(a) To be eligible for a license to act as a physical therapist assistant, the applicant must:

(1) Submit an application to the board;

(2) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(3) Be of good moral character;

(4) Have graduated from a two-year college level education program for physical therapist assistants which meets the standards established by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and the board;

(5) Have passed the examination approved by the board for a license to act as a physical therapist assistant;

(6) Not be an alcohol or drug abuser, as these terms are defined in section eleven, article one-a, chapter twenty-seven of this code: Provided, That an applicant in an active recovery process, which may, in the discretion of the board, be evidenced by participation in a twelve-step program or other similar group or process, may be considered;

(7) Not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction within ten years preceding the date of application for license which conviction remains unreversed;

(8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in any jurisdiction if the offense for which he or she was convicted related to the practice of physical therapy, which conviction remains unreversed; and

(10) Meet any other requirements established by the board.

(b) A physical therapist assistant shall use the letters "PTA" immediately following his or her name to designate licensure under this article.

(c) A license to act as a physical therapist assistant issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, is considered a license issued under this article: Provided, That a person holding a license issued prior to July 1, 2010, must renew the license pursuant to the provisions of this article.