Policy #2 - Examination applications (Board Rule 490-2-.02) (A) Effective November 21, 2011, the Board will make eligible, applicants for licensure by examination upon receipt of proof from either the College / University Registrar, Dean, PT or PTA Program Director at the applicant’s CAPTE- accredited PT / PTA program stating that the applicant has successfully completed the Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant program but is awaiting degree conferment. The Board has provided, as part of the application, a form that must be completed by the appropriate school representative and submitted to the Board. (B) The Board has designated a board member to review all non-CAPTE and all foreign educated examination applications for approval. (C) An applicant that has not passed the national physical therapy examination or the Georgia Jurisprudence examination by the fourth (4th) time will not be allowed to sit for the examination for a 5th time without extensive further study, which may include completing a physical therapy educational program approved by CAPTE or additional coursework as deemed necessary by the Board. (D) Applicants for initial licensure by exam must take and pass the electronic Georgia Jurisprudence Exam the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). (E) After extensive further study, the Board may grant an applicant approval to take the national examination a sixth (6) time in accordance with the lifetime limit eligibility criteria established by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Policy #3 - Endorsement applications (A) The Board has designated a board member to review all non-CAPTE and all foreign educated examination applications for approval. (B) Endorsement applicants who have passed the examination within one (1) year of graduation may apply by examination instead of endorsement and must submit verification of licensure from every state in which they have held a license. (C) All endorsement applicants must take and pass the electronic Georgia Jurisprudence exam. Candidates must register for the exam through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). An applicant who has not passed the Georgia Jurisprudence exam by the 4th time will not be allowed to sit for the exam a 5th time without evidence of completion of additional Jurisprudence coursework as deemed necessary by the Board. Policy #4 - Renewal Applications A renewal applicant who answers “no” to the continuing competency question must provide proof of completion of the continuing competency requirement. Policy #5 - Traineeship (A) The Board has designated a board member to review all non-CAPTE and all foreign educated examination applications for approval. (B) Once Traineeship Supervision is approved, a letter will be sent to the physical therapist approved as the primary supervisor and alternate supervisor that all supervision must be in compliance with board rule 490-2-.04. (C) Board voted to allow for early exit from traineeships once the individual passes the NPTE and the supervisors have submitted documentation showing successful practice under the traineeship. Policy #6 - Reinstatement All licensees who fail to renew their license by the established deadline are placed in “lapsed” status and must apply to reinstate his/her license. Upon discovering that a reinstatement applicant has practiced without a current license, reinstatement may be considered upon the issuance and docketing of a
Public Consent Agreement or Public Reprimand including but not limited to the following: (A) A $25 fine for each day of unlicensed practice; (B) Must take and pass the jurisprudence exam within 6 months of the docket date of the consent agreement or reprimand; and (C) Must report the period of unlicensed practice to their employer(s). Policy #7 - Continuing Competence Policy (A) The Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy requires each licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant to participate in a minimum number of thirty (30) clock hours of experience, not to exceed ten (10) credit hours per calendar day, to promote continuing competence (CC) per licensure period. (B) The Board recommends the requirements for competence as planned learning experiences which have content beyond the licensee’s present level of knowledge and competence which may be subject to audit by the board. Content of the experience must relate to patient care in physical therapy whether the subject is research, treatment, documentation, education, management, or some other content area. (C) The thirty (30) hours of continuing competence requirements per biennium shall include a minimum of four (4) contact hours specifically in ethics and jurisprudence as defined in the Georgia Physical Therapy Act or by passage of the Georgia Jurisprudence Examination. Passage of the examination is equivalent to the four (4) hour requirement provided that the individual has not already received credit for the examination when licensure was obtained. Policy #8 - Cognizant Matters/Investigations/Disciplinary Matters (A) In compliance with Georgia law, the Board maintains strict confidentiality of investigations of alleged violations of the Board’s Laws and Rules and the identity of the individuals involved. To this end the Board has adopted the use of a member of the Board to act as Cognizant. The Cognizant member shall have access to all records and documents relating to applications which fall outside of the established guidelines for administrative issuance, complaints and investigations. The Cognizant member shall not disclose information leading to the identity of the involved persons until such time as the Board votes to pursue formal disciplinary action. In addition, all complaints received alleging irregular insurance billing practices will automatically be referred to the Insurance Commissioner’s Office for investigation and to the appropriate agencies for Medicaid and Medicare fraud. (B) Cognizant Review: The board staff shall receive all applications which fall outside of the established guidelines for administrative issuance and complaints of alleged violations of the Board’s laws and rules and present them to the cognizant member. The applicant and/or complainant will be notified in an appropriate time frame of any deficiencies or complaints that have been received by the board office and forwarded to the cognizant member for review and action. The cognizant member shall have the following authority: 1. Review the application with any supporting documentation and issue the license if it is determined that all qualifications have been met. 2. Recommend that the application be reviewed by the full board. 3. Recommend to full board that a complaint be dismissed due to no alleged violation of the laws or rules. 4. Refer a complaint directly to the Enforcement Division for investigation. 5. Conduct an investigative interview.
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