(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:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-45-260

  • Board: means the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • 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.
  • On-site supervision: means supervision provided by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who must be:

    (a) continuously on site and present in the department or facility where the supervisee is performing services;

    (b) immediately available to assist the supervisee in the services being performed;

    (c) maintain continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session in which a component of treatment is delegated to the supervisee. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • Person: means an individual. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • Physical therapist: means a person who has met all the conditions of this chapter and is licensed in this State to practice physical therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • Physical therapist assistant: means a person who is licensed by the board to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy and whose activities are supervised and directed by a physical therapist whose license is in good standing. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

(1) an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who has met all of the requirements for licensure under § 40-45-230 except completing the clinical practice hours requirement pursuant to § 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 § 40-45-230 except for completing the official transcript requirement pursuant to § 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.