(a)(1) Any person who is a graduate of a school of physical therapy approved by the Board of Examiners for Physical Therapists, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, or has successfully completed requirements for graduation from such school, shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a physical therapist upon the payment of a fee of two hundred eighty-five dollars. The Department of Public Health, with the consent of the board, shall determine the subject matter of such examination, which shall be designed to show proficiency in physical therapy and related subjects, and shall determine whether such examination shall be written, oral or practical, or a combination thereof. Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the board. Warning of such examination shall be given by the department not less than two weeks in advance of the date set for the examination. If the applicant passes such examination, the department shall issue to such applicant a license to practice physical therapy.

(2) Any person who is a graduate of a physical therapy or physical therapy assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy shall be eligible for examination for licensure as a physical therapist assistant upon the payment of a fee of one hundred ninety dollars. The department, with the consent of the board, shall determine the subject matter of such examination, which shall be designed to show proficiency in physical therapy and related subjects, and shall determine whether such examination shall be written, oral or practical, or a combination thereof. Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the board. Warning of such examination shall be given by the department not less than two weeks in advance of the date set for the examination. If the applicant passes such examination, the department shall issue to such applicant a physical therapist assistant license. Any applicant for examination for licensure as a physical therapy assistant whose application is based on a diploma issued to such applicant by a foreign physical therapy school shall furnish documentary evidence, satisfactory to the department, that the requirements for graduation are similar to or higher than those required of graduates of approved United States schools of physical therapy.

(b) (1) Any person who is a graduate of an approved United States physical therapy school and who has filed an application with the department may practice as a physical therapist under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed physical therapist in this state for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days after the date of application. If the person practicing pursuant to this subdivision fails to pass the licensure examination, all privileges under this subdivision shall automatically cease.

(2) Any person who is a graduate of an approved United States physical therapist assistant school or an approved physical therapy school and who has filed an application with the department may practice as a physical therapist assistant under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed physical therapist in this state for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days after the date of application. If the person practicing pursuant to this subdivision fails to pass the licensure examination, all privileges under this subdivision shall automatically cease.

(c) Any applicant under this section who fails to pass the examination prescribed by the department with the consent of the board may take a subsequent examination on payment of an additional application fee.

(1949 Rev., S. 4402; 1953, S. 2206d; 1959, P.A. 575, S. 2; 616, S. 21; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 48; P.A. 73-579, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 384, 610; P.A. 81-473, S. 16, 43; P.A. 89-251, S. 79, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 00-226, S. 13, 20; P.A. 04-221, S. 2, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 189.)

History: 1959 acts made one who has completed requirements for graduation eligible for examination and increased fee from $20 to $25; 1971 act increased examination fee to $30; P.A. 73-579 allowed practice of therapy under direction of person licensed to practice osteopathy and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re practice before taking examination and reexamination of those who fail on first examination; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services and required consent of health services commissioner for contents of examination, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 81-473 changed criteria for licensure and powers of board and department to conform with changes made with respect to other health professions under the sunset review process begun in 1980 and deleted reference to practice as a physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physician; P.A. 89-251 set the examination fee at $225, where previously fee was determined by department with board's consent; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-226 made technical changes and added provisions re physical therapy assistant examination, licensure and practice, effective the later of October 1, 2000, or the date notice is published by the Commissioner of Public Health in the Connecticut Law Journal indicating that the licensing of athletic trainers and physical therapist assistants is being implemented by the commissioner, i.e. April 11, 2006; P.A. 04-221 amended Subsec. (b) by limiting the time allowed for practice pending examination results to 120 days and making conforming changes; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee from $225 to $285 in Subdiv. (1) and to increase fee from $150 to $190 in Subdiv. (2).

See Sec. 19a-88 re annual renewal of licenses.