How to Become a Physical Therapist in Ohio (OH)

Physical therapists help patients get up and go again following illness or injury. Armed with a deep understanding of how the human body works, physical therapists devise a therapy regimen that puts the patient on the fast track to recovery. An arthritic patient who cannot bend her knees, a war-veteran whose left arm is paralyzed, a young man due to muscle pull in the neck cannot look right or a spondylitis patient whose movement is hindered; all need a physical therapist to cure them so that their physical mobility is restored as a normal person does. Degree programs are available in every state. When choosing a school, students should look at their accreditation.

Association Group Responsible for providing license

In Ohio, the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers (OTPTAT) Board is responsible to issue license to physical therapists. The application process is dependent on whether you are new student, a licensed physical therapist in another state or country.

Mailing Address:

The Physical Therapy Section
Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board.

77 South High Street, 16th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108
Phone (614) 466-3774 Fax (614) 995-0816
Website: http://otptat.ohio.gov
Email: board@otptat.ohio.gov

Application process

For people from United States

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY EXAMINATION 

Eligibility: Applicant must be a graduate of a CAPTE accredited physical therapy educational program, approved by the Ohio Board of Physical Therapy. 

The Board should receive an official transcript in physical therapy from an institution that has been approved for training by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Foreign Trained Applicants: If the applicant has received education outside US at a school which is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the applicant must submit a credential evaluation. The evaluation must be prepared by a Board approved agency.

Board approved agency is:

Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) – www.fccpt.org

A notarized copy of a VisaScreen Certificate, prepared for the applicant by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (CGFNS/ICHP).

English competency: An applicant whose physical therapy education program was taught in a language other than English should satisfactorily complete the TOEFL, TWE and TSE with a passing score or above.

Instructions for Registering Online for National Physical Therapy Examinations

Ohio Board of Physical Therapy is using the FSBT website to allow candidates to register online for NPTE. The website the candidate will follow to get registered is https://www.fsbpt.net/pt . The examination lasts for one day for a period of approximately 5.0 hours. The exam consists of approximately 250 multiple-choice questions. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a computer-based examination given at Prometric Testing Centers.

Once the Ohio Board determines the eligibility based on the educational qualification and other guidelines it will be intimated that candidate can appear for the online examination. The FSBT will send the candidate an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter.

The ATT letter would contain the all important information about the exam schedules

Where to give the exam: The Prometric Testing Center fee must be paid directly to the Prometric Testing Center at the time of scheduling. Please visit www.prometric.com for further details for place and fees.

FSBPT Score Transfer Service is available on the Internet at: http://www.fsbpt.org . This is done to transfer the score directly to the Board.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY ENDORSEMENT 

For applicants from other states who hold a current license in another jurisdiction.

Candidate should enclose verification of licensure in good standing from all jurisdictions in which the applicant has been licensed.

Candidate should send the official transcripts or letter of completion to be mailed to the board office.

Request your NPTE score transfer from the FSBPT at www.fsbpt.net/pt .

Ohio Law (Jurisprudence) exam: To successfully pass in this exam is mandatory for all the candidates to get a license of physical therapist in Ohio.  Candidates are required to complete an Ohio Jurisprudence exam registration and submit the Ohio Jurisprudence exam registration fee directly with FSBPT at https://pt.fsbpt.net .

Candidates should review the Ohio Jurisprudence Examination Candidate Handbook on the Board’s website http://otptat.ohio.gov .

Other Information 

Fees:

Application fees: $100 

License expiration 

Physical Therapist licenses expire on January 31 of even numbered years. 

Verify Ohio Licensure: It can be viewed on the official website www.otptat.ohio.gov

Information about jobs and salary

Job in State: As per data of May 2012 there are 7,270 jobs in OhioState.

Salary: The average mean wage is $80,870. The bottom 10% is at $60,310 and the top 10% is earning a handsome amount of $109,050.

Links for reference

Official Website: www.otptat.ohio.gov

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