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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

AIDS Education and Training

How do I get AIDS/HIV training?

Application Process

How much is the application fee? 
How long does the application process take?
If I have a student-issued transcript, can I send that with my application?
If I'm licensed in another state, can I begin practicing once you have my application?

Continuing Competency/Continuing Education:

How many hours of Continuing Competency/Continuing Education am I required to report and when:
Does the Board pre-approve continuing education courses?
Can I get an extension of time to complete my continuing education?
What happens if I am audited?

Foreign Trained Physical Therapists

How long does the application process take?
What credentials evaluation agencies does Washington accept? 

Interim Permits

Under my graduate interim permit, can I have more than one sponsoring physical therapist?

License Verification

What is the process for having a verification of my Washington physical therapy license sent to another jurisdiction?

Renewal Process

How much is my renewal fee?
How long does the renewal process take?
 
AIDS Education and Training

How do I get AIDS/HIV training?

A minimum of seven hours of AIDS education and training is required for physical therapy licensure in Washington State. 
Information on the availability of HIV/AIDS courses or the AIDS curriculum can be obtained though the following: 
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/HIV/Prevention/training/default.htm

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Application Process

How much is the application fee? 

The application fee can be found on the Physical Therapy fee page located at:

How long does the application process take?

You can get the most current application processing times on our Web page.

Applications requiring board review may not be considered until the next regularly scheduled board meeting. The board meets approximately every six weeks. You can view the board meeting schedule on our Web page.

If I have a student-issued transcript, can I send that with my application?

No. All required documentation must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Department of Health, Board of Physical Therapy, P.O. Box 47877, Olympia, WA  98504-7877.

If I'm licensed in another state, can I begin practicing once you have my application?

No.  You must have a valid Washington physical therapy license before practicing as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

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Continuing Competency/Continuing Education

How many hours am I required to report and when?

To renew a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license, you must have 40 hours of continuing education and 200 hours of physical therapy employment every two years. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must have completed this requirement by their birthdate every two years. The continuing education and employment hours must have been obtained during the preceding two years, from birthdate to birthdate.  If you are reporting this year, any CE that was obtained before your birthdate two years ago or after your current birthdate, cannot be used to satisfy the continuing education or employment requirement. The expiration date for all credentials is the practitioner's birthday.

Does the Board pre-approve continuing education courses?

The Board does not pre-approve continuing education courses for presenters or licensees.  Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may only report continuing education courses that are specifically relating to the practice of physical therapy.  Continuing education courses must also have specified goals and objectives. 

Can I get an extension of time to complete my continuing education? 

Extensions may be granted for emergency situations only.  It is not advisable to wait until the CE is due to request the extension.  If you have exhausted all possibilities for fulfilling your continuing competency requirements and are contemplating requesting an extension, keep in mind that: 

  • Requests could take six weeks or longer.  If your license is set to expire before your request can be considered, you can't practice without an active license.

  • If your request is denied, you will still have to complete the 40 hours CE/200 hours employment prior to your expiration date.

  • If an extension is granted, you must complete all past due requirements in addition to the 40 hours CE/200 hours employment required for the next renewal cycle.

  • The Board grants extensions of time to complete continuing competency requirements only for extenuating circumstances. 

    Examples of circumstances the Board does not consider to be extenuating are:

    • Employer no longer pays for CE/limited personal funds.
    • Childcare/pregnancy.
    • Living outside the U.S.
    • Course was cancelled - not enough time to find another.
    • Working in a state that doesn't require CE.
    • Recently divorced.

What happens if I am audited?

The Board audits a percentage of all currently licensed physical therapists and licensed physical therapist assistants to ensure compliance with the continuing competency requirements.

If audited, you will be required to provide:

  • Certificates of completion

  • Course sponsors

  • Goals and Objectives for the course

  • Dates of attendance

  • Contact hours earned

  • Two-page synopsis for all cassette tape, video tape and book reviews.

  • Course description/syllabus and exam scores for correspondence courses

  • Proof of 200 hours of physical therapy employment.

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Foreign Trained Physical Therapists

How long does the application process take?

You can find application processing times on our application status Web page.

What credentials evaluation agencies does Washington accept? 

The Board of Physical Therapy recognizes only the following credential evaluation services. These companies provide reports directly to the Board. The Board requires each credential evaluation service to complete the FCCPT Coursework Evaluation Tool.

International Credentialing Associates, Inc. (ICA)
10801 Starkey Rd, Suite 104
Seminole, FL  33777
1-727-549-8555 FAX 1-727-549-8554

http://www.icaworld.com/

Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy, Inc. (FCCPT)
124 West Street South, 3rd Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-1917
1-703-684-8406

http:/www.fccpt.org

International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD)
3600 Market Street, Suite 450
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651
1-215-222-8454, ext. 510 FAX 1-215-349-0026

http://icdeval.com/

International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
PO Box 3665
Culver City, CA 90231-3665
1-310-258-9451

http://www.ierf.org/

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Interim Permits

Under my graduate interim permit, can I have more than one sponsoring physical therapist?

Yes.  The law requires you to be directly supervised, including co-signature of notes, by a licensed physical therapist.  Some interim permit holders work at more than one facility.  You may be sponsored by as many supervising physical therapists as you need.

License Verification

What is the process for having a verification of my Washington physical therapist or physical therapy assistant license sent to another jurisdiction? 

Submit a written request and the verification fee with a check or money order made payable to:

            Department of Health
            Board of Physical Therapy
            P. O. Box 1099
            Olympia, WA  98507-1099

Renewal Process

How much is my renewal fee? 

If you renew on or before your birthdate, pay the annual fee.
If you renew after your birthdate, pay the renewal and late penalty fees.

Late penalty fees are not waived.

How long does the renewal process take?

Renewal notices are mailed 6-8 weeks before your expiration date to allow enough time to process.  It is important to remit payment immediately to ensure that your license will be delivered on or before your expiration date.  It is against the law to work without a current license and you are required to post a copy of the license in a conspicuous location at your work site. 

It is important to plan ahead.  With more than 4,300 licensed physical therapists in Washington, the Board is not able to fax copies of licenses or provide written verification for those who renew late.

You can go to our application status Web page for further information.

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Washington State Department of Health
Health Professions & Facilities
243 & 310 Israel Rd SE
P.O. Box 47865
Olympia, Washington, 98504-7865

Last Update : 01/30/2012 04:21 PM
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