(1) Before applying for licensure by the board as a physical therapist, a person shall have successfully completed an accredited program in physical therapy approved by the board. No school shall be approved by the board unless it has been approved for the educational preparation of physical therapists by the recognized national accrediting agency for physical therapy educational programs.
(2) Any person who possesses the qualifications required by this chapter and who desires to apply for licensure as a physical therapist in Kentucky shall make written application to the board, on forms to be provided by the board. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee in an amount to be determined by the board, but not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 327.050

  • Board: means the Board of Physical Therapy established by KRS §. See Kentucky Statutes 327.010
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Physical therapist: means a professional person who has met the educational requirements of this chapter and who is licensed to practice physical therapy pursuant to this chapter. See Kentucky Statutes 327.010
  • Physical therapy: means the use of selected knowledge and skills in planning, organizing, and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury, encompassing preventive measures, screening, tests in aid of diagnosis by a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, chiropractic, or podiatry and evaluation and invasive or noninvasive procedures with emphasis on the skeletal system, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary function, as it relates to physical therapy. See Kentucky Statutes 327.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Temporary permit: means a permit granted to an individual who has met all requirements in Kentucky for license application by examination and has made application for examination but who has not yet successfully completed the board approved examination in this or another state. See Kentucky Statutes 327.010
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(3) If it appears from the application that the applicant possesses the qualifications required by this chapter and has not yet successfully completed the board-approved examination, the applicant shall be allowed to sit for the examination and tested in the subjects the board may determine to be necessary.
(4) Examinations shall be held within the state at least once a year at the time and place as the board shall determine.
(5) An applicant who is admitted to the examination or an applicant who has submitted satisfactory evidence that he has been accepted as a candidate for licensure by examination in a state which offers an examination approved by the board may be granted a temporary permit which shall be valid until his examination is graded and he is notified by the board of his score. The board may summarily withdraw a temporary permit upon determination that the person has made any false statement to the board on the application, or the person fails to pass an examination approved by the board.
(6) An applicant who receives a passing score as determined by the board and who meets the other qualifications required by this chapter shall be licensed as a physical therapist.
(7) An applicant who fails to receive a passing score on his examination shall not be licensed, but the board may, by administrative regulation, permit applicants to take the examination more than once.
(8) All licenses and certificates shall be renewed biennially, upon payment on or before March 31 of each uneven-numbered year of a renewal fee in an amount to be promulgated by the board by administrative regulations.
(9) Licenses and certificates which are not renewed by March 31 of each uneven- numbered year shall lapse.
(10) This chapter shall not be construed to affect or prevent:
(a) A student of physical therapy from engaging in clinical practice under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, as part of the student’s educational program;
(b) A physical therapist who is licensed to practice in another state or country from conducting or participating in a clinical residency under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in Kentucky and for a period of not more than
ninety (90) days;
(c) A physical therapist who is licensed to practice in another state or country from conducting or participating in the teaching of physical therapy in connection with an educational program and for a period of not more than ninety (90) days;
(d) A physical therapist licensed in another state or country from performing therapy on members of the out-of-state sports or entertainment group they accompany to Kentucky; or
(e) The practice of chiropractic as defined in KRS § 312.015(3).
Effective: June 24, 2015
History: Amended 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 113, sec. 21, effective June 24, 2015. — Amended
2001 Ky. Acts ch. 61, sec. 13, effective June 21, 2001. — Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 313, sec. 5, effective July 14, 2000. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 160, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994. — Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 443, secs. 12, 25, effective July 13, 1990. — Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 377, sec. 4, effective July 13, 1984. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 72, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1982. — Amended 1980
Ky. Acts ch. 53, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1980. — Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 313, sec. 6, effective June 17, 1978. — Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 115, sec. 5. — Created
1958 Ky. Acts ch. 27, sec. 5, effective June 19, 1958.