Rhode Island

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

According to Rhode Island's Practice Act, temporary license is available for graduate students.  In order for the student to be eligible to apply, they are required to have graduated from a program accredited by CAPTE and have filed with the Board required documentation and application.  The student will practice under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in Rhode Island.  Documentation completed by the student is required to be signed as G.P.T (Graduate Physical Therapist). The applicant is required to take the licensure exam within 90 days following their graduation date or if they fail to pass the exam, their temporary license will be automatically revoked.   

Requirements for License

Any applicant for licensure shall submit to the Board written evidence on forms furnished by the Department, verified by oath, that said applicant meets all of the following requirements:
a) is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
b) is of good moral character;
c) has graduated from an education program in physical therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or other accrediting agency as approved by the Department in consultation with the Board, in the year of said applicant's graduation; and
d) has passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) or other physical therapy certification examination as approved by the Department in consultation with the Board to determine the applicant’s fitness to engage in the practice of physical therapy. The Board will adopt the criterion-referenced passing point recommended by the Federation (FSBPT).

A license to practice physical therapy may be issued without examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed by examination as a physical therapist under the laws of another state or territory or District of Columbia, if, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant meets the qualifications required of physical therapists in this state. Said applicant must submit thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting of the Board, completed licensure application forms and fee, in accordance with section 4.0 herein, including additional supporting documentation as may be required.
5.2.1 Until such time as a license has been issued, the candidate for licensure by endorsement may not practice as a physical therapist in Rhode Island.

Supervision

Such supervision shall include but not be limited to the following:
8.1.1
8.1.2 8.1.3
8.1.4
A physical therapist shall be present on the premises, and immediately available whenever a physical therapist student is performing treatment procedures or patient- related activities. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall be present on the premises, and immediately available whenever a physical therapist assistant student or supportive personnel is performing treatment procedures or patient-related activities.
A qualified physical therapist must be accessible by telecommunications to the physical therapist assistant at all times while the physical therapist assistant is treating patients.
The physical therapist shall maintain the following written documentation regarding the supervision of a physical therapist assistant:
a) necessary instruction; b) on-site supervision of the physical therapist assistant's performance; c) review of the physical therapist assistant’s documentation; d) a reassessment; and, e) appropriate update of the patient's program and goals.
All of the above shall occur when re-evaluation of the patient is indicated but no less than once during a one (1) month period.
The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall maintain the following written documentation regarding the supervision of supportive personnel:
a) necessary instruction and documented competence; b) line-of-sight supervision of the treatment performed by the supportive
personnel; and c) review of the supportive personnel’s documentation on a daily basis.

8.1.7 No physical therapist assistant and/or supportive personnel shall evaluate new patients admitted for physical therapy service and/or establish a physical therapy treatment program based on the physician's referral or prescription; and
8.1.8 The physical therapist shall discharge such other supervisory activity (ies) as may be deemed appropriate and in accordance with policies and procedures of the health care facility and/or agency.

Physical Therapy Students

The abbreviation "G.P.T." shall be used to identify a "graduate physical therapist."

In case of failure of any applicant to satisfactorily pass an examination such applicant shall be entitled to a re-examination upon submission of an application and fee. 5.3.1 In order to qualify for re-examination after three (3) failures, the applicant must request
a formal meeting with the Board, at which time requirements (consisting of additional coursework and/or training) for re-examination will be determined and must be fulfilled prior to admittance to a future examination.

Graduate Practice
5.5 Every student, upon graduating from a physical therapy school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), who has filed with the Board a completed application with supporting documents for licensure as a physical therapist, may upon receiving a permit from the Department for said application and documents, perform as a physical therapist under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this state.
5.5.1
5.5.2
During this interim period, an applicant shall identify him or herself only as a "graduate physical therapist." The abbreviation G.P.T. shall be used to identify a "graduate physical therapist."
If such an applicant fails to take the examination within ninety (90) days from the effective date of graduate status, without due cause, or fails to pass the examination and receive a license in any state, all aforementioned privileges (see sections 5.5 and 5.5.1) shall automatically cease.
(The provisions of this section 5.5 apply only to students upon graduating from a physical therapist educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
5
of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and do not apply to physical therapists previously licensed under any licensing jurisdiction).

Continued Competence

The physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant is responsible for his/her individual professional development and continued competence in physical therapy. (See references 3 and 5 herein).

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?

7.1 Whenever a patient seeks or receives treatment from a physical therapist without referral from a
doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic, the physical therapist shall:
a) disclose to the patient in writing the scope and limitations of the practice of physical therapy and shall obtain their consent thereto in writing (see reference 5 herein); and
b) refer the patient to such a practitioner within ninety (90) days after the date treatment commenced; provided, however, a physical therapist shall not be required to make such a referral after treatment is concluded.
c) no physical therapist who shall have less than one (1) year clinical experience as a physical therapist shall commence treatment on a patient without a referral from a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic.

References

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Disclaimer:   Informational Content is assimilated from the state practice act is a resource only and should not be considered a  substitute for the content within the state practice act.  All state practice acts can change and it is recommended that you refer to the original resource in the link above.