(225 ILCS 90/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 4258)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031)
    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) The person is at least 21 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) The person 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 the person's 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) The person has passed an examination approved by
    
the Department to determine the person's 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 Board to further evaluate the applicant's qualifications for a license.
(Source: P.A. 104-154, eff. 1-1-26.)