ratify licensure action taken by the Unit Director or designated Board member. (3) If an application for licensure is incomplete when received in the Board’s administrative office, the applicant will be notified of such deficiency. The individual will not be deemed eligible to take the examination until the application is judged to be complete and accurate by the administrative office. (4) The Board may at its discretion delay a decision on eligibility to take the examination for any applicant for whom the Board wishes additional information. (5) If a completed application has been denied and ratified as such by the Board, the action shall become final and the following shall occur: (a) A notification of the denial shall be sent by the Board’s administrative office by certified mail return receipt requested. Specific reasons for denial will be stated, such as incomplete information, unofficial records, examination failure, or other matters judged insufficient for licensure, and such notification shall contain all the specific statutory or rule authorities for the denial. (b) The notification, when appropriate, shall also contain a statement of the applicant’s right to request a contested case hearing under the Tennessee Administrative Procedures Act (T.C.A. §§ 4-5-301, et seq.) to contest the denial and the procedure necessary to accomplish that action. (c) An applicant has a right to a contested case hearing if the licensure denial was based on subjective or discretionary criteria. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY CHAPTER 1150-01 (d) An applicant may be granted a contested case hearing if licensure denial is based on objective, clearly defined criteria. If after review and attempted resolution by the Board’s administrative staff, the licensure application can not be approved and the reasons for continued denial present a genuine issue of fact and/or law which is appropriate for appeal, an appeal may be requested. Such request must be made in writing to the Board within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the notice of denial. (6) Any person furnishing false information or omitting pertinent information in such application may be denied the right to sit for the examination or if the applicant has already been licensed before the falseness of such information has been made known to the Board, such license may be subject to suspension or revocation by the Board. (7) If the Board finds it has erred in the issuance of a license, the Board will give written notice by certified mail of its intent to annul the license. The notice will allow the applicant the opportunity to meet the requirements of licensure within thirty (30) days from date of receipt of the notification. (8) Abandonment of Application (a) An application shall be deemed abandoned and closed if: 1. The application has not been completed by the applicant within twelve (12) months after it was initially reviewed by the Board; or 2. The applicant fails to sit for the written exam, if applicable, within six (6) months after being notified of eligibility. (b) Whenever the applicant fails to complete the application process as stated in (a) above, written notification will be mailed to the applicant notifying him that the file has been closed. An applicant whose file has been closed shall subsequently be considered for licensure only upon the filing of a new application and payment of all appropriate fees. (9) If an applicant requests an entrance for licensure and, after Board review, wishes to change that application to a different type of entrance, a new application with supporting documents and an additional application fee must be submitted, e.g., reciprocity to examination. (10) An applicant shall submit an original letter of recommendation from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed in the United States that attests to the applicant’s good moral character. The letter cannot be from a relative of the applicant.