SB2382 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 16068 AMC 41694 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2382

Introduced 2/3/2004, by Antonio Munoz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 90/8	from Ch. 111, par. 4258
225 ILCS 90/8.1	from Ch. 111, par. 4258.1

Amends the Illinois Physical Therapy Act. Makes changes in the educational requirements for licensure as a physical therapist and a physical therapist assistants. Provides that the programs of study must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (rather than approved by the Department). Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning professional regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Physical Therapy Act is amended by changing Sections 8 and 8.1 as follows:

(225 ILCS 90/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 4258)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 8. Qualifications for licensure as a Physical Therapist.

(a) A person is qualified to receive a license as a physical therapist if that person has applied in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees, and meets all of the following requirements:

(1) He or she is at least 18 years of age and of good moral character. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to a license.

(2) He or she must have a post-baccalaureate degree from a college or university physical therapy education program approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. A person who graduated from a physical therapy program outside the United States or its territories must submit evidence that his or her educational background is substantially equivalent to a post-baccalaureate degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education approved physical therapy educational program and conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. He or she has graduated from a curriculum in physical therapy approved by the Department. In approving a curriculum in physical therapy, the Department shall consider, but not be bound by, accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. A person who graduated from a physical therapy program outside the United States or its territories shall have his or her degree validated as equivalent to a physical therapy degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. The Department may establish by rule a method for the completion of course deficiencies.

(3) He or she has passed an examination approved by the Department to determine his fitness for practice as a physical therapist, or is entitled to be licensed without examination as provided in Sections 10 and 11 of this Act. A person who graduated from a physical therapy program outside the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English shall submit certification of passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) as defined by rule prior to taking the licensure examination.

(b) The Department reserves the right and may request a personal interview of an applicant before the Committee to further evaluate his or her qualifications for a license.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(225 ILCS 90/8.1) (from Ch. 111, par. 4258.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 8.1. Qualifications for licensure as a physical therapist assistant. A person is qualified to receive a license as a physical therapist assistant if that person has applied in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees and:

(1) Is at least 18 years of age and of good moral character. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to a license;

(2) Has graduated from a 2 year college-level physical therapist therapy assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. A person who graduated from a physical therapy assistant program outside the United States or its territories must submit evidence that his or her educational background is substantially equivalent to a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education program and conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. approved by the Department. In approving such a physical therapist assistant program the Department shall consider but not be bound by accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Any person who graduated from a physical therapy assistant program outside the United States or its territories shall have his or her degree validated as equivalent to a physical therapy assistant degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. The Department may establish by rule a method for the completion of course deficiencies; and

(3) Has successfully completed the examination authorized by the Department. A person who graduated from a physical therapy assistant program outside the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English shall submit certification of passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) as defined by rule prior to taking the licensure examination.

(Source: P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.