requirements as necessary to effectuate the purpose of this
subsection.
* * *
Section 3. Sections 6(a) introductory paragraph and 9.1(a)
and (c) introductory paragraph of the act are amended to read:
Section 6. Qualifications for License; Examinations; Failure
of Examinations; Licensure Without Examination; Issuing of
License; Foreign Applicants for Licensure; Temporary License;
Perjury.--(a) To be eligible for licensure as a physical
therapist, an applicant must be at least 20 years of age unless
otherwise determined by the board in its discretion, be of good
moral character, not be addicted to the habitual use of alcohol
or narcotics or other habit-forming drugs, and be a graduate of
a school offering an educational program in physical therapy as
adopted by the board, which program has been approved for the
education and training of physical therapists by the appropriate
nationally recognized accrediting agency. In assessing the moral
character of an applicant with a criminal conviction, the board
shall conduct an individualized assessment in accordance with 63
Pa.C.S. § 3113 (relating to consideration of criminal
convictions). An applicant completing the professional study of
physical therapy after 2002 must hold a minimum of a master's
degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher
education. An applicant completing the professional study of
physical therapy between January 1967 and 2002 must hold a
minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education. In the case of those applicants
who have completed requirements prior to the first day of
January, 1967, but who may not technically or totally fulfill
the above requirements, the board at its discretion and by the
majority vote of all members present may accept evidence of
satisfactory equivalence. The board shall not issue a license to
an applicant who has been convicted of a felony under the act of
April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as "The Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," or of an offense
under the laws of another jurisdiction which, if committed in
this Commonwealth, would be a felony under "The Controlled
Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," unless:
* * *
Section 9.1. Physical Therapist Assistant; Education and
Examination; Scope of Duties; Certification.--(a) To be
eligible for certification by the board as a physical therapist
assistant, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age unless
otherwise determined by the board, be of good moral character,
not be addicted to the habitual use of alcohol or narcotics or
other habit-forming drugs, be a graduate of a physical therapist
assistant program adopted by the board, which program has been
approved for the education and training for physical therapist
assistants by the appropriate nationally recognized accrediting
agency and be successful in passing an examination approved by
the board, subject to rules and regulations established by the
2022/90AJB/SB0485A05023 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51