Arizona

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

No temporary license is available to obtain in Arizona at this time.

Requirements for License

Qualifications for Licensure and Certification In Arizona

A. An applicant for a license as a physical therapist who has been educated in the United States shall:

1. Be of good moral character.

2. Complete the application process.

3. Be a graduate of a professional physical therapy education program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board.

4. Have successfully passed the national examination approved by the board.

5. Have successfully passed a jurisprudence examination that tests the applicant's knowledge of board statutes and rules.

B. An applicant for a license as a physical therapist who has been educated outside of the United States shall:

1. Be of good moral character.

2. Complete the application process.

3. Provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant's education is substantially equivalent to the requirements of physical therapists educated in accredited educational programs as determined by the board. If the board determines that a foreign educated applicant's education is not substantially equivalent, it may require the person to complete additional coursework before it proceeds with the application process. It is not necessary that coursework completed by the applicant be identical in all respects to that required by an education program in the United States for an entry level physical therapy degree, but all required content areas must be evident as required by board rules. Deficiencies may occur only in coursework and not in essential areas of professional education and shall not be of a magnitude that would cause the education to be deemed below entry level preparation for practice in this state.

4. Provide written proof of legal authorization to practice as a physical therapist without limitation in the country where the professional education occurred. The board may waive this requirement on receipt of written proof that the applicant cannot demonstrate legal authorization based on the citizenship requirements of the country where the professional education occurred.

5. Provide proof of legal authorization to reside and seek employment in the United States or its territories.

6. Have passed the board approved English proficiency examinations if the applicant's native language is not English.

7. Have participated in an interim supervised clinical practice period before licensure as approved by the board or shall have already met this requirement to the board's satisfaction by virtue of the applicant's clinical practice in another jurisdiction of the United States.

8. Have successfully passed the national examination approved by the board.

9. Have successfully passed a jurisprudence examination that tests the applicant's knowledge of board statutes and rules.

C. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection B, if the foreign educated physical therapist applicant is a graduate of an accredited educational program as determined by the board, the board may waive the requirements of subsection B, paragraphs 3 and 7.

References

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Disclaimer:   Informational Content is assimilated from the state practice act is a resource only and should not be considered a  substitute for the content within the state practice act.  All state practice acts can change and it is recommended that you refer to the original resource in the link above.