24.119.1021 APPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

(1) Applicants for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant licensure by examination shall file with the board an application which shall include the following:

(a) application fee; and

(b) for applicants trained in the United States, a copy of the applicant's certificate of graduation or transcripts demonstrating graduation from a board-approved physical therapy school or physical therapist assistant curriculum; or

(c) for applicants not trained in the United States:

(i) demonstration of compliance with educational standards equivalent to the national standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association by using an evaluation of educational background performed by the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy, Inc. (FCCPT); and

(ii) if from a non-English speaking culture, the applicant shall display competency in the English language by passing the national examination test of English as foreign language (TOEFL) with a passing score as designated by the Federation of State Boards on Physical Therapy (FSBPT); and

(d) verification of all current, previous, and expired licenses in any licensed profession from other states.

(2) Applicants applying for licensure from another state who have not been actively engaged in the profession of physical therapy or physical therapist assistant in the four years immediately preceding application may be required to undergo remedial study in the field of physical therapy subject to the discretion of the board.  Remedial study may include, but will not be limited to:

(a) supervised internships;

(b) independent study;

(c) refresher courses;

(d) pertinent graduate or undergraduate course work;

(e) pertinent continuing education courses; and

(f) specialized study in a specific area.

(3) The board recognizes the national physical therapy exam (NPTE) and the national physical therapist assistant examination (NPTAE) for licensure for their respective occupations.

(a) The earliest date on which an applicant for examination may take the examination is the examination date nearest to and before the applicant’s expected graduation date.

(b) Applicants must achieve a scaled score of 600 or higher to pass the examination.

(4) Physical therapist and physical therapist assistant applicants for licensure may be issued a provisional license.  The provisional license shall identify the licensed physical therapist(s) who shall be responsible for providing direct supervision.  The provisional license is valid until the applicant passes the examination and is granted a license.  Only one provisional license will be issued per applicant.  If the applicant fails the examination, the applicant may sit for the next scheduled examination.  The provisional license will not be extended while the applicant is waiting to retake the examination.

 

Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-78-201, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-1-304, 37-11-303, 37-11-304, MCA

History: NEW, 1979 MAR p. 1243, Eff. 10/12/79; AMD, 1980 MAR p. 1607, Eff. 6/13/80; TRANS, from Dept. of Prof. & Occup. Lic., Ch. 274, L. 1981, Eff. 7/1/81; AMD, 1982 MAR p. 593, Eff. 3/26/82; AMD, 1983 MAR p. 1664, Eff. 11/11/83; AMD, 1986 MAR p. 792, Eff. 5/16/86; AMD, 1990 MAR p. 2107, Eff. 11/30/90; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 159, Eff. 1/28/94; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 1583, Eff. 6/10/94; AMD, 1995 MAR p. 2483, Eff. 11/23/95; AMD, 1997 MAR p. 38, Eff. 1/17/97; AMD, 1997 MAR p. 1359, Eff. 8/5/97; AMD, 2001 MAR p. 344, Eff. 2/23/01; TRANS, from Commerce, 2005 MAR p. 380; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 1526, Eff. 7/27/12; AMD, 2015 MAR p. 1907, Eff. 10/30/15; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 1926, Eff. 12/24/21; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 1882, Eff. 7/27/24; TRANS and AMD, from 24.177.501, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.