How to Become a Physical Therapist in Arkansas (AR)

Physical therapist requirement is a rapidly growing in the health care industry. A physical therapist assists the patient to rehabilitate from a surgery or illness or certain medical conditions. The physical therapy can be of short or long term depending upon the condition and illness of the patient. For a patient who cannot move his neck towards right due to a muscle pull can take only a few sessions. For a patient suffering from a car accident with serious injury may require a very long session to gain his strength to walk.

Association Group Responsible for providing license

The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (ARPTB) gives license for the Physical Therapy in ArkansasState. The application process is dependent on whether the applicant is a new student, a licensed physical therapist in another state or country.

Application process 

For people from United States

Information for new students who consider in becoming a Physical therapist

Students must take a graduation course from a Board approved by physical therapy program at a school, college or university located within the continental United States or its territories. The course should be CAPTE-accredited program.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY EXAMINATION 

NPTE Exam: The Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy (ARPTB) requires that applicants sit for and pass the appropriate National Physical Therapy Examinations (NPTE) as a prerequisite for licensure.

Eligibility: Applicants must be graduates of physical therapy CAPTE-accredited program at a school, college or university located within the continental United States or its territories.

Where to register? Register with FSBPT online at http://www.fsbpt.org

Exam dates: Exam dates are available on the FSBPT website at www.fsbpt.org

Exam Results: ARPTB will mail examination results to the candidates.

SCHEDULING QUESTIONS

These questions are addressed to FSBPT. A listing of PrometricTestingCenter locations is also available on the Internet at www.prometric.com.

For people from other country

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY ENDORSEMENT

English Language Proficiency Tests

If the applicant is non-USA trained, proof of proficiency in the English language, both written and spoken, is required. Passing scores are required as follows: Reading-21, Listening-18, Speaking-26, Writing-24, Total-89. Scores are to be mailed directly to ARPTB from Educational Testing Service. Photocopies of score reports are not acceptable.

Educational Evaluation

Applicants must submit an original evaluation done specifically for Arkansas by a Board approved agency if they are not graduates of a CAPTE-accredited program.

BOARD APPROVED CREDENTIALING AGENCIES

Foreign Credentialing Commission on PT
124 West Street S. 3rd Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-8562
Fax: (703) 684-8715

International Consultants of Delaware, Inc.

3600 Market St., Ste. 450
Philadelphia, PA19104-2651
Phone: 215-222-8454 Ext. 603
Fax: (727) 549-9554

For a complete listing applicants can visit the official website and follow the link. http://www.arptb.org/pdf/credentialing_agencies.pdf

Exam Fees:

$50 processing fee to ARPTB (By Examination)

$1600 processing fee to ARPTB (By Endorsement)

$370.00 exam fee to FSBPT

$70.60 paid to PrometricTestingCenter when test is scheduled (Physical Therapists)

$10 paid online when the jurisprudence exam is taken

JURISPRUDENCE EXAM For all the candidates

It is mandatory to get a passing score on the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy Jurisprudence Exam to get the license.

To take the exam, applicant is requested to log on to the Board’s website at www.arptb.org

Other Information about the exam

Q. What is the passing score for the licensure exam?

A. Passing score on the national licensing examination is the criterion referenced score of 600.

Q. How many times can a candidate sit for the exam?

A. If the appropriate fees are paid, applicants who have failed in the exam can re-take the examination one additional time without re-application for licensure. This examination the candidate must take within six months from the first failure date. Beyond this if the Board finds the candidate has taken additional clinical training and/ or course then only can give him/her permission to again sit for the examination.

Information about jobs and salary

Job in State: As per data of May 2012 there are 1,620 jobs in ArkansasState.

Salary: The average mean wage is $75,640. The bottom 10% is at $45,860 and the top 10% is earning a handsome amount of $ 109,010

Links for reference

Official Website: http://www.arptb.org/licensure/index.html

Exam Websites: http://www.fsbpt.org, www.arptb.org , www.prometric.com