SECTION 435:20-3-5. Licensure by examination

(a)   Qualifications.

(1)   Any applicant for licensure as a Physical Therapist by examination must meet the criteria of qualifications outlined in (a) through (c) of 435:20-3-1.

(2)   Any applicant for licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant by examination must be a graduate of a program for education of Physical Therapy Assistants accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education or approved successor organization, provided in no event shall the qualifications for licensure be less than those required by 59 O.S. 1971, Section 887.6, as amended.

(b)   Admittance. No person shall be admitted to the examination until satisfactory evidence is submitted to the Board of his/her qualifications to be admitted to such examination.

(c)   Examination dates. Examinations must be taken by the applicant within sixty (60) days of receiving written notice of eligibility to sit for the examination.

(d)   Passing score. In the event the examination used, for either Physical Therapists or Physical Therapist Assistants, is provided by the recognized examination service providing a nationally accepted standardized examination, the candidate will pass based on criterion referenced standards as established by the recognized examination service. This passing point will be set equal to a scaled score of 600 based on a scale ranging from 200 to 800. Prior to March 1993 no criterion referenced scoring system existed; examinations taken prior to March 1993 shall be considered to have passed if his/her raw score on the total examination fell within 1.50 standard deviation below the National Average for the particular examination.

(1)   Applicants who do not pass the examination after the first attempt may retake the examination one additional time without re-application for licensure. This must occur within six months of the Board's receipt of notification of the first failure. Prior to being approved by the Board for subsequent testing beyond two attempts, individuals shall reapply and present evidence satisfactory to the Board of having successfully completed additional clinical training and/or course work as approved by the Board.

(2)   In the event of failure to pass the first examination, the applicant may work under the direct, on the premises supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist for a period not to exceed six months.

(3)   In the event of failure to pass the second examination, the applicant:

(A)   may not practice;

(B)   must meet with the Committee; and

(C)   must submit a new application.

(4)   In the event of failure to pass the third examination, an applicant will not be eligible to re-apply for examination in Oklahoma.

(5)   The applicant may re-take the examination in another state, if the examination is one provided by the Professional Examination Service or another recognized examination service providing a nationally accepted standardized examination and is the same examination service then providing the examination being given in Oklahoma. All scores must be submitted to the Oklahoma Board for evaluation by the Interstate Reporting Service or another nationally recognized reporting service. Failure to make passing scores accepted in Oklahoma on such re-takes will be considered as having failed the re-take examination in Oklahoma.

(6)   Any applicant may be required to make a personal appearance before the Board to discuss individual circumstances at any time.

[Source: Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1227, eff 4-27-92; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1237, eff 5-11-95; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1577, eff 8-21-95 (emergency); Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1707, eff 5-25-96; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 1415, eff 5-12-97; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 3946, eff 7-9-98 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1227, eff 5-14-99; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 976, eff 5-21-03]