{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-887.6","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-887.6","heading":"Qualifications for license","body":"A. Except as otherwise provided by law, to be eligible for\n\nlicensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant\n\npursuant to the provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act an\n\napplicant shall pass an examination based on standards promulgated\n\nby the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision pursuant to\n\nthe Physical Therapy Practice Act which shall include a written\n\nexamination testing the knowledge of the applicant on:\n\n1. The basic and clinical sciences as they relate to physical\n\ntherapy theory and physical therapy procedures; and\n\n2. Such other subjects as the Board may deem necessary to test\n\nthe applicant's fitness to practice physical therapy or as a\n\nphysical therapist assistant. Examinations shall be held within\n\nthis state at least once per year, at such time and place as the\n\nBoard shall determine.\n\nB. 1. In addition to the requirements provided by subsection A\n\nof this section, and except as provided in paragraph 2 of this\n\nsubsection or subsection D of this section, an applicant for a\n\nlicense to practice as a physical therapist shall have graduated\n\nfrom a school of physical therapy approved by a national accrediting\n\nbody which has been recognized by the Board.\n\n2. An applicant for a license to practice as a physical\n\ntherapist who has been educated through a program or school of\n\nphysical therapy which is or has been sponsored by a branch of the\n\nArmed Forces of the United States may be licensed as a physical\n\ntherapist if the Board determines that the education of the\n\napplicant is substantially equivalent to, or exceeds, the\n\nrequirements of accredited educational programs.\n\nC. 1. In addition to the requirements provided by subsection A\n\nof this section, and except as provided in paragraph 2 of this\n\nsubsection, an applicant for a license to practice as a physical\n\ntherapist assistant shall have graduated from an approved program\n\nfor physical therapist assistants consisting of at least a two-year\n\nprogram approved by a national accrediting body which has been\n\nrecognized by the Board. An approved course of study shall include\n\nsuch elementary and intermediate courses in the anatomical,\n\nbiological, and physical sciences as may be determined by the Board.\n\n2. An applicant for a license to practice as a physical\n\ntherapist assistant who has been educated through a program for\n\nphysical therapist assistants which is or has been sponsored by a\n\nbranch of the Armed Forces of the United States may be licensed as a\n\nphysical therapist assistant if the Board determines that the\n\neducation of the applicant is substantially equivalent to, or\n\nexceeds, the requirements of accredited educational programs.\n\nD. 1. Except as otherwise provided by paragraph 2 of this\n\nsubsection, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who\n\nhas been educated in physical therapy outside the United States\n\nshall meet the following qualifications:\n\na. have completed the application process,\n\nb. provide satisfactory evidence that their education is\n\nsubstantially equivalent to the requirements of\n\nphysical therapists educated in accredited educational\n\nprograms as determined by the Board. If the Board\n\ndetermines that a foreign-educated applicant's\n\neducation is not substantially equivalent, it may\n\nrequire completion of additional course work before\n\nproceeding with the application process,\n\nc. provide written proof that the school of physical\n\ntherapy education is recognized by its own ministry of\n\neducation,\n\nd. provide written proof of authorization to practice as\n\na physical therapist without limitations in the\n\ncountry where the professional education occurred,\n\ne. provide proof of legal authorization to reside and\n\nseek employment in the United States or its\n\nterritories,\n\nf. have their educational credentials evaluated by a\ntion,\n\nd. provide written proof of authorization to practice as\n\na physical therapist without limitations in the\n\ncountry where the professional education occurred,\n\ne. provide proof of legal authorization to reside and\n\nseek employment in the United States or its\n\nterritories,\n\nf. have their educational credentials evaluated by a\n\nBoard-approved credential evaluation agency,\n\ng. have passed the Board-approved English proficiency\n\nexaminations if their native language is not English,\n\nh. have participated in an interim supervised clinical\n\npractice period prior to licensure, which may be\n\nwaived at the discretion of the Board, if:\n\n(1) the applicant for licensure is able to verify the\n\nsuccessful completion of one (1) year of clinical\n\npractice in the United States or the District of\n\nColumbia, or\n\n(2) the applicant is able to document exceptional\n\nexpertise acceptable to the Board in the fields\n\nof research, education, or clinical practice, and\n\ni. have successfully passed the national examination\n\napproved by the Board.\n\n2. If the foreign-educated physical therapist applicant is a\n\ngraduate of a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy education program,\n\nrequirements in subparagraphs b, c, f and h of paragraph 1 of this\n\nsubsection may be waived.\n\nE. When a foreign-educated applicant satisfies the\n\nqualifications for licensure set forth in subparagraphs a through g\n\nof paragraph 1 of subsection D of this section, prior to licensure\n\nthe Board shall issue an interim permit to the applicant for the\n\npurpose of participating in a supervised clinical practice period.\n\nThe time period of an interim permit shall not be less than ninety\n\n(90) days nor more than six (6) months. An interim permit holder,\n\nto the satisfaction of the Board, shall complete a period of\n\nclinical practice under the continuous and immediate supervision of\n\na physical therapist who holds an unrestricted license issued\n\npursuant to the Physical Therapy Practice Act in a facility approved\n\nby the Board.\n\nF. 1. In addition to the requirements provided by subsection A\n\nof this section, the Board may require an applicant for licensure as\n\na physical therapist or physical therapist assistant pursuant to the\n\nprovisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act, as a condition for\n\neligibility for initial licensure, to submit a full set of\n\nfingerprints in a form and manner prescribed by the Board.\n\n2. The Board is authorized to obtain state and national\n\ncriminal history record information on the applicant.\n\n3. The Board shall not disseminate criminal history record\n\ninformation resulting from the background check outside of this\n\nstate.","path":["OK Code","Title 59"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os59.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"004dc5ce7b9cb3eaeb001f0a88f5abb304dfc7f8841f2050c44fb517f6d691b3","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-887.5","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-887.7"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}