Texas Administrative Code

Texas Administrative Code

TITLE 22	EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 16	TEXAS BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINERS
CHAPTER 329	LICENSING PROCEDURE
RULE §329.2	Licensure by Examination

(a) Requirements. An applicant applying for licensure by examination must:

(1) meet the requirements as stated in §329.1 of this title (relating to General Licensure Requirements and Procedures);

(2) register to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and select Texas as the jurisdiction for which the applicant will be testing in order to have the first score report sent to this state; and

(3) pass the NPTE for physical therapists or physical therapist assistants with the score approved by the board. Score reports must be sent directly to the board by the authorized score reporting service.

(b) Re-examination.

(1) An applicant who fails the exam is eligible to take the examination again if all eligibility requirements as set in policy by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) are met.

(2) An applicant can take the exam a maximum of six (6) times.

(3) An applicant who receives two (2) very low scores on the exam (scale scores 400 or below) will not be eligible to test again.

(4) An applicant who has taken the exam six (6) times or received two (2) very low scores may appeal for one (1) additional attempt through the Board for reasons as set in policy by FSBPT.

(5) An applicant can take the exam for PTs six (6) times and also take the exam for PTAs six (6) times if otherwise eligible to do so.

(c) Failure of PT exam. An applicant who fails the physical therapy examination may apply for licensure as a PTA and take the physical therapist assistant examination if he meets all other requirements for licensure.

(d) Exam Accommodations.

(1) Reasonable testing accommodations for an exam candidate with a disability or challenge that is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided for candidates who submit the appropriate documentation through the FSBPT.

(2) Accommodations must be requested at the time of registration for the NPTE.

(e) NPTE Security and Copyright.

(1) An applicant for a license must agree to comply with the security and copyright provision of the NPTE.

(2) The board will report any known violation of the security or copyright provision or a compromise or attempted compromise of the provision to the FSBPT.

Source Note: The provisions of this §329.2 adopted to be effective November 16, 2000, 25 TexReg 11286; amended to be effective August 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 6021; amended to be effective September 18, 2006, 31 TexReg 8000; amended to be effective September 17, 2009, 34 TexReg 6332; amended to be effective October 9, 2011, 36 TexReg 6768; amended to be effective October 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 7751; amended to be effective May 23, 2013, 38 TexReg 3000; amended to be effective January 1, 2016, 40 TexReg 2667; amended to be effective May 23, 2016, 41 TexReg 3695; amended to be effective January 1, 2017, 41 TexReg 9709; amended to be effective March 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 776