(A) The board shall license as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant an applicant who proves to the satisfaction of the board fitness for licensure under the provisions of this chapter. The board shall issue to a licensee a certificate of licensure, which is prima facie evidence of the right of the person to represent himself or herself as a licensed physical therapist or as a licensed physical therapist assistant.
(B) The board may issue a provisional license to:
(1) an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who has met all of the requirements for licensure under Section 40-45-230 except completing the clinical practice hours requirement pursuant to Section 40-45-220(A)(2)(d);
(2) a person whose physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license has been inactive or lapsed for three years or more and who has applied to reactivate the license;
(3) an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant whose practice needs to be restricted, as determined by the board;
(4) an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has met all of the requirements for licensure under Section 40-45-230 except for completing the official transcript requirement pursuant to Section 40-45-230(B).
A provisional license is valid for up to one year from the date of issue and may not be renewed. A physical therapist holding a provisional license issued pursuant to item (1), (2), or (3) must work under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this State, and a physical therapist assistant holding a provisional license issued pursuant to items (1), (2), or (3) must work under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed in this State. A physical therapist and physical therapist assistant holding a provisional license issued pursuant to item (4) must work under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this State. A provisional licensee shall submit to the board a completed supervisory agreement form for each place of employment.
(C) The board may require an applicant who is not actively engaged in practice as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant to comply with one or more of the following:
(1) complete a certain number of continuing education units;
(2) have supervised practice as specified by the board;
(3) pass a written examination approved by the board.
(D) The board must not issue a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license to an applicant who has failed to achieve a passing score six or more times on a board-approved licensure examination.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 360, Section 1; 2019 Act No. 64 (H.3703), Section 2, eff May 16, 2019.
Editor's Note
Prior Laws:1962 Code Section 56-1348; 1952 (47) 1967; 1971 (57) 405; 1982 Act No. 413, Section 14; 1976 Code Section 40-45-140.
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 64, Section 2, in (D), substituted "six or more times" for "three or more times".
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 45 - Physical Therapists
Section 40-45-5. Application of chapter; conflicts of law.
Section 40-45-10. Board of Physical Therapy Examiners; creation and purpose; membership.
Section 40-45-20. Definitions.
Section 40-45-60. Adoption of rules and regulations; seal.
Section 40-45-70. Additional powers and duties of board.
Section 40-45-80. Investigation of complaints and violations; advisors.
Section 40-45-90. Evidence authorized to be collected for investigative purposes.
Section 40-45-100. Restraining orders and other equitable relief.
Section 40-45-115. Jurisdiction of the board.
Section 40-45-120. Board authority to take disciplinary actions and impose civil penalties.
Section 40-45-140. Denial of license based on prior criminal record.
Section 40-45-150. Voluntary surrender of license by licensee being investigated.
Section 40-45-170. Costs of investigation and prosecution; authority to require payment by violator.
Section 40-45-180. Collection and enforcement provisions for costs and fines.
Section 40-45-190. Confidentiality of proceedings and communications.
Section 40-45-200. Violations of chapter; submission of false information to the board; penalty.
Section 40-45-210. Injunctive relief.
Section 40-45-240. Licensure without examination.
Section 40-45-270. Persons exempt from licensure requirement.
Section 40-45-280. Physical therapy records; responsibility for records; contents; discharge notes.
Section 40-45-290. Physical therapy aides; permissible duties; restrictions.
Section 40-45-330. Severability.
Section 40-45-510. Purpose of compact.
Section 40-45-520. Definitions.
Section 40-45-530. State participation in the compact.
Section 40-45-540. Compact privilege.
Section 40-45-550. Active duty military personnel or their spouses.
Section 40-45-560. Adverse actions.
Section 40-45-570. Establishment of the Physical Therapy Compact Commission.
Section 40-45-580. Data system.
Section 40-45-590. Rulemaking.
Section 40-45-600. Oversight, dispute resolution, and enforcement.