How to Become a Physical Therapist in Maine (ME)

Physical therapy means the evaluation, treatment and instruction of human beings to assist a patient to rehabilitate and gain full use of their bodies after an accident or medical procedure or general health care conditions. A therapist will examine individuals and evaluate strength, range of motion, balance and coordination. From there, the practitioner will develop a plan of action to treat the patient.

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.

Association Group Responsible for providing license

In Maine, the Maine Board of Physical Therapy 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:

Board of Physical Therapy
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME04333-0035
Phone: (207) 624-8689
Fax: (207) 624-8637

Application process

For people from United States

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY EXAMINATION 

Eligibility: The applicant must a graduate of an educational program for the physical therapist that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Commissioner of Education or the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation, or both, and approved by the board.

Foreign Trained Applicants: If the applicant has been trained in another country then he/she must present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has graduated from a school of physical therapy approved or accredited in the country where the school is located and have educational credentials equivalent to those of the United States trained physical therapist.

The applicant submit written proof that the school of physical therapy education is recognized by the ministry of education in the country where the school is located

Submit his or her credentials to an approved agency for evaluation of their equivalence to the United States trained applicant

Applicants trained in another country must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English. If the course work was not taught in English, the applicant must attain a passing score that is recommended by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOELF), on the Test of Spoken English For Professionals (TSE-P), and the Test of Written English (TWE)

Once the applicant is approved and given the consent then he can take the National Physical Therapy Examinations

Instructions for Registering Online for National Physical Therapy Examinations

Maine 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

Once the Maine 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 PrometricTestingCenter fee must be paid directly to the PrometricTestingCenter at the time of scheduling. Please visit www.prometric.com for further details for place and fees.

Fees:

Examination Qualification Fee: $25.00

License fee: $30.00

Criminal background check fee: $21.00

PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY ENDORSEMENT 

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

Submit documentation of official transcripts.

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

Submit verification from every state in which you currently hold or have ever held any type of professional license (except Maine)

The candidate must pass an examination, approved by the board, to determine the applicant’s fitness to practice as a physical therapist. The board may waive the examination requirement for an applicant who is currently licensed in another state by virtue of having previously passed a qualifying examination acceptable to the board, provided that the passing standards for the examination were equivalent to those then required by the law of this State.

Endorsement Fees: $51

Verify Maine Licensure: It can be viewed on the official website http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/physical_therapists/index.htm

Information about jobs and salary

Job in State: As per data of May 2012 there are 1,360 jobs in MaineState.

Salary: The average mean wage is $1,360. The bottom 10% is at $56,210and the top 10% is earning a fairly good amount of $104,650.

Links for reference

Official Website: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/physical_therapists/index.htm

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