Under which condition can a license be issued without passing the NPTE?

A license can be issued without passing the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) when an individual has completed an education program in a non-licensing country. This situation is often addressed in states that recognize foreign-trained practitioners, considering their education as sufficient for eligibility for licensure despite not taking the NPTE.

In many jurisdictions, the Board can grant a license on the basis of evaluation of foreign credentials and the competencies acquired during education abroad, which may adhere to the standards required in Ohio. This recognizes the diversity in physical therapy training globally, thus enabling skilled practitioners from other countries to practice in Ohio, even if they have not taken the NPTE.

Other scenarios, such as passing the CBPT exam or proof of practice in another state, may lead to specific exceptions or registrations in different jurisdictions but do not necessarily fulfill the requirements set by Ohio law with respect to the NPTE. Therefore, completing an education program in a non-licensing country stands as a unique pathway to licensure under specific conditions.