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PHYSICAL THERAPIST LICENSING BOARD

 

DIVISION 10
LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANTS

848-010-0010
Approval of Schools of Physical
Therapy
All schools for physical therapists
and physical therapist assistants that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), are considered approved schools of physical
therapy. A school shall be considered to be an approved school of physical therapy
within the meaning of this section if the school was accredited as above at the
time the licensure applicant graduated. At its sole discretion, and on a case-by-case
basis, the Board may grant licensure to an applicant who has graduated from a school
of physical therapy if, at the time of his/her graduation, the school is a candidate
for accreditation and subsequently is granted the accreditation.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.050,
688.055, 688.070 & 688.080
Hist.: PT 2, f. 8-22-74,
ef. 9-25-74; PT 11, f. & ef. 12-28-77; PT 1-1979, f. & ef. 2-14-79; PT 1-1989,
f. & cert. ef. 8-8-89; PT 4-1997, f. & cert. ef. 8-5-97; PTLB 3-2003, f.
& cert. ef. 8-22-03; PTLB 9-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 2-2013,
f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14
848-010-0015
Examinations
(1) Examinations for licensing of physical
therapists and of physical therapist assistants shall be provided by an examination
service approved by the Board. For purposes of this rule the Board’s approved
examination shall be the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy’s
(FSBPT) National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The overall passing score
shall be based on a formula using the criterion-referenced scoring system. An applicant
may sit for the NPTE a maximum of three times in any jurisdiction within a 12-month
period, measured from the date of the first examination.
(2) All completed applications
for examination, associated fees and required documents must be received and approved
by the Board prior to releasing an applicant’s eligibility to take the NPTE.
(3) Unless qualified for
licensure by endorsement under OAR 848-010-0022, an applicant whose first professional
degree in physical therapy was awarded from a foreign physical therapy program that
is/was not CAPTE accredited must submit:
(a) A Credentials Evaluation
Statement ("the Report") of professional education and training prepared by a Board-approved
credentials evaluation agency. The Report must be sent directly from the credentialing
agency to the Board. It is the applicant's responsibility to pay the expenses associated
with the credentials evaluation.
(A) The Report must provide
evidence and documentation that the applicant's education outside a state or territory
of the United States is substantially equivalent to the education of a physical
therapist who graduated from an accredited physical therapy education program approved
by the Board pursuant to ORS 688.050(2).
(B) To determine substantial
equivalency, the approved credentialing evaluation agency shall use the appropriate
Course Work Tool ("CWT") adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
The appropriate CWT means the CWT in place at the time the foreign educated physical
therapist earned their first professional degree in physical therapy.
(b) English Language Proficiency
(A) Verification that English
is the native language of the country of origin, and the physical therapy program
employs English as the language of training; or
(B) Verification that the
applicant has achieved a score of not less than 560 on the paper Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of not less than 220 on the computer Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a score of not less than 50 on the Test
of Spoken English (TSE) and a score of not less than 4.5 on the Test of Written
English (TWE); or
(C) Verification that the
applicant has achieved the following minimum scores for each category of the internet
based TOEFL (ibTOEFL) examination: writing, 24; speaking, 26; reading, 21; listening,
18; with an overall score of not less than 89.
(c) If applicant has taken
a Board-approved national licensing examination prior to application for licensure
in Oregon, a report of applicant's examination scores must be submitted to the Board
directly from the Board-approved examination service.
(d) If applicant holds or
has held a license in the country in which the applicant received their physical
therapy education, the applicant must provide primary source verification of the
license.
(e) For purposes of section
(3) of this rule, the requirements and criteria considered for credentialing will
be "as of" the date the most recent credentialing report was received by the Board
from the Board-approved credentialing agency.
(4) The Examination must
be given in the English language.
(5) A physical therapist
student or physical therapist assistant student may take the National Physical Therapy
Examination (NPTE) up to 90 days prior to graduation from a CAPTE accredited program
if the program director will certify, in a written format, that the student has
successfully completed all didactic educational requirements prior to the examination
date and is indeed scheduled to graduate.
(6) The examination will
be administered at a location approved by the Board.
(7) Any applicant who has
graduated from an approved school of physical therapy and passed a Board-approved
examination or a Board-approved equivalent examination more than five years prior
to application for licensure in the State of Oregon and who has not been actively
licensed in any other state or territory of the United States for a five year period
must demonstrate competence to practice physical therapy. If the applicant fails
to demonstrate competence, the Board may require the applicant to serve an internship
under a restricted license or satisfactorily complete a refresher course approved
by the Board, or both, at the discretion of the Board. The Board may also require
the applicant to pass an examination approved by the Physical Therapist Licensing
Board as provided in OAR 848-010-0015.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.020,
688.040, 688.050, 688.055, 688.070, 688.090
Hist.: PT 2, f. 8-22-74,
ef. 9-25-74; PT 6, f. 12-20-74, ef. 1-11-75; PT 10, f. & ef. 10-21-77; PT 11,
f. & ef. 12-28-77; PT 1-1979, f. & ef. 2-14-79; PT 1-1983, f. & ef.
1-5-83; PT 1-1984, f. & ef. 5-3-84; PT 1-1989, f. & cert. ef. 8-8-89; PT
1-1990 (Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-16-90; PT 2-1990, f. & cert. ef. 10-2-90;
PT 1-1996, f. 1-16-96, cert. ef. 2-1-96; PT 2-1996, f. & cert. ef. 9-5-96; PT
1-1997, f. & cert. ef. 2-4-97; PTLB 4-1999, f. 11-23-99, cert. ef. 12-1-99;
PTLB 1-2000, f. & cert. ef. 5-4-00; PTLB 3-2003, f. & cert. ef. 8-22-03;
PTLB 9-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06;
PTLB 1-2007, f. 3-13-07, cert. ef. 4-1-07; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09;
PTLB 1-2010, f. 2-16-10, cert. ef. 3-1-10; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12, cert. ef. 3-1-12;
PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14
848-010-0020
Endorsement of Out-of-State Physical
Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapists and physical therapist
assistants not licensed in the State of Oregon may be licensed by endorsement if
they comply with all of the following:
(1) File a completed application
form and pay a non-refundable endorsement application fee.
(2) Are at least 18 years
of age.
(3) Are graduates of an approved
school for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants as provided in OAR
848-010-0010 and 848-010-0015(3).
(4) At the time of application,
applicant holds a valid, unrestricted license in any other state or territory of
the United States.
(5) Have passed the physical
therapist or physical therapist assistant examination provided by a Board-approved
examination service.
Stat. Auth: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.080
Hist.: PT 2, f. 8-22-74,
ef. 9-25-74; PT 5, f. 12-20-74, ef. 1-11-75; PT 1-1979, f. & ef. 2-14-79; PT
1-1983, f. & ef. 1-5-83; PT 1-1984, f. & ef. 5-3-84; PT 1-1989, f. &
cert. ef. 8-8-89; PT 1-1990(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 7-16-90; PT 2-1990, f. &
cert. ef. 10-2-90; PT 1-1996, f. 1-16-96, cert. ef. 2-1-96; PT 3-1996, f. &
cert. ef. 9-5-96; PTLB 9-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05,
cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12,
cert. ef. 3-1-12; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14
848-010-0022
Endorsement of Out-of-State Foreign Educated Physical Therapists
A foreign educated physical therapist not licensed in the State of Oregon may be licensed by endorsement if the applicant meets or fulfills the requirements of subsections (1), (2), (4) and (5) of OAR 848-010-0020 and the Board receives all of the following additional items:
(1) A certified copy of the Course Work Tool (CWT) used by a physical therapy licensing authority of a state or territory of the United States to make the determination to issue a license in that state or territory. The report must indicate that the applicant’s foreign physical therapy education was determined to be substantially equivalent to the education of a physical therapist who graduated from an accredited physical therapy program approved by the Oregon Board pursuant to ORS 688.050(2). To determine substantial equivalency, the approved credentialing evaluation agency shall use the appropriate CWT adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The appropriate CWT means the CWT in place at the time the foreign educated physical therapist graduated from their physical therapy program. The licensing authority of the state or territory must certify the report and must send it directly to the Oregon Board.
(2) Proof of completion of a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice each year in a state or territory of the United States for three of the last ten years immediately prior to application. To meet this requirement, however, no more than five years can have elapsed since the applicant has had clinical practice in a state or territory of the United States. The applicant’s current or prior employer(s) must send this proof directly to the Oregon Board.
(3) A written statement from the applicant’s most recent employer stating that the applicant practiced safely and competently. The employer must send this proof directly to the Oregon Board.
(4) A foreign educated physical therapist who does not meet the requirements of this section may apply for licensure under OAR 848-010-0015(3).
Stat. Auth: ORS 688.160

Stats. Implemented: ORS 668.160(6)(c)

Hist.: PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2010, f. 2-16-10, cert. ef. 3-1-10
848-010-0026
Temporary Permits
(1) The Board may issue a temporary
permit to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant the period
specified below to an applicant who meets the requirements of this rule.
(a) A person who has graduated
from a CAPTE accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program
in a state or territory of the United States and who is applying for the first time
to take the licensing examination for Oregon may be issued a temporary permit for
a period of 90 calendar days. Such applicant shall:
(A) Submit a completed application
for license by examination and pay the required fee;
(B) Submit a completed application
for a temporary permit and pay the required fee; and
(C) Submit a Board Certificate
of Professional Education providing primary source verification of completion of
a CAPTE accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program or
an official transcript of completion.
(D) Must have registered
and been released to sit for the NPTE.
(b) A person who holds a
valid current license to practice in another state or territory of the United States
may be issued a temporary permit for a period of 60 calendar days. Such applicant
shall:
(A) Provide written primary
source verification of current licensure in another state or territory;
(B) Submit a completed application
for license by endorsement and pay the required fee;
(C) Submit a completed application
for a temporary permit and pay the required fee;
(D) Submit a Board Certificate
of Professional Education providing primary source verification of completion of
a CAPTE accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program or
an official transcript of completion; and
(E) Have passed the physical
therapist or physical therapist assistant examination as provided in OAR 848-010-0020(5).
(2) A person who holds a
temporary permit must practice under supervision as provided in this rule.
(3) A person who holds a
temporary permit issued under subsection (1)(a) of this rule must practice under
on-site supervision, which means that at all times a supervising therapist is in
the same building and immediately available for consultation. Entries made in the
patient record by a temporary permit holder must be authenticated by the permit
holder and by a supervising therapist.
(4) A person who holds a
temporary permit issued under subsection (1)(b) of this rule must practice under
general supervision, which means that at all times a supervising therapist must
be readily available for consultation, either in person or by telecommunication.
(5) As used in this rule,
"supervising therapist" means an Oregon licensed physical therapist if the permit
holder is a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant. "Supervising therapist"
also means an Oregon licensed physical therapist assistant if the permit holder
is a physical therapist assistant. A physical therapist assistant may not supervise
a physical therapist permit holder.
(6) If a physical therapist
assistant is supervising a physical therapist assistant permit holder, a physical
therapist must be readily available for consultation, either in person or by telecommunication,
as provided in OAR 848-015-0020.
(7) Within five (5) working
days of beginning practice the permit holder must submit to the Board a completed
"Temporary Permit Letter from Employer" form. The permit holder must notify the
Board of any change in employment during the period of the temporary permit by submitting
a new "Temporary Permit Letter from Employer" within five (5) working days.
(8) A temporary permit issued
under this rule shall terminate automatically by operation of law if the permit
holder fails the Board-approved national licensing examination. A permit holder
must return the permit certificate to the Board immediately, by a method that provides
delivery verification, upon notification that the permit has terminated.
(9) The Board may refuse
to issue a temporary permit to an applicant or may revoke a permit after issuance
on any of the grounds set out in OAR 848-010-0044 or 848-045-0020. A person whose
permit is revoked must return the certificate to the Board immediately by a method
that provides delivery verification.
(10) A permit holder whose
permit has terminated or has been revoked is not eligible to apply for another permit.
(11) A person who has taken
and failed the Board-approved national licensing examination is not eligible to
apply for a temporary permit.
(12) In its discretion the
Board may grant one 60 calendar day extension to a person who holds a temporary
permit.
(13) A person who holds a
temporary permit issued under this rule is subject to all statutes and rules governing
a licensee.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.110

Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.110

Hist.: PTLB 3-2000, f. &
cert. ef. 12-21-00; PTLB 9-2004, f. & cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05,
cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 2-2008, f. 12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 1-2010, f. 2-16-10,
cert. ef. 3-1-10; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12, cert. ef. 3-1-12; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13,
cert. ef. 1-1-14; PTLB 3-2015, f. 9-9-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16
848-010-0033
Renewal Of License Required
(1) All physical therapist and physical
therapist assistant licenses expire on March 31 of each even numbered year, regardless
of the initial issue date. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants
must renew their licenses to practice effective April 1 of each even numbered year.
A license is considered lapsed if a completed renewal application is postmarked
or received after March 31 of an even number year. A person whose license has lapsed
must immediately stop practicing as a physical therapist or a physical therapist
assistant and shall not practice until the license is renewed.
(2) The annual renewal period
shall be January 1st through March 31st of an even number year. The Board will provide
renewal notification to all current licensees during the month of January.
(3) If the completed license
renewal application is postmarked or actually received by the Board after March
31, the licensee is subject to a lapsed license renewal fee as provided in OAR 848-005-0020(1)(e)
in addition to the license renewal fee.
(4) A licensed physical therapist
must complete the renewal application process and pay the renewal fee provided in
OAR 848-005-0020(1)(c).
(5) A licensed physical therapist
assistant must complete the renewal application process and pay the renewal fee
provided in OAR 848-005-0020(1)(d).
(6) Each currently licensed
physical therapist and physical therapist assistant must complete the continuing
competence requirements as provided in Division 35 of these rules before they may
renew.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 688.110

Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.110

Hist.: PTLB 9-2004, f. &
cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 1-2007, f.
3-13-07, cert. ef. 4-1-07; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14; PTLB 3-2015,
f. 9-9-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16
848-010-0035
Renewal of Lapsed Licenses
(1) Any license that is not renewed
before April 1 of each even number year shall automatically lapse. No person whose
license has lapsed shall practice until the license is renewed. Failure to receive
a renewal notice shall not excuse any licensee from the requirements of renewal.
The Board may renew any lapsed license upon payment of all past unpaid renewal fees,
payment of a single lapsed license renewal fee as provided in OAR 848-005-0020(1)(e)
and, if applicable, documentation of completion of the continuing competence requirements
as provided in 848-035-0020(5). An applicant whose license has lapsed for non-completion
of the continuing competence requirements may reinstate the lapsed license upon
completion of the requirements for the immediately prior certification period. Continuing
competence hours earned after March 31 of the even-numbered year to fulfill the
requirements necessary to reinstate the lapsed license shall apply only to the prior
certification period.
(2) Any individual reinstating
a license that has been lapsed between two to five years must show evidence of completion
of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing competency during the 24 months immediately
prior to the reinstatement date and complete the current Board jurisprudence examination.
However, a candidate for reinstatement who holds a current license in another state
or jurisdiction which has a requirement for continuing competence or continuing
education and who has completed that requirement, shall be exempt from the continuing
competency requirements of this subsection.
(3) In the event that an
applicant's Oregon physical therapy license has lapsed for five or more consecutive
years, the applicant must demonstrate competence to practice physical therapy. If
the applicant fails to demonstrate competence, the Board may require the applicant
to serve an internship under a restricted license or satisfactorily complete a refresher
course approved by the Board, or both, at the discretion of the Board. The Board
may also require the applicant to pass an examination approved by the Physical Therapist
Licensing Board as provided in OAR 848-010-0015.
(4) If the applicant holds
a current physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license in another
state or jurisdiction and the applicant's Oregon license has lapsed for five or
more consecutive years, the applicant may apply for a license by endorsement as
provided in OAR 848-010-0020.
Stat. Auth: ORS 688.160

Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.100

Hist.: PT 2, f. 8-22-74,
ef. 9-25-74; PT 10, f. & ef. 10-21-77; PT 1-1979, f. & ef. 2-14-79; PT 1-1989,
f. & cert. ef. 8-8-89; PT 5-1996, f. & cert. ef. 9-5-96; PTLB 9-2004, f.
& cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 1-2007,
f. 3-13-07, cert. ef. 4-1-07; PTLB 1-2012, f. 2-9-12, cert. ef. 3-1-12; PTLB 2-2013,
f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14; PTLB 3-2015, f. 9-9-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16
848-010-0044
Grounds for Refusal to License an
Applicant
After notice and opportunity for hearing
as provided in ORS 688.145, the Board may refuse to license, or may limit or restrict
the license of an applicant who:
(1) Is not a person of good
moral character as provided in OAR 848-045-0020(2)(i);
(2) Willfully made a false
statement on the application;
(3) Failed to disclose requested
information or provided false or materially misleading information on the application
or during the process of applying for a license or temporary permit;
(4) Has practiced physical
therapy without a license or has purported to be a therapist in violation of ORS
688.020;
(5) Has a mental, emotional
or physical condition which impairs the applicant's ability or competency to practice
physical therapy in a manner consistent with the public health and safety;
(6) Has an addiction to or
a dependency on alcohol, legend drugs or controlled substances which impairs the
applicant's ability or competency to practice physical therapy in a manner consistent
with the public health and safety;
(7) Has been disciplined
or had an application for licensure refused by another Oregon state licensing board
or out-of-state licensing board for an act which if committed in Oregon would be
grounds for discipline under ORS 688.140 or OAR 848-045-0020;
(8) Has been convicted of
violating any federal law or state law relating to controlled substances, subject
to the provisions of ORS 670.280(2); or
(9) Has been convicted of
any crime that is a felony or misdemeanor under the laws of any state or of the
United States, subject to the provisions of ORS 670.280(2).
Stat. Auth: ORS 688.160
Stats. Implemented: ORS 688.100
Hist.: PTLB 9-2004, f. &
cert. ef. 12-29-04; PTLB 4-2005, f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06; PTLB 2-2008, f.
12-16-08, cert. ef. 1-2-09; PTLB 2-2013, f. 11-26-13, cert. ef. 1-1-14

Screening and Selection of Personal Service Contractors

848-010-0105 [Renumbered to 848-005-0010]
848-010-0110 [Renumbered to 848-005-0020]
848-010-0115 [Renumbered to 848-001-0010]
848-010-0120 [Renumbered to 848-001-0020]

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