Mississippi

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability

SEC. 73-23-53. Temporary license.

In order to obtain a temporary license the individual must fit the following criteria:

• have not taken the licensure exam yet, or
• have taken the exam but have not yet received the scores
• once the exam results are received the individual must pass, if not their temporary license is revoked and they cannot be issued another temporary license, they must pass the exam to received their next license
• the individual must fit the 3 criteria set for obtaining a license, which are listed in the section below
• if a licensed PT is moving into Mississippi they are able to get a 60 day temporary hospital while they are waiting for their Mississippi licensure to come through

A temporary license is only valid for 90 days and during that 90 day time period the individual must be under direct (face to face oversite at regular intervals) supervision of a licensed PT and that must documented and on file with the board before the temporary license is granted.

If a temporary license is desired by an individual coming from a foreign country they must be proficient in English and meet the 4 criteria which are listed in the section below.

Requirements for License

SEC. 73-23-47. Licensing requirements; licensing examination for physical therapists.

An individual wanting to obtain a license must have the following:

• good moral character
  
• graduated from an accredited physical therapy program
  
• paid the application fee
  

The licensure exam may include an oral and/or practical portion, but is at the discretion of the board.

SEC. 73-23-51. Licensing of physical therapists or physical therapist assistants trained in another state; licensing of physical therapists trained in foreign country; examination requirements

If an individual is moving into Mississippi and can prove they passed an examination in another state that was issued by a similar examining agency or state board, they will be able to obtain licensure for Mississippi without taking another exam.

If an individual as trained in a foreign country they must have the following to obtain a license:

• good moral character
• have a diploma obtained from an institute approved by the board
• evidence of professional education equivalent to the applicant that is applying for licensure within the states
• demonstrate proficiency in the English language

Physical Therapy Students

SEC. 73-23-39. Persons permitted to practice without license; terms.

Students must be under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist.  Direct, on-site supervision is considered direct, face to face oversite at regular intervals.

Continued Competence

There is a yearly requirement of 24 hours of continuing education, or 2.4 CEU's.  The year spans from July 1st-June 30th every year and there is no carry over of CEU's beyond 2.4 earned in one year time frame.

There are two requirements for the 24 hours of continuing education:

• at least 6 hours must be directly related to the clinical practice
• at least 2 hours must be used on board approved ethics/professional responsibility programs

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?

SEC. 73-23-33. Definitions.

The Act does not appear restrictive.  The following is a description of what Mississippi's practice act states the following:

The "practice of physical therapy" means the practice of the health specialty and encompasses physical therapy evaluation, treatment planning, treatment administration, instruction and consultative services, including:

• Performing and interpreting tests and measurements as an aid to physical therapy treatment, for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical condition and to prevent the development of any physical or mental disability within the scope of physical therapy; and the performance of neuromuscular-skeletal tests and measurements as an aid in diagnosis, evaluation or determination of the existence of and the extent of any body malfunction;
• Planning initial and subsequent treatment programs, on the basis of test findings; and
  
• Administering treatment by therapeutic exercise, neurodevelopmental procedures, therapeutic massage, mechanical devices and therapeutic agents which employ the physical, chemical and other properties of air, water, heat, cold, electricity, sound and radiant energy for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical condition or preventing the development of any physical or mental disability. The use of roentgen rays and radium for any purpose, and the use of electricity for surgical purposes including cauterization, are not part of physical therapy;
  

References

Click below to be directed to Mississippi's Physical Therapy Practice Act

<http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/73/023/index.htm />

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.