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11/23/2009PT/PTA License Renewal not Affected by “Out-of-Practice” DefinitionFrom the Physical Therapy Section of the Ohio OT,PT,AT Board
Current Ohio Rules for Physical Therapy require retaking the NPTE by any applicant for PT/PTA licensure by endorsement (coming from another state) or reinstatement (of a license that has lapsed) who has been "out of the practice of physical therapy for a period of five or more years." In order to provide consistency in the administration of this rule and to provide complete information to practitioners, the Physical Therapy Section has proposed rule changes in 2010 to define "out of practice" as "being actively engaged in the practice of physical therapy for fewer than five hundred hours over the five year period prior to the date the applicant submits the endorsement (or reinstatement) application." This time would be equivalent to working an average of one day per month over the five years.
Many licensees have contacted the PT Section expressing a concern that they would not be able to renew an Ohio license without retaking the exam. That is NOT the case. As long as a licensee renews his/her license continually, there is no current requirement for active practice.
Currently the only requirement for license renewal is the completion of approved continuing education. While many state licensure boards and the APTA are exploring a wider variety of methods to demonstrate competence, any such change in Ohio would require legislative action.
Stay tuned to ongoing information about continued competence. And if you take extended time off from working in some physical therapy role, be sure to renew your license before it expires!
For aditional information on PT & PTA regulations, licensure, and testing in Ohio contact: Ohio Licensure Board, Riffe Center, 77 S. High Street, 16th Floor, Columbus OH 43215-6108, phone: 614-466-3774 board@otptat.Ohio.gov
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