334.655. Physical therapist assistant, required age, evidence of character and education, educational requirements--board examination, applications--written examination--examination topics--examinatio - Missouri Statutes

Physical therapist assistant, required age, evidence of character andeducation, educational requirements--board examination,applications--written examination--examinationtopics--examination not required, when.

334.655. 1. A candidate for licensure to practice as a physicaltherapist assistant shall be at least nineteen years of age. A candidateshall furnish evidence of the person's good moral character and of theperson's educational qualifications. The educational requirements forlicensure as a physical therapist assistant are:

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

(2) Satisfactory evidence of completion of an associate degreeprogram of physical therapy education accredited by the commission onaccreditation of physical therapy education.

2. Persons desiring to practice as a physical therapist assistant inthis state shall appear before the board at such time and place as theboard may direct and be examined as to the person's fitness to engage insuch practice. Applications for examination shall be on a form furnishedby the board and shall include evidence satisfactory to the board that theapplicant possesses the qualifications provided in subsection 1 of thissection. Each application shall contain a statement that the statement ismade under oath of affirmation and that its representations are true andcorrect to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing thestatement, subject to the penalties of making a false affidavit ordeclaration.

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

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

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

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

7. A candidate to practice as a physical therapist assistant who doesnot meet the educational qualifications may submit to the board anapplication for examination if such person can furnish written evidence tothe board that the person has been employed in this state for at leastthree of the last five years under the supervision of a licensed physicaltherapist and such person possesses the knowledge and training equivalentto that obtained in an accredited school. The board may license suchpersons pursuant to this subsection until ninety days after rules developedby the state board of healing arts regarding physical therapist assistantlicensing become effective.

(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)

(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.).