Iowa

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

645—200.3(147) Requirements for practice prior to licensure. Rescinded IAB 12/19/07, effective
1/23/08.

In order to recieve a license, one must first succesfully pass the NPTE board.  One may not practice prior to licensure.

Requirements for License

645—200.2(147) Requirements for licensure. The following criteria shall apply to licensure:
200.2(1) Applicants must complete a board-approved application packed (http://www.idph.state.ia.us/licensure) which is available online or at the board office.  Applications shall be sent to:

Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Professional Licensure Division

Fifth Floor, Lucas State Office Building

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

200.2(2) The application will not be reviewed by the board if it is not completed correctly.

200.2(3) Turn in appropriate fees (check or money order) Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy with application. The fees are nonrefundable.

200.2(4) Application will not be considered until the board recieves official copies of academic transcripts from a PT program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board.  The accredited program must be completed.

200.2(5) The board will send a notification of eligibility for the examination to the applicant.

200.2(6) Have the examination score sent directly from the testing service to the board.

200.2(7) Licensees who were issued their initial licenses within six months prior to the renewal date
shall not be required to renew their licenses until the renewal date two years later.

200.2(8) Incomplete applications that have been on file in the board office for more than two years
shall be:
a. Considered invalid and shall be destroyed; or
b. Maintained upon written request of the candidate. The candidate is responsible for requesting

b. Maintained upon written request of the candidate. The candidate is responsible for requesting
that the file be maintained.

645—200.4(147) Examination requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist
assistants. The following criteria shall apply to the written examination(s):

200.4(1) The applicant shall take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) or
other nationally recognized equivalent examination as defined by the board.

200.4(2) The applicant shall abide by the following criteria:
a. For examinations taken prior to July 1, 1994, satisfactory completion shall be defined as
receiving an overall examination score exceeding 1.5 standard deviations below the national average.
b. For examinations completed after July 1, 1994, satisfactory completion shall be defined as
receiving an overall examination score equal to or greater than the criterion-referenced passing point
recommended by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

200.4(3) Following 3 attempts to pass the board, a student may be approved for additional testing after demonstrating evidecne of completing additional coursework.

200.4(4) The applicant shall be notified by the board in writing of examination results.

645—200.5(147) Educational qualifications.

200.5(1) The applicant must present proof of meeting the following requirements for licensure as a
physical therapist or physical therapist assistant:
a. Educational requirements—physical therapists. Physical therapists shall graduate from a
physical therapy program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board.
(1) If the degree is granted on or before January 31, 2004, the degree must be equivalent to at least
a baccalaureate degree.
(2) If the degree is granted on or after February 1, 2004, the degree must be equivalent to a
postbaccalaureate degree.
b. Educational requirements—physical therapist assistants. Physical therapist assistants shall
graduate from a PTA program accredited by a national accreditation agency approved by the board.

Continued Competence

645—203.2(148A) Continuing education requirements.

203.2(1)The biennial continuing education compliance period shall extend for a two-year period
that begins on the sixteenth day of the birth month and ends two years later on the fifteenth day of the
birth month.

a. Requirements for physical therapist licensees. Every 2 years, each person who is licensed to
practice as a physical therapist in this state is required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of
continuing education approved by the board.  At least 20 of these hours must be clinical in nature.
b. Requirements for physical therapist assistant licensees. Every 2 years, each person who is
licensed to practice as a physical therapist assistant in this state shall be required to complete a minimum
of 20 hours of continuing education approved by the board.  At least 10 hours must be clinical in
nature.
203.2(2) Requirements of new licensees. If a PT is recieving his/her first liscense, he/she is not required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite.

203.2(3) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a
continuing education activity. These hours must be in accordance with these rules.
203.2(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next biennium except for a
new licensee. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period
may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following
reactivation.
203.2(5) It is the responsibility of each licensee to finance the cost of continuing education.

645—203.3(148A,272C) Standards.
203.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria
is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:
a. Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional
competency of the licensee;
b. Pertains to subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of the profession;
c. Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason
of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program.
At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;
d. Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
e. Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance including:
(1) Date, location, course title, presenter(s);
(2) Number of program contact hours; and
(3) Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course provided by the
course sponsor.

203.3(2) Specific criteria.
a. Licensees may obtain continuing education hours of credit by attending workshops,
conferences, symposiums, electronically transmitted, live interactive conferences, and academic
courses which relate directly to the professional competency of the licensee. Official transcripts
indicating successful completion of academic courses which apply to the field of physical therapy will
be necessary in order to receive the following continuing education credits:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic trimester hour = 12 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours of credit
b. Licensees may obtain continuing education hours of credit by teaching in an approved college,
university, or graduate school. The licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis for the first offering
of a course.
c. Continuing education hours of credit may be granted for any of the following activities not
to exceed a maximum combined total of 20 hours for a physical therapist licensee and 10 hours for a
physical therapist assistant licensee:
(1) Presenting professional programs which meet the criteria listed in this rule. Two hours of credit
will be awarded for each hour of presentation. A course schedule or brochure must be maintained for
audit.
(2) Authoring research or other activities, the results of which are published in a recognized
professional publication. The licensee shall receive 5 hours of credit per page.
(3) Viewing videotaped presentations and electronically transmitted material that have a postcourse
test if the following criteria are met:    

References

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