FAQ for Supervisors of Provisional Licensees

What is the supervisory request form?

  • The supervisory request form is for new graduates from CAPTE-accredited PT and PTA programs who have submitted a complete application and are only waiting to take the NPTE to request a provisional license in order to begin practicing.


What is a provisional license?

  • A provisional license allows a new graduate pending examination to practice physical therapy in the state of Louisiana for 90 days. Once a provisional license expires, it cannot be extended.


What does supervision of a new graduate who is provisionally licensed entail?

  • Daily face-to-face communication between one board-approved supervisor and the provisional license holder; (§330.B(1))
  • On premises, as defined in §123, observation of patient care by board-approved supervisors in the provisional licensee’s approved practice location(s), a minimum of 2 hours per day with a minimum total of 10 hours per week; and (§330.B(2))
  • Availability of the supervisor at all times to provide advice to the provisional license holder and to the patient during physical therapy treatment given by the provisional license holder. (§330.B(3))


What about supervising PTAs?

  • A PTA holding a provisional license pending examination shall engage in the practice of physical therapy under the supervision of a board approved supervisor. The PTA applicant holding a provisional license shall receive continuous supervision as defined in §123. (§330.C.)

What if I’m out of the office for any reason? How does this affect supervision of the provisional licensee?

  • §330.D.(1) says that if you are absent for five or fewer consecutive days, another PT in good standing may supervise in your place. In such a case, the substitute PT is not required to be approved by the board; however, the board designated supervisor, the substitute supervisor, and the supervised individual, shall be held accountable for the care provided by those supervised.
  • §330.D.(2) says if you are absent for more than five days, the board-approved clinical supervisor of the CAPTE graduate pending examination provisional licensee shall send a written request to the Executive Director for approval of a substitute supervising physical therapist during his period of absence. The substitution can only occur once written approval is provided by the executive director to the designated supervisor. A written request should be in the form of a new supervisory request form.


The new graduate I plan to hire has finished their PT/PTA program. When can their provisional license be issued?

  • Before a new graduate can be issued a provisional license, a full application must be received, minus an exam score as they are pending examination. This includes a cleared background check. A background check that includes any past history may delay the issuance of a license depending upon the nature of the history. The board will not disclose any background check information to anyone but the applicant. 

When should the supervisory request form be submitted for the new graduate to receive a provisional license?

  • A supervisory request form for a provisional license must be submitted to the board office no less than 5 business days prior to the requested issue date. The supervisor and the new graduate should read the form together and be sure of the requested issue date they enter. The Licensing Analyst will grant the provisional license via email on the day prior to the entered start date, or the Friday before if the start date is a Monday.


The new graduate I’m hiring is uncertain whether they have turned in all the appropriate paperwork. What should they do?

  • First, they should log into their board account and review their New Applicant Checklist. As the board office receives documentation, the Licensing Analyst will update the checklist accordingly. If the information is sufficient, it will be marked as complete. If more information is needed, a note will be left. If the applicant has questions after first reviewing the checklist, they should then reach out to the Licensing Analyst to inquire.


The new grad hire still has questions and asked me to contact the Board for them. Can I do that?

  • The Board office is limited in the amount of information they can release regarding an applicant’s application. If the employer has questions regarding an applicant’s status, it’s best to direct the applicant to check their New Applicant Checklist. We ask that employers empower their new hires to reach out to the board office to inquire when they have questions that can’t be answered by the checklist.


My facility requires that new hires be licensed for their onboarding. Is that possible for a provisional licensee?

  • Yes, the supervisory request form includes two date lines: 1) Requested provisional issue date and 2) date the applicant will begin practicing. These dates may be the same for some applicants. They may be different for others, especially when an individual is required to be licensed for pre-employment onboarding. Please read the form carefully and select your dates accordingly.


The provisional licensee I agreed to supervise is needed sooner. Can you expedite their provisional license and issue it tomorrow?

  • Unfortunately, no. The policy is that all requests should be submitted no fewer than 5 business days prior to the requested issue date. During graduation seasons especially, the board office receives a large number of provisional requests and they are put in order based upon requested issue dates. All requests will be processed timely.


We originally entered the provisional license start date for a month from now and we just want to move up the issue date by two weeks. Is that possible?

  • As long as the new date is no less than 5 business days from the requested issue date, yes, you can submit a new supervisory request form with a different date.


I’d like to send my new graduate hire to a different clinic location to work. Does the board office require any new paperwork?

  • Yes. A supervisory request form must be submitted for each location where a provisional licensee will be practicing, and also a form for each supervisor.


My new graduate hire did not pass the exam on their first attempt. Can they get an extension on their provisional license?

  • No. Per §172.B, a provisional license shall be issued for 90 days. No more than one such provisional license shall be issued to an applicant.


Is there anything else I should know before agreeing to hire/supervise a new graduate?

  • Read over the supervisory request form and review the Practice Act and Rules. Make sure you’re aware of your personal responsibilities and those of your supervisee.

 

Have additional questions? Please direct all licensure questions to the Licensing Analyst, Danielle Linzer, at Danielle@laptboard.org.