Physical therapists treat patients with a physical disability or condition that limits their ability to function. The physical therapist develops treatment plans for patients that increase mobility and reduce pain. In Oregon, the physical therapist must be licensed by the state. The successful candidate must have the appropriate education, credentials and skills. The physical therapy can 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. Therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, athletic facilities, schools and private practices.
Association Group Responsible for providing license
In Oregon, the Oregon 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:
800 NE Oregon St., Suite 407
Portland, OR 97232 – 2187
Email – Physical.Therapy@state.or.us
Phone – (971) 673-0200
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 Oregon 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. The agency should use the “Coursework Evaluation Tool” format in evaluation of the credentials.
Board approved agencies are:
International Credentialing Associates (ICA) – www.icaworld.com
International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF) – www.ierf.org
Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) – www.fccpt.org
International Consultants of Delaware, Inc. (ICD) – www.icdeval.com
English competency: An applicant whose physical therapy education program was taught in a language other than English should satisfactorily complete the TOEFL and TSE with a passing score or above.
Instructions for Registering Online for National Physical Therapy Examinations
Oregon 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 Oregon 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.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST APPLICATION BY ENDORSEMENT
For applicants from other states who hold a current license in another jurisdiction.
Request your NPTE score transfer from the FSBPT at www.fsbpt.net/pt.
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.
Other Information
Fees:
$150 initial examination application fee
License renewal
All physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licenses expire on March 31 of each calendar year. Candidates should renew the application effective April 1 of each year.
Verify Oregon Licensure: It can be viewed on the official website https://hrlb.oregon.gov/ptlb/licenseelookup/
Information about jobs and salary
Job in State: As per data of May 2012 there are 2,340 jobs in OregonState.
Salary: The average mean wage is $79,050. The bottom 10% is at $62,430 and the top 10% is earning a handsome amount of $94,960.
Links for reference
Official Website: http://www.ptboard.state.or.us ; http://www.oregon.gov/PTBrd/Pages/index.aspx
Exam Websites: http://www.fsbpt.org , www.prometric.com/fsbpt