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Department of State: Division of Professional Regulation: Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers

New Licensure - Physical Therapist/Physical Therapist Assistant

HOW TO APPLY FOR AN ORIGINAL DELAWARE PHYSICAL THERAPIST OR PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT LICENSE

These instructions apply to applicants who are filing for an original license as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant by examination. If the applicant holds a current license in another state, please see the instructions for applying by reciprocity.

It is important to follow these instructions carefully. Examination and licensure may be delayed if the applicant submits incomplete forms or submits the forms and/or fees to the wrong addresses.

Requirements for All Applicants

Please submit the following items directly to the Delaware Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers ("the Board") office at the following address:

Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Boulevard
Dover DE 19904

  • Official transcript sent directly from the college or university to the Board office. All of the following conditions must be met:
  • The applicant has already graduated, and
  • The applicants's physical therapy degree is from a school accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), and
  • The physical therapy degree is not a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree.

    • All other applicants, including those who hold a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from a U.S. school, see Additional Requirements for Foreign-Trained Applicants below.

  • If the applicant has not yet graduated, letter from school official stating that the applicant has completed graduation requirements and the expected date of graduation.
  • If the applicant submits a letter from a school official, the applicant must also submit the official transcript showing the degree conferred and date as soon as it is available. No permanent license will be granted until the transcript is submitted

The applicant must also register for the examination. Applicants may register online (see instructions for Registering for the Examination Online below) or by paper (see instructions for Registering for the Examination by Paper below). For general information about the examination, visit the website of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) at www.fsbpt.org.

Registering for the Examination Online

To register online, go to https://www.fsbpt.net/pt and follow the instructions. This is a secure website. If the applicant registers online, the examination fee may be paid by credit card or by certified check or money order.

Registering for the Examination by Paper

Please contact the Board office to obtain the required bubble forms. When the bubble forms are received, complete and sign the FSBPT Application Form for Computerized Testing (purple bubble form). Enclose it with the application and any other forms being sent to the Board office at the address above.

Also, please submit the following items directly to FSBPT at the following address:

FSBPT
124 West Street South
Alexandria, VA 22314

  • completed FSBPT Computerized Testing Payment Information Form (green bubble form),
  • certified check or money order for $350, payable to "FSBPT".
Additional Requirements for Foreign-Trained Applicants

If the applicant received his or her education outside the U.S. at a school that is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the applicant must submit a credential evaluation in addition to the documents above. This requirement applies even if the applicant has received a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy from a U.S. school. The evaluation must be prepared by an agency approved by the Board. The Board currently accepts evaluations from:
  • International Educational Research Foundation Inc.
    www.ierf.org
The credential evaluation should be sent directly to the Board office.

Scheduling the Examination

The Board determines an applicant's eligibility to take the examination, based on educational requirements and other guidelines in state law and regulations.
  • If an applicant is not eligible to take the examination, the applicant will be notified why.
  • If an applicant is eligible to take the examination, the Board office will inform FSBPT. FSBPT will then notify the applicant in writing when it has received both the Board's approval and the applicant's payment. This notification will include instructions on how to schedule the examination.
Information About Temporary Licenses

Applicants may apply for a temporary license to work in Delaware while awaiting permanent licensure. A temporary license is generally in effect for a period of 90 days but will immediately expire if the applicant fails the examination. While under temporary licensure, an applicant must practice under the direct supervision of a Delaware-licensed physical therapist. In addition to all of the requirements above, the applicant's supervising physical therapist must complete a Statement of Supervising Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer, found under "Forms" and send it to the Board office. Submit the temporary license fee with your application. A separate check or money order is preferred. This fee is in addition to the pro-rated processing and examination fees. It is non-refundable.

Notification of Examination Results

FSBPT will send the results of the examination to the Board office. The Board office will notify the applicant of the results in writing.

The written notification of a passing score is not a license to practice. If the applicant passes the examination, the Board will consider the application for licensure during its next meeting. If the application is approved, the Board office will issue the license.

If the applicant fails the examination, the applicant may re-take the examination. The form and instructions for re-testing are sent with the notification that the applicant failed.


Last Updated: Friday, 21-Nov-2008 13:15:00 EST
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