Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for license without a social security number? If not, how can I receive my visa so that I can obtain an SSN if I can’t apply for licensure?

• You MUST have a social security number to apply for licensure in the state of Indiana. (844 IAC 6-3-6) For information on obtaining your visa, you will need to contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or on the web at http://www.ssa.gov/

What degree do I need to obtain to qualify for licensure? (US Graduates)

• To qualify for licensure as a Physical Therapist, you must have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in Physical Therapy from an approved school. To qualify for certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant, you must have obtained an Associates Degree in Physical Therapy Assisting from an approved school. You must hold a degree for the license that you are seeking (i.e. a degree in Physical Therapy does not qualify you for the Physical Therapy Assistant certification.)

If I am a foreign graduate and my degree is in physical therapy. I would like to apply for the physical therapist assistant certification. Does the state of Indiana allow this? 

• Yes, but you must have a credential evaluation completed which will indicate that your education is equivalent to the PTA degree received in the US.

I am a foreign graduate for physical therapy assistant. Can I apply for licensure in your state?

• Yes. You will need to have a credential evaluation completed which would indicate that your education is equivalent to the PTA degree received in the US.

Can I apply before I receive my social security number?

• No. All applicants must have a SSN prior to submitting an application for licensure as a PT or PTA.  If your application is received without a SSN, it will not be processed and it will be returned to you.

Will the State of Indiana accept an AIN instead of a social security number?

• No.  There are no exceptions to the SSN requirement.

Who do I contact to have a credentials evaluation completed? (foreign graduate)

• There are four companies that the state of Indiana has approved to complete the credential evaluations for foreign Physical Therapists. Only one company is approved to complete the evaluation for PTA applicants (FCCPT). A list of these approved credentialing services is available here.

Can I send in my Credentialing Evaluation that was done more than 3 months ago?

• Yes, however the evaluation cannot be over six (6) months old. If the evaluation is over six (6) months old, the applicant must submit a statement from the evaluation service that indicates that if the evaluation was completed today (present time) the information would not change and the education would still be considered “substantially equivalent” to that of the first professional degree in Physical Therapy in the United States.

Can I send in my Credentialing Evaluation that was done for another state?

• No. The evaluation must have been completed specifically for the state of Indiana.

How many times can I take the exam?

• Effective July 1^st, 2019, pursuant to Senate Enrolled Act 586, prohibits an applicant for a license as a physical therapist or a certificate as a physical therapy assistant from taking the respective examination more than six (6) times. 
  Beginning on January 1st, 2016, FSBPT will enforce a lifetime limit policy on exams and will also enforce a low score limit. Please go to www.fsbpt.org/SecondaryPages/ExamCandidates/NationalExam(NPTE)/EligibilityRequirements.aspx for additional information. Here is some other information to consider regarding the exam. 844 IAC 6-3-2(c) states: For an applicant who has failed to pass the examination, in this state or any other state, the following apply:
  1. After the first attempt, the applicant may retake the examination at their first available opportunity.
  2. After the second attempt, the applicant must wait at least 90 days before reapplying to take the examination.
  3. After the third or subsequent attempt, the applicant must wait at least 180 days before reapplying to take the licensure examination

How many supervisors can I have? Do they have to be in the building?

• When referring to a Physical Therapist that holds a temporary permit or a Physical Therapist Assistant, you may have more than one supervisor, however each supervisor must attest that he/she will provide direct supervision and he/she will be absolutely responsible for the direction and the actions of the person supervised when services are performed. Direct Supervision is defined in 844 IAC 6-1-2 which states:
  1. "Direct supervision" means that the supervising physical therapist or physician at all times shall be available and under all circumstances shall be absolutely responsible for the direction and the actions of the person supervised when services are performed by the physical therapist's assistant or holder of a temporary permit issued under IC 25-27-1-8
  2. For the holder of a temporary permit issued under IC 25-27-1-8(d), unless the supervising physical therapist or physician is on the premises to provide constant supervision, the holder of a temporary permit shall meet with the physical therapist or physician at least once each working day to review all patients' treatments. This meeting must include the actual presence of the physical therapist or physician and the holder of a temporary permit. The patient's care shall always be the responsibility of the supervising physical therapist or physician.  Reports written by the holder of a temporary permit for inclusion in the patients' record shall be countersigned by the physical therapist or physician who may enter any remarks, revisions, or additions as the physical therapist or physician deems appropriate.  With respect to the supervision of physical therapist's assistants under IC 25-27-1-2(c), unless the supervising physical therapist or physician is on the premises to provide constant supervision, the physical therapist's assistant shall consult with the supervising physical therapist or physician at least once each working day to review all patients' treatments. The supervising physical therapist or physician shall examine each patient not less than:
     1. every fourteen (14) days for inpatients in either a hospital or comprehensive rehabilitation facility;
     2. the earlier of every ninety (90) days or six (6) physical therapy visits for patients in a facility for the mentally retarded (MR) and developmentally disabled (DD) and school system patients; and
     3. the earlier of every thirty (30) days or every fifteen (15) physical therapy visits for all other patients; to review the patients' treatment and progress. If this daily consultation is not face-to-face, the physical therapist or physician may not supervise more than the equivalent of three (3) full-time physical therapist's assistants. A consultation between a supervising physical therapist or a physician and the physical therapist's assistant may be in person, by telephone, or by a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), so long as there is interactive communication concerning patient care

How many CEU’s are required to renew?

• The state of Indiana requires 22 hours (which includes 2 hours of Indiana Ethics and Jurisprudence) renewal for PT’s or PTA’s.

I took the exam in the State of Indiana; however FSBPT is unable to locate my scores. Can you help me?

• We may provide you with your test date, so that FSBPT might be able to locate your scores.

I would like to renew my expired license; which has been expired more than three years. What do I need to do?

• The following is required by the Committee for a licensee who has allowed their license to be expired over three years:
  1. Submit an expired PT/PTA renewal form 
  2. $200.00 fee (the form has the regular late fee, but the reinstatement fee is $200.00)
  3. Letter of work history detailing your employment since your Indiana license expired
  4. Verification of licensure from every state you are or have been licensed in.  (If the applicant does not have a current license in any state, the Committee may require the applicant to retake the national exam prior to renewal)  
  5. Proof of continuing education meeting the minimum of 22 total hours with two hours in ethics and Indiana jurisprudence.
      
• Once received, your file will be reviewed and may require an appearance before the Committee at one of their regularly scheduled meetings.

How do I apply for a license or certificate in the state of Indiana?

• Complete the application and submit it with the fee and other required documentation to the address on the application.

My license has been issued, however I have not received a license in the mail.

• Effective December 1, 2009, the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency no longer issues a pocket card for new licensees.  Once the license is issued, the applicant will receive an email which includes their license number and  instructions on how to order a pocket card or wall certificate from our online service.

I am a licensed physical therapist/physical therapist assistant and was recently married.  How do I get my name changed on my license?

• Licensees can either fax or mail a written request along with a copy of an official name change document (ie. marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.).  If you wish to receive a new pocket card once the name has been changed, please visit our License Express page to purchase a new pocket card which is located at  http://www.in.gov/pla/license.htm.

How do I request a large wall certificate?

• Visit our License Express page to order a wall certificate at http://www.in.gov/pla/license.htm.

I took the licensing exam in another state and failed. Am I eligible for a temporary permit in Indiana?

• No. According to IC 25-27-1-8 (d) (2), an applicant does not qualify for temporary permit if they have previously failed the licensing exam.

I am licensed in the State of Indiana; however I am trying to get licensure in another state.  How do I go about having a verification sent to the other state?

• The State of Indiana no longer completes paper verification of licensure. Please visit our License Express page at http://www.in.gov/pla/license.htm and follow the directions for Digital Certification.  Make sure that you follow the directions very carefully as refunds will not be issued should you fail to save the PDF to your PC prior to closing the application.  You will be required to restart and repay for the certification.

What is the passing score for the State of Indiana?

• The State of Indiana requires a scaled score of 600; which is the same as a converted score of 75.

Does the state of Indiana have an inactive status for PT’s or PTA’s?

• No. You may either renew your license or allow your license to expire. However, should you wish to renew at a later time, your renewal will be subject to renewal requirements based on the length of the license expiration.