Effective 28 Aug 2018

334.655. Physical therapist assistant, evidence of character and education, educational requirements — board examination, applications — written examination — examination topics — examination not required, when. — 1. A candidate for licensure to practice as a physical therapist assistant shall furnish evidence of the person's good moral character and of the person's educational qualifications. The educational requirements for licensure as a physical therapist assistant are:

(1) A certificate of graduation from an accredited high school or its equivalent; and

(2) Satisfactory evidence of completion of an associate degree program of physical therapy education accredited by the commission on accreditation of physical therapy education.

2. Persons desiring to practice as a physical therapist assistant in this state shall appear before the board at such time and place as the board may direct and be examined as to the person's fitness to engage in such practice. Applications for examination shall be on a form furnished by the board and shall include evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant possesses the qualifications provided in subsection 1 of this section. Each application shall contain a statement that the statement is made under oath of affirmation and that its representations are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing the statement, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit or declaration.

3. The examination of qualified candidates for licensure to practice as physical therapist assistants shall embrace an examination which shall cover the curriculum taught in accredited associate degree programs of physical therapy assistant education. Such examination shall be sufficient to test the qualification of the candidates as practitioners.

4. The examination shall include, as related to the human body, the subjects of anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, physiology, psychology, physical therapy theory and procedures as related to medicine and such other subjects, including medical ethics, as the board deems useful to test the fitness of the candidate to practice as a physical therapist assistant.

5. The applicant shall pass a test administered by the board on the laws and rules related to the practice as a physical therapist assistant in this state.

6. The board shall license without examination any legally qualified person who is a resident of this state and who was actively engaged in practice as a physical therapist assistant on August 28, 1993. The board may license such person pursuant to this subsection until ninety days after the effective date of this section.

7. A candidate to practice as a physical therapist assistant who does not meet the educational qualifications may submit to the board an application for examination if such person can furnish written evidence to the board that the person has been employed in this state for at least three of the last five years under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and such person possesses the knowledge and training equivalent to that obtained in an accredited school. The board may license such persons pursuant to this subsection until ninety days after rules developed by the state board of healing arts regarding physical therapist assistant licensing become effective.

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(L. 1996 H.B. 999, A.L. 1997 S.B. 141, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343 merged with S.B. 8 & 173 and S.B. 225, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122 merged with S.B. 1181, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788, A.L. 2018 H.B. 1719)

(2002) Amendment limiting number of times licensing examination can be taken applies retrospectively. State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts v. Boston, 72 S.W.3d 260 (Mo.App.W.D.).