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The mission of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy is to protect the public by providing service and leadership that promote safe and competent physical therapy practice.
The Federation’s vision is that the organization, which includes 53 physical therapy licensing authorities, will achieve a high level of public protection through a strong foundation of laws and regulatory standards in physical therapy, effective tools and systems to assess entry-level and continuing competence, and public and professional awareness of resources for public protection.
In working to achieve a strong foundation of laws and regulatory standards in physical therapy, the Federation developed the Model Practice Act for Physical Therapy, a tool that jurisdictions can use as they review and update their practice acts, rules and regulations.
We develop, maintain, and administer the National Physical Therapy Examinations for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. We continually research and use the best examination methodology available. We provide the online examination services to jurisdictions, licensees and candidates.
In another move towards sensible uniformity, the jurisdictions agreed to support one passing score on the NPTE; this facilitates mobility of PTs and PTAs across states and at the same time holds all physical therapists beginning practice in the U.S. to the same entry-level standard of competence.
FSBPT is currently involved in a Continuing Competence Initiative. This initiative is developing tools that physical therapy licensing boards can use to evaluate the continuing competence of their licensees as they renew their license or certification. These tools include a jurisprudence exam that ensures that PTs and PTAs know their legal scope of practice; a Practice Review Tool that PTs and PTAs can use to assess their competence in various areas of practice; and a self-assessment tool, Competence Assessment Portfolio (CAP), that helps PTs assess their continuing education needs and develop a portfolio and plan for addressing those needs.
The Federation has developed and validated a Coursework Evaluation Tool (Tool or CWT) for use by its licensing authorities and the credentialing agencies they use. The CWT has been validated as a reliable tool for evaluating whether a foreign educated physical therapist’s education is substantially equivalent to that of a graduate of a U.S. CAPTE-accredited physical therapist school.
We also provide educational programs for our Member Boards and other bodies interested in the effective licensure, regulation, and enforcement in the practice of healthcare professions.
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