Arizona

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

A. If a foreign educated applicant satisfies the requirements of section 32-2022, subsection B, before the board issues a license it shall issue an interim permit to the applicant for the purpose of participating in a supervised clinical practice period. An applicant who fails the national examination is not eligible for an interim permit until the applicant passes the examination.

B. If an applicant who has been educated in the United States satisfies the requirements of section 32-2022, subsection A or D, but the board determines that there is evidence that the applicant lacks the competence to practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant, the board shall issue an interim permit to the applicant to allow that person to participate in a supervised clinical practice.

C. The board may issue an interim permit for at least ninety days but not more than six months.

D. An interim permit holder shall complete, to the satisfaction of the board, a period of clinical practice in a facility approved by the board and under the continuous and on-site supervision of a physical therapist who holds an unrestricted license issued pursuant to this chapter.

E. At any time during an interim supervised clinical practice period, the board may revoke an interim permit because of the permit holder's incompetence or for a violation of this chapter. Pursuant to title 41, chapter 6, article 10, the board shall hold a hearing on request of a permit holder whose permit is revoked.

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.

Supervision

A. A physical therapist is responsible for patient care given by assistive personnel under the physical therapist's supervision. A physical therapist may delegate to assistive personnel and supervise selected acts, tasks or procedures that fall within the scope of physical therapy practice but that do not exceed the education or training of the assistive personnel.

B. A physical therapist assistant certified pursuant to this chapter may perform selected interventions under the general supervision of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter.

C. A physical therapy aide and other assistive personnel shall perform designated routine tasks only under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist who is present in the facility.

D. A licensed physical therapist must provide on-site supervision of an interim permit holder.

E. A physical therapist student and a physical therapist assistant student must practice under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

F. A physical therapist is responsible for managing all aspects of the physical therapy care of each patient. A physical therapist must provide:

1. The initial evaluation of and documentation for a patient.

2. Periodic reevaluation of and documentation for a patient.

3. The documented discharge of a patient, including the response to therapeutic intervention at the time of discharge.

G. A physical therapist must verify the qualifications of physical therapist assistants and other assistive personnel under the physical therapist's direction and supervision.

H. For each patient on each date of service, a physical therapist must provide and document all of the therapeutic intervention that requires the expertise of a physical therapist and must determine the use of physical therapist assistants and other assistive personnel to ensure the delivery of care that is safe, effective and efficient. Documentation for each date of service must be as prescribed by the board by rule.

I. A physical therapist assistant must document care provided but may do so without the co-signature of the supervising physical therapist if the physical therapist complies with the requirements of subsections G and H.

J. A physical therapist's responsibility for patient care management includes accurate documentation and billing of the services provided.

Physical Therapy Students

32-2021 Persons and activities not required to be licensed

C. The following persons are exempt from the licensure requirements of this chapter:

1. A person in a professional education program approved by the board who is satisfying supervised clinical education requirements related to the person's physical therapist or physical therapist assistant education while under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist.

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.