The Alabama Legislature created this independent state agency “to ensure that the public is protected from the incompetent practice of physical therapy.”
Board duties include:
- Establishing minimum qualifications for PTAs regarding education and examinations
- Adopting definitions of unlawful and “unbecoming” conduct, and specifying required and prohibited actions
- Launching investigations of practitioners accused of legal or ethical wrongdoing; and punishing offenders with fines, license suspensions, or license revocations
- Determining the accreditation a school must have to qualify as an education provider
- Conducting scheduled and unscheduled inspections of physical therapy establishments
The Alabama governor names seven board members, who must represent all the state’s congressional districts. Four of the officials are licensed physical therapists, two are licensed PTAs, and one is a public member.
Minimum Education Requirements for Physical Therapy Assistant Programs in Alabama
Prospective PTAs need to begin by securing a high school diploma or GED. College-prep courses in science and health are advisable.
Students planning to work in Alabama then must obtain postsecondary education from a school that the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) has approved. Unlike most states, Alabama does not impose curriculum criteria such as the number of clock hours or the subjects taught.
After graduating, the next hurdle is passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and the Alabama Jurisprudence Examination (AJE). The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy administers the tests.
Practicing professionals are required to receive 15 credit hours of continuing education classes each year. Two hours of instruction in Alabama laws is mandated every fifth year. The Physical Therapy Association of Alabama is one board-approved provider of CEUs. Others are core seminars, CAPTE-accredited programs, and CLEAR conference programs.