§ 6742. Special provision. 1. Any person who is employed as a physical therapist assistant in a facility satisfactory to the state board for a period of not less than two years prior to the effective date of this article and who does not qualify for certification under subdivision b of section sixty-seven hundred forty of this article may be certified as a physical therapist assistant upon successful completion of an examination approved by the state board of physical therapy in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.

2. Application for examination for certification pursuant to this section must be submitted not later than January first, nineteen hundred eighty-five. The department shall provide a total of three such examinations. The third examination shall be given not later than April first, nineteen hundred eighty-five. The fee for examination or reexamination shall be twenty-five dollars for each examination. Any person who qualifies for admission to an examination pursuant to this section may practice as a physical therapist assistant in the course of his or her employment in a facility satisfactory to the state board until thirty days after notification of failure to qualify pursuant to this section.

3. Any person who was employed as a physical therapist assistant for at least two years prior to April first, nineteen hundred eighty-one, and who had attained permanent civil service status as a physical therapist assistant prior to that date, shall be issued written authorization from the department to continue working in that capacity without examination. This authorization shall remain in effect until the person leaves the position in which the civil service status had been granted.