SECTION 12. CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY This Compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this Compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this Compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this Compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person
or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this Compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any party state, the Compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the party state affected as to all severable matters. SECTION 5. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD RULES (CHAPTER 490)
CHAPTER 490-1 ORGANIZATION OF BOARD Rule 490-1-.01 Organization of Board
accredited schools and are applying for licensure must submit: 1. Passing scores from the national licensing examination; and 2. Passing scores from examination on the laws governing the practice of physical therapy in Georgia and the rules of the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy; and 3. Official proof of graduation directly from the institution granting the entry level degree in physical therapy or physical therapist assistant indicating the date of graduation. (b) All applicants who graduated from a non-CAPTE accredited school shall provide all of the above information. Additionally, the applicant shall meet the requirements of Board Rule 490-2-.03. (c) Verification of licensure in all states in which the licensure candidate holds a license or has ever held a license may be conducted by board staff. Rule 490-2-.03 Licensure: Foreign-Educated Applicants (1) All applicants who are graduates of educational programs conducted in a foreign country that are not accredited by CAPTE and approved by the Board must submit credentials prescribed by the Board in order to be considered for approval to take the licensing examination. (a) Transcripts must be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Board to determine if the professional instruction is substantially equivalent to that of entry-level United States-educated therapists. The credentialing evaluation agency shall evaluate the transcripts and professional instruction using the most recent Coursework Tool (CWT) adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and send its evaluation and a copy of the official transcript directly to the Board. A list of credentialing agencies approved by the Board shall be included in each application packet. (b) Proof of licensure/certification/registration, that is current and in good standing, to practice physical therapy, or proof of appropriate eligibility to practice physical therapy, in the country of education must be submitted. (c) Verification of licensure/certification/registration in all jurisdictions in which the candidate holds or has ever held a license/certification/registration must be submitted. (d) Applicants educated in a non-English speaking physical therapy program must take and receive a passing score of 89 on the IBT TOEFL to include: a passing score of 22 on the writing section, a passing score of 22 on the reading section, a passing score of 21 on the listening section and a passing score of 24 on the speaking section before being allowed to sit for the licensure examination. Official score results must be submitted to the Board. (e) Applicants educated in an English speaking physical therapy program must have a school official submit an official letter to the Board attesting that the physical therapy curriculum was taught in English.
The Board of Physical Therapy is composed of eight members who are appointed by the Governor. Members of the public may obtain information from the Board and make submissions or requests to the Board by contacting the Joint Secretary of the Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Dr., Macon, GA 31217. Rule 490-1-.02 Officers (1) The Board shall elect annually from its members a president and vice president, who shall have the privilege of re-election. Elections shall be held at the regular December meeting, with officers to preside at the following meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board. (2) The president shall call and preside at all meetings, except that four members may call a meeting, providing all members are adequately notified. (3) The vice president shall call and preside at all meetings in the absence of the president. Rule 490-1-.03 Joint Secretary, Records, Fees The Joint Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings and submit a report at each meeting; be custodian of all records; carry on the official correspondence of the Board; and collect and disburse all fees. CHAPTER 490-2 LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS Rule 490-2-.01 Application For Licensure and Examination (1) A completed application for examination must be submitted and approved prior to taking the examination. (2) Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who plans to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in the State of Georgia must be licensed by the Board or hold a Georgia Compact Privilege issued by the Physical Therapy Compact Commission prior to beginning said practice. (3) All applications for licensure must be complete within the timeframe indicated in the Joint Secretary Rules and/ or policies. All applications not completed within this designated timeframe shall be considered expired and withdrawn. Following expiration of an application, a new application in its entirety, to include all required fees, shall be required for consideration of licensure. (4) All applicants for licensure and examination are also subject to the provisions of O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-19 and 43- 33-18. Rule 490-2-.02 Licensure: Examination All physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are required to submit a completed application, the appropriate fee, and pass an examination for licensure to practice the profession in Georgia except as provided for in O.C.G.A. Sec. 43-33-15. The Board may at its discretion grant a license to an applicant who has previously taken and completed, within the requirements as set by the Board, the examination required. (a) All applicants who are graduates of Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
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