Qualifications of physical therapist; examination; rules.

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(a) Be at least 18 years of age.

(b) Be of good moral character as determined by the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy.

(c)(A) Be a graduate of an accredited professional physical therapy education program approved by the board; or

(B) Have military experience or training that the board determines is substantially equivalent to the education required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(d) Pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination approved by the board to determine the fitness of the applicant to practice as a physical therapist or to be entitled to be licensed as provided in ORS 688.080. An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who does not pass the examination on the first attempt may retake the examination as provided by rules adopted by the board.

(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, an applicant for a license as a physical therapist who has been educated outside the United States shall:

(a) Provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant’s physical therapy education program is recognized or accredited and that the applicant’s education is substantially equivalent to the education of physical therapists who graduated from accredited physical therapy education programs approved by the board. If the board determines that the education of an applicant who graduated from a physical therapy education program outside the United States is not substantially equivalent, the board may require the applicant to complete additional course work before the board proceeds with the application process.

(b) Obtain an evaluation of the applicant’s educational credentials by a credentials evaluation agency approved by the board.

(c) Demonstrate proficiency in English if required by the board.

(d) Pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination approved by the board.

(3) If an applicant who has been educated outside the United States is a graduate of an accredited physical therapy education program approved by the board, the board may waive the requirements of subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section. [1959 c.461 §5; 1971 c.585 §4; 1973 c.827 §73; 2005 c.627 §5; 2012 c.43 §15; 2019 c.43 §16]


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