COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2749
(By Delegates Staton and Amores)
(Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary)
[February 14, 2003]
A BILL to amend article twenty, chapter thirty of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated section six-a,
relating to reciprocal licensure of physical therapists from
other states or countries.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article twenty, chapter thirty of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section six-a,
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20. PHYSICAL THERAPISTS.
§30-20-6a. Reciprocal licensure of physical therapists from other
states or countries.
(a) The West Virginia physical therapy board may by
reciprocity license physical therapists in this state who have been
legally registered or licensed physical therapist in another state. The board shall by rule, pursuant to section five of this article
establish requirements for reciprocity: Provided, That reciprocity
is not authorized for physical therapists from another state where
that state does not permit reciprocity to physical therapists
licensed in West Virginia.
(b) The board may refuse reciprocity to physical therapists
from another country unless the applicant qualifies under such
rules as may be promulgated by the board for licensure of foreign
applicants: Provided, That if at the time of application, the
applicant holds a valid license from another state, the applicant's
credentials are deemed to meet West Virginia credentialing
criteria, if the applicant's credentials were verified and accepted
by a nationally accredited credentialing board in the state where
the applicant is validly licensed.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.