PROVISIONAL LICENSE.

(a) The board may issue a provisional license to an applicant licensed in another state that maintains professional standards considered by the board to be equivalent to and has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements under this chapter. An applicant for a provisional license under this section must:

(1) present proof to the board that the applicant is licensed in good standing as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in that state;

(2) have passed a national examination or other examination recognized by the board relating to the practice of physical therapy; and

(3) be sponsored by a person licensed under this chapter with whom the provisional license holder may practice.

(b) The board may waive the requirement of Subsection (a)(3) for an applicant if the board determines that compliance with that requirement constitutes a hardship to the applicant.

(c) A provisional license is valid until the date the board approves or denies the provisional license holder's application for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license.

(d) The board shall issue a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license to the provisional license holder if:

(1) the provisional license holder passes a jurisprudence examination, if required;

(2) the board verifies that the provisional license holder has the academic and experience requirements for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license; and

(3) the provisional license holder satisfies any other requirements for a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license.

(e) The board must complete the processing of a provisional license holder's application for a license not later than the 180th day after the date the provisional license is issued. The board may extend that deadline if the results on an examination have not been received by the board.