4. What must be received?
Please see the OT Act and Rules and the OT Application page for information regarding required items.
3. Do all items have to arrive together?
No. You are only entered in our system when we receive your application. All other items are entered as they arrive and are processed. The last item received is usually the NBCOT exam score. After the last required item is received, the license may be issued, but it must be approved before it will be […]
2. How long does it take to get a license?
A license may be issued within 1-4 days of receiving all the required items and then the license must be approved; these times are approximate and may vary.
1. What is patient abandonment, and how do I avoid it?
There are three basic elements that must be present in a situation for it to constitute abandonment: You have accepted responsibility for a patient’s care, i.e., you are the PT or PTA treating the patient, or the PT supervising the PTA treating the patient; The patient still needs care (i.e., has not been discharged); and […]
1. Are there special requirements for foreign trained applicants?
No. All requirements must be met. If you are presently licensed in another state and have not taken and passed the NBCOT exam, this is a requirement. Any applicant must take and pass the NBCOT Exam and have the score reported to Texas.
2. What can I do with a temporary license?
Legally, you can do anything a person with a permanent license can do if you have the appropriate training and competence – but you must have onsite supervision by a licensed PT. Home Health is not an option for a temporary licensee unless you are accompanied on each visit by your supervising PT. See the […]
1. When will I get my temporary license?
You will get a temporary license when you have completed your professional program, have registered to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), have submitted temporary licensee and supervisor affidavits, and have met all of the other requirements for licensure by examination. Effective March 1, 2015 a temporary licensee may begin work on the basis […]
2. Is a continuing competence unit (CCU) the same as a continuing education unit (CEU)?
The Board has defined one contact hour as equal to 1 continuing competence unit (CCU). Continuing Education is one of the activities that a licensee may select to fulfill their continuing competence requirement for renewal. Some course providers are using the terms CCU and CEU interchangeably, while others are still calculating CEUs using the 10:1 […]
1. Does a specialty examination need to be approved for each person who takes the exam?
No. The PT Board maintains a list of specialty examinations that are approved for CC credit. Check the Specialty Examination Pre-Approval List at www.ptot.texas.gov/page/cc-ce to determine if a specialty examination has been approved.