Part 16.
TEXAS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS
Chapter 329.
LICENSING PROCEDURE
22 TAC §329.2
The Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners adopts
amendments to §329.2, regarding Licensure by Examination, with
changes to the proposed text as published in the February 22, 2013,
issue of the
Texas Register
(38 TexReg
1075). The amendments will allow staff to more efficiently process
license applications by eliminating an outdated exception to applying
for licensure by exam. In addition to the changes which were proposed
originally, the adopted amendment deletes subsection (b)(3) of the
rule, which addressed licensees who are retaking the national exam
as part of applying by endorsement. Those applicants are no longer
required to retake the exam, and so this paragraph is no longer relevant
or required.
The amendments require that a person register for the national
exam through Texas to receive a license by examination and eliminate
the possibility of applying for licensure by examination after having
passed the exam as authorized by another state.
No comments were received regarding the amendment.
The amendment is adopted under the Physical Therapy Practice
Act, Title 3, Subtitle H, Chapter 453, Occupations Code, which provides
the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners with the authority to
adopt rules consistent with this Act to carry out its duties in administering
this Act.
§329.2.Licensure by Examination.
(a)
Requirements. An applicant applying for licensure
by examination must:
(1)
meet the requirements as stated in §329.1
of this title (relating to General Licensure Requirements and Procedures);
(2)
register to take the national exam through this
state, and have the first score report sent to this state; and
(3)
pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)
for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants with the
score set by the board. Score reports must be sent directly to the
board by the authorized score reporting service.
(b)
Re-examination.
(1)
First re-examination. An applicant who fails the
exam the first time is eligible to take the examination a second time
after submitting a re-exam application and fee.
(2)
Second or subsequent re-examination. An applicant
who fails the exam twice or more must complete additional education
before taking the exam again. The amount of additional education is
set forth in the attached chart. To be eligible to register for the
exam again, the applicant must submit a letter that identifies the
area(s) of weakness and describes the plan that addresses the weakness(s).
The letter must be accompanied by proof that the additional education
has been successfully completed. Additional education may be one or
more of the following:
(A)
A commercial review course.
(B)
An individual tutorial. The completed tutorial
must be signed by the tutor and notarized, and include the tutor's
curriculum vitae. If the applicant is applying for a PT license, the
tutor must be a licensed PT. If the applicant is applying for a PTA
license, the tutor must be a licensed PT, or a licensed PTA who is
associated with a Texas PTA program.
(C)
Board-approved continuing competence (CCU) activities.
Figure: 22 TAC §329.2(b)(2)(C) (.pdf)
(c)
Failure of PT exam. An applicant who fails the
physical therapy examination may apply for licensure as a PTA and
take the physical therapist assistant examination if he meets all
other requirements for licensure.
(d)
Exam Accommodations. The board will provide reasonable
accommodations for the national exam. An individual requesting special
accommodations must submit the request to the board at least 30 days
prior to the deadline for registering for the licensing examination.
The board will process the accommodation request once all of the required
information and documentation is received. The request includes the
following forms:
(1)
A completed Accommodations Request Form;
(2)
A Professional Documentation of Disability Form,
completed by a diagnostician meeting the board's requirements, which
includes documentation of tests and measures used to diagnose the
disability, and the results of those tests and measures;
(3)
A completed Consent to Release Information Form;
and
(4)
The Academic Program Verification Form completed
by the director of the academic program attended, if accommodations
were granted by the PT or PTA program.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption
has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise
of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on May 3, 2013.
TRD-201301774
John P. Maline
Executive Director
Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
Effective date: May 23, 2013
Proposal publication date: February 22, 2013
For further information, please call: (512) 305-6900
Chapter 335.
PROFESSIONAL TITLE