Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Executive Summary

Executive Summary Physical Therapy Licensure Compact

Developed by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) with assistance from advisory team comprised of member states.

Definitions:

"Member state" – a state that is participating in the Compact.
"Home state" – the member state that is the licensee’s primary state of residence.
"Remote state" – a member state, other than the home state where a licensee is seeking to exercise the compact privilege.
"Licensee" – PT or PTA
"Compact privilege" – the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee to practice or work as a PT or PTA.

The Compact will not go into effect until 10 member states approve the Compact. A Compact Commission will administer the Compact. Each member state will have one voting delegate on the Commission. The first 10 states to enact the Compact will establish the initial rules regarding administration and fees.

Under the Compact, a licensee can work or practice in any member state if they maintain a valid license or certificate in their home state, and:

They have not been disciplined in the last two years; and
There is no encumbrance on their license/certificate.

A licensee who is active military or a spouse of active military may designate one of the following as their home state:

Home of record;
Permanent Change of Station (PCS);
State of current residence, if different that home of record or PCS.

A licensee working under a compact privilege in a remote state must:

Notify the Compact Commission of intent to seek the compact privilege;
Take the Jurisprudence Exam for the remote state they intend to practice/work in;
Pay all applicable fees associated with the compact privilege;
Adhere to all standards of practice and ethical requirements of the remote state when providing physical therapy services;
Notify the Compact Commission of any disciplinary action within 30 days.

If a licensee is disciplined or has their license encumbered, the licensee will lose the compact privilege for all member states for two years, or whenever the encumbrance is lifted, whichever is longer.

Remote state has authority to discipline and encumber licensee’s compact privilege.
Loss of compact privilege does not prevent the licensee from obtaining a license in the remote state under normal licensure procedures.
Home state retains authority to discipline licensee for any action.

Compact Commission will maintain database and report all individuals working under a compact privilege and notify member states of any disciplinary actions.

Example #1

North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana are member states.
Rob lives/is licensed in Montana.
Rob may practice in Montana (due to his license) and also practice in South Dakota (due to his compact privilege).
Rob moves to North Dakota.
As the Compact requires that a PT must be licensed in her/his “home state” (i.e., "licensee’s primary state of residence"), Rob must now apply for/receive a North Dakota license in order to meet continuing eligibility for a compact privilege in South Dakota.

Example #2

South Dakota, and Montana are member states.
Ramona lives/is licensed in Montana.
Ramona may practice in Montana (due to her license) and also practice in South Dakota (due to her compact privilege).
Ramona moves to North Dakota – not a member state.
Ramona may no longer practice in South Dakota on the privilege, as she is not entitled to a privilege under the Compact when her home state is not a member state.
As long as Ramona continues to live in North Dakota, and as long as North Dakota remains a non-member state, Ramona may continue to practice in Montana, but she may only practice in North Dakota and/or South Dakota if she applies for and is granted an individual state license.

Example #3

Montana and North Dakota are member states.
Avery lives/is licensed in Montana.
Avery has a compact privilege in North Dakota.
Avery fails to timely complete Montana’s continuing competency requirements, and Montana takes disciplinary action against his license.
Avery's privilege in North Dakota (and in all other party states) is withdrawn for 2 years.
Avery still wants to practice in North Dakota.
Avery may still apply for licensure in North Dakota, which retains the option of granting an individual state license notwithstanding the disciplinary action taken in Montana.

Example #4

Janice lives/is licensed in North Dakota, a member state.
Janice has a compact privilege in Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
While working on her privilege in Montana, Janice is investigated and disciplined in Montana for submitting false claims.
Montana notifies the Commission of adverse action taken against Janice’s privilege. The Commission notifies Wyoming, and Nebraska that Janice’s privilege has been withdrawn for 2 years.
Commission also notifies North Dakota, which takes action against Janice’s license for 3 years.
Janice is now ineligible for a compact privilege in any member state for 3 years.

Example #5

North Dakota, District of Columbia, and Maryland are member states.
Patrick holds a current license in Ohio which is not a member state.
Patrick is a military spouse where the:
- Permanent Change of Station ("PCS") post is in Virginia.
- Home of record is North Dakota.
- Current residence is West Virginia.
Patrick wants to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Patrick may use North Dakota as his "home state," apply for/receive a North Dakota license, and then receive the Compact Privilege in Maryland and DC.