La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LIV-145

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section LIV-145 - Qualifications for Licensure by Reciprocity [Formerly Section 121]

A. Application for licensure by reciprocity under Subchapter E may be made at any time.

B. Licensure by endorsement for members of the military, their spouses and dependents

1. Applications for licensure received from members of the military, their spouses, or dependents, as defined by R.S. 37:3651, will be evaluated and processed in accordance with the applicable section of R.S. 37:3651.

C. Graduates of Approved Schools of Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist Assisting

1. An applicant who possesses and meets all of the qualifications and requirements specified by R.S. 37:2409 and R.S. 37:2411, as interpreted by §129-139 of this Chapter, but who has taken the board approved licensing exam in another jurisdiction, shall nonetheless be eligible for licensure by reciprocity in accordance with R.S. 37:2412 if the following requirements are satisfied:

a. the applicant possesses, as of the time the application is filed and at the time the board passes upon such application, a current, unrestricted license in good standing or its equivalent issued by another jurisdiction;

b. the applicant has not been disciplined in any jurisdiction for an act which would have constituted grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license to practice physical therapy in this state at the time the act was committed;

c. the jurisdiction from whence the applicant comes accords a similar licensing privilege to individuals licensed as PTs and PTAs in Louisiana; and

d. the requirements for licensure in the other jurisdiction were, at the date of licensing therein, substantially equal to the requirements for licensure in Louisiana, specifically §129, as set forth now or at the time of licensure in the other jurisdiction.

D. Foreign-Educated Physical Therapist (FEPT) or Foreign-Educated Physical Therapist Assistant (FEPTA)

1. An FEPT or FEPTA is eligible for licensure by reciprocity as a PT or PTA in accordance with R.S. 37:2412 if the following requirements are satisfied:

c. the jurisdiction from whence the applicant comes accords a similar licensing privilege to individuals licensed as PTs and PTAs in Louisiana; and

d. the requirements for licensure in the other jurisdiction were, at the date of licensing therein, substantially equal to the requirements for licensure of foreign-educated PT and PTAs in Louisiana, specifically §137, as set forth now or at the time of licensure in the other jurisdiction.

2. An FEPT or FEPTA who meets the requirements of §145.C.1 and who has engaged in the practice of physical therapy for a minimum of 20 hours per week for at least for at least one year in another jurisdiction, may be eligible for licensure by reciprocity as a PT or PTA without completing the period of supervised clinical practice as set forth in §137 C, at the discretion of the board. Such request shall be made in writing and submitted with license application and acceptable documentation of clinical experience.

3. In accordance with R.S. 37:2410(6) and R.S. 37:2411.1(6), the board may, in its discretion, mandate completion of a board approved self-assessment tool, various education activities, or supervised practice prior to issuance of a license by reciprocity to a foreign-educated PT or PTA.

E. To be eligible for licensure under Subsections C. and D. of this Section, applicants shall have met the continuing education requirements contained in the Practice Act and/or board rules for the 24 months preceding their application for the jurisdiction where they are currently licensed and practicing physical therapy.

F. An applicant for reciprocity who has a current, unrestricted license in good standing or its equivalent issued by another jurisdiction, but has not engaged in the practice of physical therapy in any jurisdiction or country for a period of four or more years may be subject to these additional requirements:

1. licensee may be subject to a three-month period of supervised clinical practice;

a. if a three-month period of supervised clinical practice is required, a supervision agreement must be approved by the executive director before a provisional license will be issued. The supervision agreement shall be in force for the entire three-month supervisory period. This licensee may only practice in those facilities and under the supervision of the PT named in the approved supervision agreement. Any change in practice site or supervisor must be submitted in a revised supervision agreement prior to the change taking place. At the end of the supervisory period, the supervising PT of record shall report to the board the satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of the supervision period. If an unsatisfactory supervision period is reported by the supervising PT of record, the board, in its discretion, may require an additional three-month supervisory period; and

2. completion of remedial courses which may be prescribed by the board.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LIV-145

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, LR 13:745 (December 1987), amended by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, LR 15:387 (May 1989), LR 17:663 (July 1991), LR 19:208 (February 1993), LR 34:1906 (September 2008), amended by the Physical Therapy Board, LR 37:3039 (October 2011), Amended by the Department of Health, Physical Therapy Board, LR 442175 (12/1/2018), Amended by LR 471133 (8/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2412 and (4) and Act 535 of 2009.