ENROLLED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 305
BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 37:2410 and 2424(A) and to enact R.S. 37:2411.1, 2411.2, and
3 2424(D), relative to the practice of physical therapy; to provide for the licensure of
4 foreign graduates; to provide for the licensure of applicants with military training;
5 to establish a continuing education review fee; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 37:2410 and 2424(A) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
8 37:2411.1, 2411.2, and 2424(D) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §2410. Qualifications for license; foreign graduates
10 A graduate of a school of physical therapy outside of the United States may
11 qualify for a license as a physical therapist upon compliance with the provisions of
12 R.S. 37:2409(1), (2), (3), and (4), and (6) as well as with all of the following
13 provisions:
14 (1)(a) Presents in person his original diploma or facsimile, with English
15 translation, from the physical therapy school from which he was graduated, together
16 with a letter of recommendation from the dean or any other senior administrator of
17 that school. Provides satisfactory evidence of successful completion of a foreign
18 physical therapy education curriculum that is substantially equivalent to the
19 requirements for physical therapists educated in accredited physical therapy schools
20 located within the United States.
21 (b) A graduate of a foreign physical therapy education curriculum shall
22 establish substantial equivalence by presenting documentation satisfactory to the
23 board of the successful completion of all of the following:
24 (i) A foreign physical therapy education curriculum accredited by a
25 board-approved accrediting agency containing courses which prepared the applicant
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1 to work as a physical therapist and that is recognized by the educational regulatory
2 authority where the school is located.
3 (ii) A credential evaluation as directed by the board that determines that the
4 candidate has met uniform criteria for educational requirements as further
5 established by board rule.
6 (iii) Any additional education as required by the board.
7 (2) Provides indisputable proof of identity in the form of a valid drivers
8 license and social security card, passport, or as additionally provided as specific by
9 the board and a valid social security number.
10 (3) Presents proof of certification or licensing as a physical therapist in the
11 country where he completed his education. Provides documentation satisfactory to
12 the board of verification of any and all professional or trade licenses, certifications,
13 and permits, past or present, held in any country, province, or state, including the
14 United States, as required by the board.
15 (4) Demonstrates in a personal interview his ability to read, write, speak, and
16 understand English fluently. Achieves a passing score on a board-approved English
17 proficiency examination if the applicant's native language is not English.
18 (5) Obtains from the board a provisional license to engage in supervised
19 clinical practice under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist licensed
20 under this Chapter. The period of supervised clinical practice shall be for at least six
21 months but not more than eighteen months, based on full-time employment, except
22 that the board, in its discretion, may accept part-time employment during the periods
23 of time set forth above as compliance with the requirements for supervised clinical
24 practice. Completes supervised clinical practice requirements as defined by board
25 rule.
26 (6) Presents written evidence satisfactory to the board that he has completed
27 the required period of supervised clinical practice, that he is competent to practice
28 physical therapy, and that he has passed the examination as provided for in R.S.
29 37:2414. Meets all additional requirements established by board rule.
30 * * *
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1 §2411.1. Physical therapist assistant; foreign graduates
2 A graduate of a school of physical therapy assisting outside of the United
3 States may qualify for a license as a physical therapy assistant upon compliance with
4 the provisions of R.S. 37:2411(1), (2), (3), and (5), as well as with all of the
5 following provisions:
6 (1)(a) Provides satisfactory evidence of successful completion of a foreign
7 physical therapy assistant education curriculum that is substantially equivalent to the
8 requirements for physical therapy assistants educated in accredited physical therapy
9 schools located within the United States.
10 (b) A graduate of a foreign physical therapy assistant education curriculum
11 shall establish substantial equivalence by presenting documentation satisfactory to
12 the board of the successful completion of all of the following:
13 (i) A foreign physical therapy assistant education curriculum accredited by
14 a board-approved accrediting agency containing courses which prepared the
15 applicant to work as a physical therapist assistant and that is recognized by the
16 educational regulatory authority where the school is located.
17 (ii) A credentials evaluation as directed by the board that determines that the
18 candidate has met uniform criteria for educational requirements as further
19 established by board rule.
20 (iii) Any additional education as required by the board.
21 (2) Provides indisputable proof of identity as specified by the board.
22 (3) Provides documentation satisfactory to the board of verification of all
23 professional or trade licenses, certifications, and permits, past or present, held in any
24 country, province, or state, including the United States, as required by the board.
25 (4) Achieves a passing score on board-approved English proficiency
26 examinations if the applicant's native language is not English.
27 (5) Completes supervised clinical practice requirements as defined by board
28 rule.
29 (6) Meets all additional requirements established by board rule.
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1 §2411.2. Physical therapist assistant; military training
2 An applicant who has completed a United States armed services program of
3 training not accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board may
4 qualify for a license as a physical therapist assistant upon compliance with the
5 provisions of R.S. 37:2411(1), (2), (3), and (5), as well as with both of the following
6 provisions:
7 (1)(a) Provides satisfactory evidence of successful completion of a United
8 States armed services program of training that is substantially equivalent to the
9 requirements for physical therapist assistants educated in an accredited entry-level
10 program as determined by the board.
11 (b) A physical therapist assistant trained in the United States armed services
12 shall establish substantial equivalence by presenting documentation satisfactory to
13 the board of the successful completion of all of the following:
14 (i) A United States armed services program of training accredited by a
15 board-approved accrediting agency containing courses which prepared the applicant
16 to work as a physical therapist assistant.
17 (ii) A credentials evaluation as directed by the board that determines that the
18 candidate has met uniform criteria for educational requirements as further
19 established by board rule.
20 (iii) Any additional education as required by the board.
21 (2) Meets all additional requirements established by board rule.
22 * * *
23 §2424. Fees; receipts and disbursements
24 A. The board may establish and collect fees, which shall be deposited into
25 the treasury of the board. The fees shall be established by rule adopted in accordance
26 with the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq., and shall not exceed the
27 schedule provided for in Subsection Subsections C and D of this Section.
28 * * *
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1 D.(1) Fees assessed by the board to a course or activity sponsor for board
2 review of a course or activity of continuing education shall not exceed two-hundred
3 fifty dollars.
4 (2) Fees assessed by the board on a licensee for review of a course or activity
5 of continuing education shall not exceed twenty dollars. This fee shall apply only
6 if a licensee intends to earn continuing education credit for a course or activity in
7 which the sponsor has not sought review or obtained approval by the board.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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