New Law as of January 2019

FINGERPRINT INFORMATION 

For License Issuance or Renewal on or after January 1, 2019 In order to comply with statutory amendments to both the PT and OT Practice Acts made during the 85th Legislative Session regarding criminal background checks, physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) licensed by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (TBPTE) and occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) licensed by the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (TBOTE) will be required to submit their fingerprints for state and national criminal history background checks. This includes those applying for their license which will be issued on or after January 1, 2019 and those already licensed prior to their license expiration date if renewing on or after January 1, 2019 with the exception of inactive status.

Licensees renewing their license on inactive status or changing their status from active to inactive will only need to comply with the fingerprinting requirement when reinstating their license to active or retired status.

OTE: The effective date is January 1, 2019. Do not submit fingerprints prior to this date. Prior fingerprinting for any other purpose will not satisfy this requirement as other entities are not allowed to share criminal history background check results with us. Once an applicant or licensee has satisfied this requirement for the issuance or renewal of their license, the individual will not be required to submit fingerprints as part of the renewal of their license in the future.