(225 ILCS 90/8.1) (from Ch. 111, par. 4258.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 8.1. Qualifications for licensure as a physical therapist assistant. A person is qualified to receive a license as a physical therapist assistant if that person has applied in writing, on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees and:

(1) Is at least 18 years of age and of good moral character. In determining moral character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to a license;

(2) Has graduated from a physical therapist assistant program approved by the Department and attained, at a minimum, an associate's degree from the program. In approving such a physical therapist assistant program the Department shall consider but not be bound by accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Any person who graduated from a physical therapist assistant program outside the United States or its territories shall have his or her degree validated as equivalent to a physical therapy assistant degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. The Department may establish by rule a method for the completion of course deficiencies; and

(3) Has successfully completed the examination authorized by the Department. A person who graduated from a physical therapist assistant program outside the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English shall submit certification of passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English (TSE) as defined by rule prior to taking the licensure examination.

(Source: P.A. 94-651, eff. 1-1-06.)