State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Dry Needling Questions

1. If I successfully completed or took a dry needling program or taken continuing education courses in NJ prior to the law that was signed on January 18, 2022, can I practice dry needling in New Jersey when the law becomes effective on April 18, 2022?

   No. The below four requirements must be met in order to practice dry needling in New Jersey.

   1. You will need to satisfactorily complete a board approved dry needling continuing education and competency program that meets the requirements outlined in the law.
   
   
   2. Possess a doctorate in physical therapy from an accredited college or university or has otherwise been actively licensed as a physical therapist in New Jersey since January 1, 2003.
   
   
   3. Have a current CPR certification issued by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or the National Safety Council, Coyne First Aid, Inc., the American Safety and Health Institute, EMP International Inc., or EMS Safety Services, Inc.
   
   
   4. Have no less than two years of active clinical experience in the treatment of patients as a licensed physical therapist in this State and holds a current, unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in this State.

2. Will I need to get a certification from the NJBPTE to be able to perform dry needling in NJ?

   No. The NJBPTE will not be certifying providers of dry needling. The individual licensee will need to ensure they are competent and legally meet the requirements to perform dry needling in NJ as listed above.

3. Must I show the documentation of my education or certification to perform dry needling in NJ if requested by the NJBPTE or any member of the general public?

   Yes. This is specifically outlined in the law and failure to comply with any request shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the physical therapist has not received the required training and shall not be permitted to perform dry needling.

4. Does a physical therapist need a current CPR certification in order to qualify to perform dry needling?

   Yes. A physical therapist must have a current CPR certification issued by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council or any other agency or organization approved by the Board. The agencies and/or organizations approved by the Board are listed on the Board’s website within its approved continuing education course list.
   

General Questions

1. How do I request verification of my New Jersey physical therapist or physical therapist assistant's license?

   The fee for licensure verification is $40.00. You should email physicaltherapy@dca.njoag.gov. Please include in your email the email address of the State Board in which you are requesting that a verification be emailed. The Board office will invoice you for the verification fee by email and will provide you with instructions on how to pay this fee online or by mail.
   

2. How do I request a duplicate license?

   The fee for a duplicate license is $25.00. You should email physicaltherapy@dca.njoag.gov. The Board office will invoice you for the duplicate license fee by email and will provide you with instructions on how to pay this fee online or by mail. Once payment is confirmed, you will be notified by email when you should expected your duplicate license in the mail.
   

3. When must I notify the Board of a change of address?

   New Jersey licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any change in the address on file with the Board and must specify whether the address is a residence or employment address.

4. How do I notify the Board that my name has changed?

   Send an email to physicaltherapy@dca.njoag.gov and attach, as a PDF, a copy of the marriage license or court order that authorized the legal name change.
   

Continuing Education Questions

1. When and where do I send my continuing education certificates of completion?

   Do not send documentation to the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners unless you receive an official continuing education audit letter. If your name is selected at random to be audited, you will then be provided with specific instructions and you will have 14 days from receipt of the continuing education audit letter to submit all of the pertinent documents to the Board. N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.4(a) requires all licensees to retain continuing education documentation for a period of at least four years following the license renewal.

2. Do I need to complete four credits of jurisprudence and professional ethics during each biennial renewal period?

   Yes. N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.2(a) requires that every licensed physical therapist and physical therapist assistant complete 30 credits of continuing education which must include four credits of jurisprudence and professional ethics for each biennial renewal period.

3. Can the four (4) jurisprudence and professional ethics credits be taken through distance-learning courses such as home study or Internet courses?

   Licensees must complete a 1.5-credit Jurisprudence Assessment Module offered by one of the sponsors listed on the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners' website for the jurisprudence portion of the requirement. Licensees can complete any ethics course (distance learning or live) of 2.5 credits or more to meet the four-credit jurisprudence and professional ethics requirement.

4. How many credits can be obtained from distance learning courses such as home study or Internet courses?

   A maximum of 10 of the mandatory 30 continuing education credits from any or all of the following:

   1. Videotape, audiotape, computer media, Internet, journal, or correspondence courses, programs or seminars: a maximum of 10 credits per course, program or seminar. The course, program or seminar shall include an examination at its end.
   
   
   2. Programs or seminars consisting of hands-on demonstrations of instrumentation when accompanied by didactic lectures: one-half credit for each hour of attendance.
   
   
   3. Preparation and presentation of a Board-approved continuing education course, program or seminar: two credits for each hour of new presentation up to a maximum of 10 credits. For purposes of this subsection, 'new' means a course, program or seminar that the licensee has not taught previously in any educational setting. One credit for each hour of a presentation shall be given for subsequent sessions involving substantially identical subject matter up to a maximum of 10 credits, provided the original material has been updated and subject to the credit limits of N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.3.
   
   
   4. Preparation of an educational or scientific article authored and published in a professional refereed journal: three credits per article as approved by the Board.
   
   
   5. Courses, programs or seminars in physical therapy practice management: one credit for each hour of attendance.
   
   
5. If I am currently enrolled in a physical therapy program earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, can these credits count towards the continuing education requirement?

   Yes. A licensee can receive 15 credits for each course credit awarded from the successful completion of a post-graduate course in a physical therapy program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree. Such programs must be in institutions of higher learning, which are accredited by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation or their approved agencies. To earn continuing education credits, the course must be taken and completed within the appropriate biennial period.

6. If I was licensed during the first year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every even year through January 31st of every odd year), how many continuing education credits do I need to complete before my license expires?

   You must complete a minimum of 15 of the 30 required credits of continuing education for that biennial renewal period. You will not need to complete another Jurisprudence Assessment Module for the first renewal of your license if you have already completed a Jurisprudence Assessment Module for licensure. You will, however, need to complete a professional ethics course of 2.5 credits or more.

7. If I was licensed during the second year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every odd year through January 31^st of every even year), how many continuing education credits do I need to complete before my license expires?

   You are exempt from completing continuing education credits for that biennial renewal period. (N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9.2(b))

8. How many credits can I obtain from completing a CPR course?

   You can obtain 2 credits for successfully completing an initial CPR course or a re-certification CPR course. If you are audited, you will be required to provide a copy of your current CPR card as verification and/or proof of attendance.

9. Are there courses other than the courses listed on the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners approval list that I can take and obtain continuing education credits?

   Yes. The New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners currently accepts courses sponsored by the National American Physical Therapy Association and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.

10. Are live webinars considered distance-learning courses such as home study or Internet courses?

    Live webinars are not considered distance-learning courses. Live webinars are considered contact courses (synchronous distance-learning activities) if they are a live, didactic-learning experience where the instructor and learner are in direct live communication during the course.

11. If I complete a jurisprudence course other than a Jurisprudence Assessment Module, will those continuing education credits fulfill the mandatory jurisprudence requirement?

    No. Only the completion of a Board-approved Jurisprudence Assessment Module will satisfy the mandatory jurisprudence requirement. If you complete any other jurisprudence course approved by the Board, it will count towards the remaining 26 required continuing education credits.

12. If I took a course that is not pre-approved by the Board, can I obtain continuing education credits for that course?

    If you are selected to participate in the continuing education audit, you can submit courses that have not been pre-approved by the Board and the Board will determine at that time (when you are audited) whether the course or courses meet the requirements as set for tin N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9 et seq. and may be granted credit. Courses that are not pre-approved by the Board are not guaranteed to be granted continuing education credit. You should not submit courses that are not pre-approved by the Board for the Board to review unless you are audited.

    If you take a course that is not pre-approved, you should contact the course sponsor and ask for a copy of the course information including the course outline, bibliography, references and the Curriculum Vitae of the speaker or speakers as the information will be necessary for the Board to determine whether the course meets the requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 13:39A-9 et seq. Please review the application that sponsors complete when they request an approval of a course to ensure that you are obtaining all the necessary information (Only sponsors submit this application. Not Licensees). The application form can be found at http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/pt/Pages/applications.aspx.

Advertising Questions

1. Can a physical therapist advertise his or her certification in a specialty area?

   Yes. Any licensed physical therapist advertising certification in a specialty area must possess certification by a certifying entity and must maintain documentary proof of certification from the entity as part of his or her records. A licensed physical therapist who advertises a specialty certification shall include the full name of the certification and the certifying entity in any advertisement and must not use initials or acronyms for the certification or certifying entity. For example, a licensed physical therapist who indicates that he or she is an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist certified by the American Board of Physical Therapists in an advertisement may use the abbreviations O.C.S. and A.B.P.T. only after the full names are used first and the abbreviation has been noted following the full name, otherwise the abbreviation or acronym may not be used.

2. Can an academic degree be advertised?

   Yes. A licensee shall use the designation 'physical therapist' or 'physical therapist assistant' or the abbreviation 'P.T.' or 'P.T.A.' in conjunction with the use of his or her name and license number. Academic degree designations may be placed after the licensee's name and designation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:39A-8.5(b).

Renewal Procedure Questions

1. How often must a license as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant be renewed?

   The renewal period is biennial. All physical therapy and physical therapist assistant licenses expire every two years on January 31 of any even-numbered year, regardless of the date of initial licensure.

2. Can a license be placed on ?inactive? status?

   Yes. The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licenses can be placed on inactive status by checking 'yes' for the appropriate question on the biennial renewal application, or by sending a written request to the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. However, be advised that placing your license on inactive status means that you may not practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in the State of New Jersey.

3. How can a license be reactivated?

   In order to reactivate a license, a reinstatement application must be requested directly from the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Upon receipt of a letter requesting the application, the reinstatement application and the relevant instructions will be mailed. The applicant is required to present satisfactory proof that he or she has maintained proficiency by completing the continuing education credit hours required for the renewal of an active license. N.J.A.C. 13:39A-5A.2(b) requires that a person who seeks to reactivate his or her license shall complete 30 credits of continuing education per biennial renewal period that the licensee has been on inactive status up to a maximum of 60 credits.

Licensure Questions

1. Must I be a citizen of the United States to be eligible for licensure?

   No. New Jersey State law allows for all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, to obtain a professional or occupational license in New Jersey if all requirements for licensure are met. Individuals with undocumented status are eligible for licensure and a social security number is not required for licensure.
   

2. Can an individual with a physical therapy degree or with the education of a physical therapist qualify for a license as a physical therapist assistant?

   No. Licensing requirements for a physical therapist assistant include having completed a two-year physical therapist assistant program and completion of all clinical education requirements for graduation from a physical therapist assistant program from an accredited college or university approved for the education and training of physical therapist assistants by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education (N.J.A.C. 13:39A-5.2).

3. Does an individual with a master's degree in exercise and sports science qualify for a physical therapist license?

   No. Licensing requirements for a physical therapist include possessing a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy from an accredited college or university and having completed all of the clinical education requirements necessary for graduation from a physical therapy program approved for the education and training of physical therapists by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council of Post Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

4. What is the fee for a physical therapist license?

   If a physical therapist applicant is eligible for a license during the first year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every even year through January 31st of every odd year), the fee for a license is $110.00.

   If a physical therapist applicant is eligible for a license during the second year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every odd year through January 31st of every even year), the fee for a license is $55.00.

   Once an applicant is determined to be eligible for a license, the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners will notify the applicant and at that time the applicant can submit the licensure fee.

5. What is the fee for a physical therapist assistant license?

   If a physical therapist assistant applicant is eligible for a license during the first year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every even year through January 31st of every odd year), the fee for a license is $100.00.

   If a physical therapist assistant applicant is eligible for a license during the second year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every odd year through January 31st of every even year), the fee for a license is $50.00.

   Once an applicant is determined to be eligible for a license, the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners will notify the applicant and at that time the applicant can submit the licensure fee.

Other Questions

1. How often do re-evaluations need to be performed?

   The State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners' statutes and regulations do not address timeframes in which a re-evaluation should be performed. Based on the patient's plan of care, it is within the professional judgment of the physical therapist to determine when a re-evaluation should be performed. Payers or facilities may have their own policies regarding timeframes for re-evaluations.

2. What are the regulations regarding supervision of students in the clinical setting?

   N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.19 permits "any student enrolled in a school or post-graduate course of physical therapy or in a course of study for training as a physical therapist assistant that is approved or recognized by the board from performing physical therapy or acting as a physical therapist assistant, as appropriate, which is necessary to his course of study.? Students must have direct supervision by a licensed physical therapist and the physical therapist must abide by the statutes and regulations governing the practice of physical therapy in the State of New Jersey. The supervising physical therapist is ultimately responsible for all of the treatment provided by the student.

3. Can a physical therapist assistant perform joint mobilizations?

   The State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners? statutes and regulations do not prohibit physical therapists from delegating this procedure. It is the physical therapist's responsibility to delegate appropriately provided the physical therapist assistant is sufficiently trained. A physical therapist is prohibited from delegating the evaluation of the patient to a physical therapist assistant. The delegation of this procedure may not be appropriate if a patient requires continual evaluation.

4. Is a physical therapist permitted to take an order from a physician concerning a patient's medication and to educate a patient regarding a medication in terms of its use, indications and contraindications?

   A physical therapist may relay the physician's direction to the patient and document the physician's direction in the patient's record. A physical therapist may educate a patient concerning his/her medication as long as it relates to the practice of physical therapy. For example, a physical therapist may explain how the patient's medication may interact with the patient's physical therapy treatment. The global education on medications is beyond the scope of practice of physical therapy. Any questions that are beyond the reaction of a medication in relation to physical therapy should be referred to a physician or another appropriate health care provider.

5. Can a physical therapist be employed by a corporation on other business entity?

   Yes. Regardless of the business structure of the entity, a physical therapist must act independently in his or her practice of physical therapy including but not limited to the types of physical therapy services rendered, billing for those physical therapy services, and setting his or her fee schedule. A physical therapist must at all times adhere to statutes and regulations governing his or her practice as a physical therapist in the State of New Jersey including but not limited to N.J.S.A. 45:9-37.21 Division of fees, payments for referrals and Permitted licensees, natural person; regulations and N.J.S.A. 14A-17-1 Professional Service Corporation Act.

6. Can a physical therapist perform electromygraphy or nerve conduction studies?

   No. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:9-5.2 Needle electromyography, interpretation restricted to physicians, surgeons, only medical physicians and surgeons can perform eletromyography. N.J.S.A. 45:9-5.2 also states that a person shall not interpret evoked potentials or nerve conduction studies unless that person is licensed to practice medicine and surgery.

7. Can I request for a waiver of the Test of English as a Foreign Language?

   Yes. You can request that the Board waive the requirement to retake the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if you have taken the TOEFL for another State board, educational institution or credential evaluation agency and achieved the passing scores required for New Jersey licensure on that TOEFL exam but your scores are expired and/or it has been more than two years immediately preceding the filing of your application for licensure. You would need to write a letter to the Board identifying the hardship that it would entail if you needed to retake the TOEFL and achieve the passing scores again. You would also need to request that the State board, educational institution or credential evaluation agency provide the Board with a certified true copy of your passing scores. The Board will not accept scores provided by an applicant. All applicants who received their entry level physical therapy degree from a foreign educational program that is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education must pass all sections of the TOEFL in one attempt (best scores from several attempts are not accepted). A passing score on the TOEFL or TOEFL IBT examination shall be a score of at least 22 on the writing section, at least 24 on the speaking section, at least 21 on the listening section and at least 22 on the reading section.
   

Licensing Questions

1. What is jurisdiction approval?

   Jurisdiction approval is the licensing authority's (State that you applied for licensure) approval of your eligibility to take the National Physical Therapy Examination.

2. How do I receive my Authorization to Test letter?

   The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy will send you an authorization to test letter once it receives jurisdiction approval from the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

3. Can I complete the criminal history background check process before I submit an application for licensure?

   No. All applicants must submit an application first. Once the application has been processed, the applicant will receive a letter providing him or her with information on how to be fingerprinted.

4. What is the fee for a physical therapist license?

   If a physical therapist applicant is eligible for a license during the first year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every even year through January 31st of every odd year), the fee for a license is $110.00.

   If a physical therapist applicant is eligible for a license during the second year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every odd year through January 31st of every even year), the fee for a license is $55.00.

   Once an applicant is determined to be eligible for a license, the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners will notify the applicant and at that time the applicant can submit the licensure fee.

5. What is the fee for a physical therapist assistant license?

   If a physical therapist assistant applicant is eligible for a license during the second year of the biennial renewal period (February 1st of every odd year through January 31st of every even year), the fee for a license is $50.00.

   Once an applicant is determined to be eligible for a license, the New Jersey State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners will notify the applicant and at that time the applicant can submit the licensure fee.

6. Am I eligible to apply for a physical therapist assistant license if I have a physical therapy degree or am educated as a physical therapist?

   No. Licensing requirements for a physical therapist assistant include having completed a two-year physical therapist assistant program and all clinical education requirements for graduation form a physical therapist assistant program from an accredited college or university approved for the education and training of physical therapist assistants by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. N.J.A.C. 13:39A-5.2

7. Am I eligible to apply for a physical therapist license if I have a master's degree in exercise and sports science?

   No. Licensing requirements for a physical therapist include possessing a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy from an accredited college or university and having completed all clinical education requirements necessary for graduation from a physical therapy program approved for the education and training of physical therapists by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council of Post Secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

8. If I received my first professional physical therapy degree from a school/university in a country other than the United States of American, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada except Quebec Province, Australia, or Zealand but also received a post-professional degree from a school/university in the United States of America, must I take and pass TOEFL?

   Yes, you must take and pass each section of TOEFL.