The Board proposes the rule amendment to add new language to clarify the qualifications for an applicant educated in a foreign country.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B17-4.003Licensure by Endorsement

PURPOSE AND EFFECT:  The Board proposes the rule amendment to add new language to clarify the qualifications for an applicant educated in a foreign country.

SUMMARY: The rule amendment will add new language to clarify the qualifications for an applicant educated in a foreign country.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST: The agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule.  A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.  The agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: During discussion of the economic impact of this rule at its Board meeting, the Board, based upon the expertise and experience of its members, determined that a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC) was not necessary and that the rule will not require ratification by the Legislature.  No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at that time.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY:  486.025, 486.102, 486.107(1) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 486.107(1) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAW.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy Practice, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253

 

THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B17-4.003 Licensure by Endorsement.

(1) An applicant, filing DOH Form #DH-MQA 1142 Application for Licensure, Revised 08/12, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which is available through http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02042 or www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa, and demonstrating that he or she is licensed in another state may be licensed to practice as a physical therapist assistant by endorsement by presenting evidence of active licensure in another jurisdiction, under oath, and evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant from such other jurisdiction has been licensed under standards for licensure as high as those maintained in Florida. The standard for determining whether those requirements are as high as those in Florida shall be whether the applicant was required to meet educational standards equivalent to those set forth in subsection 64B17-4.001(3), F.A.C., and whether the written examination taken for licensure in such other jurisdiction was through the designated national physical therapist assistants examination provider certified by the Department. An applicant who has failed to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants by or on the fifth attempt, regardless of the jurisdiction through which the examination was taken, is precluded from licensure.

(2) An applicant who has been educated in a foreign country may demonstrate minimum qualifications by providing the following:

A certified copy of the credential evaluation used by the physical therapist assistant licensing board of another state.  The evaluation must be on the appropriate coursework tool (CWT) adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and reflect the education criteria in place at the time of graduation; and

Proof of 1000 clinical practice hours each year in the United States for five (5) out of the last ten (10) years;

Full-time teaching of physical therapist assistant education may count toward 250 of the 1000 required practice hours per year.

An applicant who has failed to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants by or on the fifth attempt, regardless of the jurisdiction through which the examination was taken, is precluded from licensure.

Rulemaking Authority 486.025, 486.107(1) FS. Law Implemented 486.107(1) FS. History–New 8-6-84, Formerly 21M-10.26, Amended 5-18-86, Formerly 21M-10.026, 21MM-4.004, 61F11-4.004, 59Y-4.004, Amended 7-11-02, 11-11-02, 12-5-04, 4-9-06, 5-21-09, 9-28-09, 9-23-10,12-17-12,__________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Physical Therapy Practice

NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Physical Therapy Practice

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: November 1-2, 2012

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: June 1, 2012