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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Potter, Cruz, Giraldo, Voas, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2023

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 5-40-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-40 entitled "Physical

Therapists" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-40-7. Licensing of physical therapists.

     (a) By Examination. The applicant is required to pass with a grade determined by the board,

an examination approved by the department in consultation with the board; physical therapists

licensed under the provisions of this chapter on August 31, 1982, shall continue to be licensed.

     (b) Without Examination by Endorsement. A license to practice physical therapy may be

issued without examination to an applicant who has been licensed by examination as a physical

therapist under the laws of another state or territory or District of Columbia, if, in the opinion of

the board, the applicant meets the qualifications required of physical therapists in this state.

     (c)(1) Graduate Practice. Every graduate of a board-approved physical therapy school who

has filed a physical therapy application may, upon receiving a permit from the department of health,

perform as a physical therapist under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this state.

     (2) During this period, the applicant shall identify him or herself only as a “graduate

physical therapist.”

     (3) If the applicant fails to take the examination, as specified in subsection (a), within ninety

(90) days from effective date of graduate status, without cause, or fails to pass the examination and

receive a license, all privileges provided in subsections (c)(1) and (c)(2) automatically cease.

     (4) If an applicant takes and fails to pass the examination, the applicant's privileges shall

be reinstated upon the applicant filing and registering for a second attempt at the next available

scheduled examination; provided, however, the privileges shall automatically cease if the applicant

fails to pass the second examination attempt.

     (d)(1) Foreign-Trained Applicants. If the foreign-trained applicant has successfully met the

requirements of the rules and regulations, the applicant’s credentials shall be accepted by the board.

     (2) Prior to becoming licensed in this state, the foreign-trained applicant must also meet all

of the appropriate requirements described in this section or its equivalent as established in rules and

regulations.

     (e) Sunset provision. The provisions of subsection (c)(4) of this section shall expire three

(3) years from the date of passage and the board shall submit a report addressing said provisions to

the general assembly within six (6) months of its expiration.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and certain provisions would sunset

three (3) years from the date of passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

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     This act would amend the physical therapists' licensing requirement and permit those

applicants who have failed the examination to retain their privileges to practice physical therapy

upon filing and registering for a second attempt at the examination, which privileges would

automatically cease if the applicant fails the second examination. The provisions of this amendment

would expire three (3) years from the date of passage.

     This act would take effect upon passage and certain provisions would sunset three (3) years

from the date of passage.

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