(1) The examination will be the national physical therapy exam (NPTE) or another equivalent examination as the board may in its discretion approve and adopt for physical therapist applicants. The examination for physical therapist assistants will be the national physical therapist assistant examination (NPTAE) , or another equivalent examination as the board may in its discretion approve and adopt.

(2) Exact examination dates will be established by the current testing service as the national uniform testing date. Applicants must have their complete applications in the board office at least 45 days prior to the examination date.

(3) The board may, after review of an application, request the applicant to meet with the board at a time designated by the board and prior to licensure, for the purpose of conducting an oral interview.

(4) Applicants for examination shall file with the board office an application which shall include the following:

(a) application for examination fee;

(b) copy of their certificate of graduation or transcripts from a board-approved physical therapy school or physical therapist assistant curriculum;

(c) three statements of good moral character, one of which is a professional reference from a licensed physical therapist, and two others from persons with knowledge of the applicant within the past five years. All reference letters must be sent directly to the board office from the reference source;

(d) verification of physical therapy or physical therapist assistant instruction and graduation; and

(e) recent photograph of the applicant.

(5) The applicant shall score a passing grade equal to or higher than a scaled score of 600, the criterion-referenced passing point recommended nationally by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The passing score on the jurisprudence examination shall be 90 percent.

(a) All applicants who have previously taken the NPTE, in any jurisdiction, shall submit a request for test history verification and fee to the testing service, on a form prescribed by the board.

(6) The jurisprudence examination shall be an open book examination covering current Montana physical therapy statutes and rules, subject to Title 37, chapters 1 and 11, MCA, standards of care and definition of moral turpitude. The jurisprudence examination must be passed by all examination and out-of-state applicants before original licensure will be granted. Separate provisions will be made for taking the jurisprudence examination prior to licensure. Applicants failing the jurisprudence examination must retake said examination until passed. The fee of each retake will be assessed in accordance with the established fee schedule.