Physical therapist; issuance of license by endorsement; issuance of license without examination to person passing examination of another authorized examining board in a foreign country; fee; exemption.

(1) The board may grant a license by endorsement to be issued by the department to any applicant who meets the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145 or, without examination, to any applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the board of having passed an examination in physical therapy before a similar lawfully authorized examining board of a foreign country if the standards for licensure in physical therapy in such foreign country are determined by the board to be as high as those of this state, as established by rules adopted under this chapter. Any person who holds a license pursuant to this section may use the words “physical therapist” or “physiotherapist” or the letters “P.T.” in connection with her or his name or place of business to denote her or his licensure hereunder. A person who holds a license pursuant to this section and obtains a doctoral degree in physical therapy may use the letters “D.P.T.” and “P.T.” A physical therapist who holds a degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy may not use the title “doctor” without also clearly informing the public of his or her profession as a physical therapist.

(2) At the time of filing an application for licensure under this section, the applicant shall pay to the department a nonrefundable fee set by the board in an amount not to exceed $175.

(3) A person licensed as a physical therapist in another state who is practicing under the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact pursuant to s. 486.112, and only within the scope provided therein, is exempt from the licensure requirements of this section.