Alaska

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

Sec. 08.84.065. Temporary permit. (a) The board may issue a nonrenewable temporary permit to an applicant for licensure by acceptance of credentials or by examination who
(1) meets the requirements of (A) AS 08.84.030(a)(1) or (b)(1); or (B) AS 08.84.032(a)(2) and (4) or (b)(2) and (4); and
(2) pays the required fee. (b) A temporary permit issued to an applicant for licensure by acceptance of credentials is valid for eight
months or until the board considers the applicant’s application for acceptance of credentials, whichever occurs first. (c) A temporary permit issued to an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant by examination is valid for eight months or until the results of the first examination for which the applicant is scheduled are published, whichever occurs first. If the applicant fails to take the first examination for which the
applicant is scheduled the applicant’s temporary permit lapses on the day of the examination. (d) A temporary permit issued to an applicant who is a graduate of a foreign school of physical therapy or occupational therapy located outside the United States is valid until the results of the first examination for which the
applicant is scheduled are published following completion of the internship required under AS 08.84.032. (e) A temporary permit issued to an applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant by examination is valid for eight months or until the results of the examination for which the applicant is scheduled are published, whichever occurs first. If the applicant fails to take an examination for which the applicant
is scheduled the applicant’s temporary permit lapses on the day of the examination.

12 AAC 54.050. PHYSICAL THERAPIST TEMPORARY PERMITS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE UNDER THOSE PERMITS. (a) The board or department will issue a temporary permit to an applicant for a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant license by examination, other than an applicant who is a graduate of a school of physical therapy that is located outside the United States, if the following are on file with the department:
(1) (2) (3) (4) a signed and notarized statement of responsibility from the supervising physical therapist; the statement
(1) (2) (3)
a complete application on a form provided by the department; the temporary permit fee established in 12 AAC 02.320; all items required under 12 AAC 54.100.
a complete application on a form provided by the department; the temporary permit fee established in 12 AAC 02.320; all items required under 12 AAC 54.030(a);
must indicate that the supervising physical therapist will assume the full responsibility of supervising the applicant. (b) The board or department will issue a temporary permit to an applicant applying for a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant license by credentials, other than an applicant who is a graduate of a school of physical
therapy that is located outside the United States, if the following are on file with the department:
(c) The board or department will issue a temporary permit to an applicant for a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant license by examination who is a graduate of a school of physical therapy that is located outside the United States and demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board compliance with AS 08.84.032(a)(1) and AS 08.84.065(a). A temporary permit issued under this subsection expires on the date the scores are posted to the board. The following items documenting compliance with 12 AAC 54.040 must be on file with the department before the temporary permit is issued:
(1) a complete application on a form provided by the department; (2) an official copy of a
(A) credentials evaluation from an agency approved by the board; or
(B) transcript indicating compliance with AS 08.84.032(a)(1) if the degree was obtained from a foreign program accredited by a board-approved accrediting agency;
(3) a signed and notarized letter of professional reference on a form provided by the department from (A) the head of a physical therapy school; or (B) an instructor, physician, supervising physical therapist, or supervisor;
(4) a signed and notarized statement of responsibility from the supervising physical therapist; the statement must indicate that the supervising physical therapist will assume the full responsibility of supervising the applicant;
(5) a copy of the confirmation from the testing center indicating the date that the applicant is scheduled to take the national physical therapy examination;
(6) verification from the preceptor attesting to the applicant’s satisfactory completion of the internship; (7) the application, license, and temporary permit fees established in 12 AAC 02.320; (8) verification that the applicant has passed the English language proficiency examination approved by the
board. (d) The board or department will issue a temporary permit to an applicant for a physical therapist or physical
therapy assistant license by credentials who is a graduate of a school of physical therapy that is located outside the United States if the following are on file with the department:
(1) (2) (3)
a complete application on a form provided by the department; the temporary permit fee established in 12 AAC 02.320; all items required under 12 AAC 54.110.
(e) An applicant applying for a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant temporary permit will be reviewed in accordance with 12 AAC 54.915.
(f) An applicant applying for a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant license who is waiting to take the next scheduled examination and who has been issued a temporary permit under AS 08.84.065 may practice only under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and may not act as a supervisor until a permanent license is issued.
(g) The holder of a temporary permit as a physical therapist, issued according to the provisions of AS 08.84.065(b), who is awaiting licensure by acceptance of credentials, may practice without supervision.
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(h) The holder of a temporary permit as a physical therapy assistant, issued according to the provisions of AS 08.84.065(b), who is awaiting licensure by acceptance of credentials, shall practice in accordance with 12 AAC 54.510.

Requirements for License

Sec. 08.84.030. Qualifications for licensing. (a) To be eligible for licensure by the board as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, an applicant, unless a graduate of a foreign school of physical therapy located outside the United States, shall
(1) have graduated from a school of physical therapy approved by the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the American Medical Association, or the American Physical Therapy Association;
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(2) pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination prepared by a national testing service approved by the board to determine the applicant’s fitness for practice as a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, or be entitled to licensure without examination as provided in AS 08.84.060;
(3) meet qualifications for licensure established in regulations adopted by the board under AS 08.84.010(b). (b) To be eligible for licensure by the board as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, an
applicant, unless a graduate of a foreign school of occupational therapy located outside the United States, shall (1) have successfully completed a curriculum of occupational therapy approved by the Committee of Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association or the American Occupational Therapy
Association; (2) submit proof of successful completion and supervised field work approved by the board
(A) for an occupational therapist, a minimum of six months of supervised field work;
(B) for an occupational therapy assistant, a minimum of two months of supervised field work; (3) pass, to the satisfaction of the board, an examination prepared by a national testing service approved by the board or an examination recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Association to determine the applicant’s fitness for practice as an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, or be entitled to
licensure without examination under AS 08.84.060; and (4) meet qualifications for licensure established in regulations adopted by the board under AS 08.84.010(b).

Sec. 08.84.040. Application for license. To be licensed under this chapter to practice physical therapy or occupational therapy, an applicant shall apply to the board on a form prescribed by the board. An applicant shall include in the application evidence under oath that the applicant possesses the qualifications required by AS 08.84.030 or 08.84.032.

Sec. 08.84.080. Examinations. The board shall examine applicants for licensure under this chapter at the times and places it determines.
Sec. 08.84.090. Licensure. The board shall license an applicant who meets the qualifications for licensure under this chapter. It shall issue a license certificate to each person licensed. A license certificate is prima facie evidence of the right of the person to hold out as a licensed physical therapist, licensed physical therapy assistant, licensed occupational therapist, or licensed occupational therapy assistant.

12 AAC 54.030. REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSE BY EXAMINATION. (a) An applicant for a physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant license by examination, other than an applicant who is a graduate of a school of physical therapy that is located outside the United States, shall submit a completed application on a form prescribed by the board with
(1) payment of the fees established in 12 AAC 02.320;
(2) the applicant’s certified transcript from a physical therapy school meeting the requirements of AS 08.84.030(a)(1); and
(3) a letter of professional reference from (A) the head of the physical therapy school; or (B) an instructor, physician, supervising physical therapist, or supervisor; and
(4) the jurisprudence questionnaire prepared by the board covering the provisions of AS 08.84 and this chapter.
(b) An application must be reviewed and approved by a majority of the board members before an applicant may take the examination. The board will not review an application until all documents required under (a) of this section have been received by the department.
(c) An applicant who has applied for, but not yet received, licensure in another state and who has passed the national physical therapy examination in that state may have the examination scores transferred to the board and may apply for licensure by examination under (a) of this section.

References

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