HB2149--PHYSICALTHERAPISTSANDASSISTANTS
SPONSOR: Shields
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
ProfessionalRegistrationandLicensingbyavoteof12to1.
Currently,anindividualapplyingtobelicensedasaphysical
therapistmustprovideevidenceofcompletionofaprogramof
physicaltherapyeducationapprovedasreputablebytheBoardof
theHealingArts.Thisbillallowsfortheapplicanttoprovide
evidenceofeligibilitytograduatefromsuchprogramwithin90
daysinlieuoftheevidenceofcompletionoftheprogram.
Currently,anindividualapplyingtobelicensedasaphysical
therapistassistantmustprovideacertificateofgraduationfrom
anaccreditedhighschooloritsequivalentandevidenceof
completionofanassociatedegreeprogramofphysicaltherapy
educationaccreditedbytheAdvisoryCommissionforPhysical
Therapists. Thisbillallowsfortheapplicanttoprovideevidence
ofeligibilitytograduatefromsuchprogramwithin90daysinlieu
oftheevidenceofcompletionoftheprogram.
Applicantsmustpassanexaminationwithqualitystandard
requirementsestablishedbytheBoardandanyentitycontractedby
theBoardtoadministertheboard-approvedexaminations.
Iftheapplicantfailstheexaminationsixormoretimes,heorshe
isnolongereligibleforlicensure.
PROPONENTS: SupporterssaythatMissouriislosing90%ofits
physicaltherapygraduatesandthiswouldhelpkeepthemin
Missouri. Thiswouldspeeduptheprocessandallownewphysical
therapiststheabilitytoworksoonerafterheorshegraduates.
TestifyingforthebillwereRepresentative Shields,JeffAngus,
ArnieC.AcDienoff,andTeresaBriedwell.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.