Section 1150-01-.05 - PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE(1) Procedures for all applicants. To become licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in Tennessee, a person must comply with the following procedures and requirements.(a) An application packet shall be requested from the Board's administrative office.(b) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and these rules to the Board's administrative office. It is the intent of these rules that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing either the application for licensure or the application for examination.(c) Applications will be accepted throughout the year.(d) An applicant shall pay the nonrefundable application fee, the State regulatory fee and, if applicable, the reciprocity fee as provided in Rule 1150-01-.06 when submitting the application.(e) An applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken within the preceding 12 months.(f) It is the applicant's responsibility to request a college transcript from his degree granting institution, pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-13-307, be submitted directly from the school to the Board's administrative office. The institution granting the degree must be accredited by CAPTE at the time the degree was granted, or for internationally educated graduates, an institution granting an equivalent degree. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred and carry the official seal of the institution and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure.(g) An applicant shall submit an original letter of recommendation from a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed in the United States that attests to the applicant's good moral character. The letter cannot be from a relative.(h) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following: 1. Conviction of any crime in any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.2. The denial of a licensure or the discipline of licensee by any state or country.3. Loss or restriction of licensure.4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity, or any other civil action remedy recognized under the country's or state's statutory, common, or case law.(i) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.(j) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.(k) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by Rule 1150-01-.07.(l) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his course work and credentials are equivalent to the Board's requirements.(m) The license fee must be received in the Board's administrative office on or before the 30th day from receipt of notification that the license fee is due. Failure to comply will result in the application file being closed.(n) A license will be issued after all requirements, including payment of a license fee pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.06, have been met.(2) Additional procedure for licensure by examination - Passage of required examination pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.08 is a prerequisite to licensure.(3) Additional procedures for licensure by reciprocity(a) Passage of the required examination pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.04 and 1150-01-.08 is a prerequisite to licensure by reciprocity. Passing level examination scores must be submitted directly from the examining service to the Board's administrative office. Candidates qualifying for licensure by reciprocity must have passed the licensing examination pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.04.(b) It is the applicant's responsibility to request that verification of licensure status be submitted directly to the Board's administrative office from all states in which the applicant is or has ever been licensed.(4) Additional procedures for internationally educated applicants (a) Passage of the required examination pursuant to rule 1150-01-.08 is a prerequisite to licensure.(b) It is the applicant's responsibility to have his professional education evaluated and verified as equivalent by a credentialing agency approved by the Board, pursuant to Rule 1150-01-.04. No applicant shall be approved for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant until the Board is satisfied that the applicant's education is substantially equivalent to the requirements of accredited educational programs.(c) An applicant shall submit proof of United States or Canada citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live and work in the United States. Such evidence may include notarized copies of birth certificates, naturalization papers or current visa status.(d) An applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement (verification of license) from each such licensing/certification agency which indicates the applicant holds or has held an active license and whether it is in good standing presently or was at the time it became inactive.(e) When necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English and such translation and the original document must be certified as to authenticity by the issuing source. Both versions must be submitted.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1150-01-.05
Original rule filed June 6, 1978; effective July 6, 1978. Amendment filed September 29, 1981; effective December 29, 1981. Repeal and new rule filed September 30, 1987; effective November 14, 1987. Amendment filed March 26, 1991; effective May 10, 1991. Repeal and new rule filed February 21, 1996; effective May 6, 1996. Amendment filed September 24, 1998; effective December 8, 1998. Repeal and new rule filed March 16, 2000; effective May 30, 2000. Amendment filed July 31, 2000; effective October 14, 2000. Amendment filed June 3, 2004; effective August 17, 2004. Amendment filed March 14, 2006; effective May 28, 2006.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-13-103, 63-13-108, 63-13-301, 63-13-304, 63-13-306, 63-13-307, and 63-13-312.