HCS/SCS/SB 1181 - The act authorizes a physical therapist practice pursuant to the prescription and direction of a physician, dentist or podiatrist licensed and practicing in another state.

This act modifies provisions relating to the licensure of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The act authorizes the board of healing arts to waive the mandatory denial of licensure to applicants for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who have failed the required examination three or more times. The board may waive the mandatory denial if the applicant is licensed in another state for three years without any discipline of the license and has passed a licensing exam in another state. Alternatively, for applicants as a physical therapist, the board may allow an applicant to sit for the exam three additional times if the applicant obtains a higher professional degree after the third failure.

The requirement that the examination must be the same for all applicants is eliminated, as well as the requirement that the board must preserve the examination grades and scores and make them available for public inspection.

Temporary licenses for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will only be valid for 90 days or until the results of the examination are received. The temporary license cannot be renewed. A licensed physical therapist cannot supervise more than one temporary licensed physical therapist assistant.

The act makes it a cause for discipline of a physical therapist's license to practice independent of the prescription and direction of a physician, dentist or podiatrist licensed in another state.
JIM ERTLE