Navigating the AZ of Physical Therapy Licensure INSTRUCTIONS

Navigating the A-Z of Physical Therapy Licensure INSTRUCTIONS FOR INITIAL LICENSE BY EXAMINATION AND RECIPROCAL APPLICANTS

CONTENTS Definitions and Rules Application Checklist Criminal Background Check Sending Documents Exam Candidates Registration Fees How to Apply Licensure Process Online Declaration of Citizenship Mandatory Practitioner Profile Dry Needling Useful Links Contact Us

DEFINITION AND RULES (1) To qualify for licensure as a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant, an applicant must: (a) Be of good moral character; (b) Have successfully completed the academic requirements of an educational program for physical therapists accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE); and (d) Pass the National Board for Certification in Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, (FSBPT).

HOW TO APPLY… Complete the Online Application at https: //lars. tn. gov/datamart/login. do Attach a recent, passport style photo taken within the previous 12 months Attach an original letter of recommendation Scores issued directly from FSBPT Attach completed Declaration of Citizenship Form (with proof of citizenship) Official transcripts, conferring degree, issued directly from the school received Verification of any license, certificate or permit to practice any profession, issued directly from the state which it was issued Complete the online Mandatory Practitioner Profile at https: //lars. tn. gov/datamart/login. do. Electronic Documents are to be submitted to Unit 2 HRB. Health@tn. gov

EXAM CANDIDATES Early Testing on the NPTE A qualified student is within ninety (90) days from the date of graduation, the Board can make such a student eligible to sit for the NPTE for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants. What Do I need to Do? 1) Submit an application for a license to the Board at least ten (10) days prior to FSBPT Exam registration deadline. Find out key dates and deadlines by visiting FSBPT’s website at https: //www. fsbpt. org/Exam. Candidates/National. Exam(NPTE). aspx. 2) Have your school program director send a letter of verification of academic completion to the Board. Letter should state that the didactic portion of your physical therapy instruction has been completed and should also list the expected date of student’s graduation. 3) Should there be any request for accommodation; please complete the accommodation request form found under applications of the Board website. Such request should be supported by documentation from a medical professional certifying the underlying reason. Once the request has been processed, approval notice is sent to FSBPT will issue an authorization to test letter to the candidate.

APPLICATIONS Visit: https: //www. tn. gov/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pt- board. html

APPLY ONLINE Visit: https: //lars. tn. gov/datamart/login. do

DECLARATION OF CITIZENSHIP All applicants must complete the Declaration of Citizenship form and have it notarized. A valid form of ID must accompany the declaration of citizenship form. Examples of a valid ID: Current driver’s license Birth certificate Social Security Card To ensure identification of applicants, faxed copies of driver licenses or photo ID’s may not be accepted.

MANDATORY PRACTITIONER PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE Physical Therapists only are required to complete the Mandatory Practitioner Profile Questionnaire

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK All applicants are responsible for scheduling and/or making arrangements for completing a criminal background check. Applicants located in-state may schedule online at www. Idento. Go. com. Applicants located out-of-state, may visit their local sheriff’s office or police department and register their fingerprint card through Idento. Go at 855 -226 -2937.

SENDING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Please send all supporting documents to: Office of Health Related Boards Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy 665 Mainstream Drive Nashville, TN 37243 (Courier services use 37228) Note: Sending applications and/or documents by special courier services will not appreciably reduce the time it takes to process an application. It takes approximately six (6) weeks for a license to be issued. Electronic Documents are to be submitted to Unit 2 HRB. Health@tn. gov

APPLICATION FEES Application Fee Physical Therapist Initial License by Exam Physical Therapist Initial License by Reciprocity $100. 00 Certificate Fee $25. 00 Reciprocity Fee N/A Regulatory Fee $10. 00 Total $135. 00 Criminal Background Check $38. 00 $100. 00 $25. 00 $100. 00 $10. 00 $235. 00 *To be paid online or at vendor location

APPLICATION FEES CONT’D Application Fee Physical Therapy Assistant Initial License by Exam Physical Therapy Assistant Initial by Reciprocity $90. 00 Certificate Fee $25. 00 Reciprocity Fee N/A Regulatory Fee $10. 00 Total $125. 00 Criminal Background Check $38. 00 $90. 00 $25. 00 $100. 00 $10. 00 $225. 00 *To be paid online or at vendor location

LICENSURE PROCESS Arrival of Application and Forms • Please allow fourteen (14) business days for information to be received. • Once an application has been received, please allow up to 4 -6 weeks for an application status to update online. • Results of a criminal background check may take up to four (4) weeks to be received by the board’s office. Review of Application and Forms • Applications will undergo a preliminary review by a member of the administrative staff. • Notification of application deficiencies will be provided via mail. • Indications noted on the application and/or revealed from the criminal background check may undergo an additional review by the Board. License Issuance • Upon receipt of all required documents, all applications will undergo a final review. • Upon approval, a letter authorizing commencement of practice will be issued and mailed to the address provided. • License certificates are mailed after ratification by the Board at one of its scheduled meetings.

DRY NEEDLING A newly licensed physical therapist cannot practice dry needling for at least one (1) year from the date of initial licensure, unless the practitioner can demonstrate that he or she has completed pre-licensure educational coursework in the following areas: Fifty (50) hours of instruction, to include instruction in each of the four (4) areas listed below, which are generally satisfied during normal course of study in physical therapy school: 1) Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular systems; 2) Anatomical basis of pain mechanisms, chronic pain, and referred pain; 3) Trigger Points; 4) Universal Precautions; and Twenty-Four (24) hours of dry needling specific instruction that must include instruction in each of the following six (6) areas: 1) Dry needling technique; 2) Dry needling indications and contraindications; 3) Documentation of dry needling; 4) Management of adverse effects; 5) Practical psychomotor competency; and 6) Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Bloodborne Pathogens Protocol.

USEFUL LINKS Application for Physical Therapy Application for Reinstatement of License Declaration of Citizenship form Instructions for Criminal Background Check Mandatory Practitioner Profile Questionnaire Board of Physical Therapy Rules Licensure Verification Idento. Go (Online Fingerprinting Scheduling) The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) Tennessee Physical Therapy Educational Programs CAPTE Accredited Institutions

CONTACTING THE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Have questions or need assistance? Contact the Board of Physical Therapy Phone: (615) 741 -3807 Fax: (615) 253 -8724