State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board Frequently Asked Questions Application Processing Time Applications & Forms Certified True Copy Complaints Continuing Education Direct Access for Care Disciplinary Actions Dry Needling as an Occupational Therapist Dry Needling as an Physical Therapist Employer Postings for Alaska Positions Faxed or Emailed Documents Job Opportunities in Alaska License file and Public Information License Lapse Date Monitoring Competency of Licensees Name/Address Change Obtaining a License Reinstatement Renewal Fee Renewal Notice Requirements for License Scope of Practice Verification of License Request How long does it take to process my application? You should plan 8 weeks for licensure. We process applications in date order of receipt. You can avoid delays with your application by making sure you follow the directions and fully complete the application as instructed. You must submit the correct fees and supporting documentation in the proper format. Primary Source documents must come directly from the providers (e.g. Transcripts, Professional References, License Verifications, Verification of Working Experience, etc.). How do I find application forms? Our website has the forms you will need under Applications and Forms. Miscellaneous forms may be located under CBPL QUICK Links in the sidebar. How do I get a “Certified True Copy”? To obtain a Certified True Copy, take the original document and a photocopy to a notary public to compare the original to the photocopy of the document. Either the applicant or the notary must write, “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document” on the photocopy and attest to that fact by signing the document and having it notarized. How are complaints filed? A complaint may be filed by anyone; a patient, family member, another health care worker/professional. Contact the Investigative Unit of the Division by completing an online complaint form. How does the board approve continuing education? The board does not preapprove continuing educational courses or activities. Course requirements are set forth in statutes and regulations. See the Continuing Education Information board link for more information. The licensee is responsible for completing continuing education and activities which enhance professional competency and skills related to the scope of practice. Do patients have “Direct Access” to Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Services in Alaska? The board's statutes do not address direct access (which means that a referral by a doctor is not necessary for care by a physical therapist or occupational therapist). It is the board's opinion that Alaska is a direct access state; however, licensees and consumers should be aware that insurance companies may have their own directives regarding this topic. When does the board take disciplinary action? When the Investigations Unit has proven that a therapist has: Practiced physical therapy/occupational therapy in a manner detrimental to the public health and welfare; Been negligent in practicing or assisting in the practice of physical therapy/occupational therapy; Obtained or attempted to obtain a license by fraud or deception; Failed to comply with the license renewal requirements of continued competency and continuing education; Engaged in unprofessional conduct relating to federal or state laws or rules. May I perform dry needling under my occupational therapy license? 11/17/23 UPDATE - Recent updates in information have added insight into the prior position statement by the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board on dry needling and the scope of practice for occupational therapy in Alaska. Due to conflicting legal opinions, the board is moving forward with a regulations project. This project will hopefully clarify dry needling within the statutory scope of practice for occupational therapists. The position statement from 6/16/2023 is temporarily retracted. Please continue to be active in advancing all efforts of the board by advocating with your state and national associations. Sign up for notifications using the “Subscriptions” button at: State of Alaska Online Public Notices May I perform dry needling under my physical therapy license? The Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy has determined that the physical therapy scope of practice description in statute 08.84.190 supports dry needling by physical therapists in the state of Alaska. Please see the PT Dry Needling Position Statement adopted 06-16-2023 for more information. As an employer, where can I post information on a physical or occupational therapy position I have available in Alaska? You can post information you have for an open physical or occupational therapy position in AlaskaJobs. It’s accessed through your myAlaska account. You can find more information on the AlaskaJobs website. Can I submit scanned, faxed, or emailed documents to complete my application? While the initial application must be mailed due to the notarized signature and inclusion of confidential social security number information, source documents can be scanned, emailed, and/or faxed. Primary sources and applicants can send documents via mail, fax, or email. For the quickest delivery method, send to physicalandoccupationaltherapy@alaska.gov. Where can I find information on physical and occupational therapy positions in Alaska? You can find physical and occupational therapy job information in AlaskaJobs. It’s accessed through your myAlaska account. You can find more information on the AlaskaJobs website. Is my license record public information? Yes, licensing records are public documents and available to members of the public upon written request and payment of copying fees. Information considered confidential and not releasable to the general public include social security numbers and other information considered confidential by state or federal law. Your address of record is public information and can be located on the division’s online License Search. Licensees have expressed concern that their address is so readily available. Some licensees have elected to have a post office box or practice location for their official address of record to avoid having their residential address easily accessible. Please be advised that all notices from the board (renewal notices, licenses, and other legal documents) will be mailed to the address of record provided. When does my license lapse? All licenses issued by the Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy expire on June 30 of even-numbered years regardless of when issued, except new licenses issued within 90 days of the expiration date will be issued to the next biennium. How does the board monitor competency of licensees? The board requires each licensee participate in continued competency and continuing education for the purpose of updating and developing skills to provide appropriate physical therapy and occupational therapy services. Ten percent of licensees are randomly selected for audit of continued competency and continuing education at license renewal. How do I submit a Name/Address Change? It is your responsibility to notify this office of name/address changes and to keep this information on record current. The name appearing on your license must be your current legal name. If you have changed your name, you must submit the Name/Address Change form (#08-4291), as well as a copy of the legal document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) supporting your name change. How does a person become licensed as a physical therapist or occupational therapist in Alaska? Therapists have presented evidence satisfactory to the board of having successfully completed the academic requirements of an accredited program approved by the board. Therapists have taken and passed an examination which tests the knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences relating to physical therapy and occupational therapy. Therapists must also meet licensing requirements set in statute and regulation. How do I reinstate my license? Reinstatement requirements are set out in the instructions of the reinstatement applications under Applications and Forms. Note: continuing education used to reinstate your license may not be used to renew your license. Do I have to pay the full renewal fee since I was just issued a permanent license within the past year? No. Licensees who received a permanent license within one year of the current expiration date do submit a renewal application but will pay only one-half of the renewal fee. When will I receive my renewal notice? Renewal notices are provided at least 30 days prior to the expiration date on file, in accordance with AS 08.01.050. Login to the MY LICENSE self-service portal to ensure your contact information is up to date. Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve a licensee from the responsibility of renewing a license on time. What are the requirements to qualify for a license? Condensed application instructions with the requirements for licensure are in the first 3 pages of the application packet. For additional information, including education and experience requirements, you may review the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Statutes and Regulations Webpage. How does the board define scope of practice? The board requires that each licensee adhere to the practice requirements and profession definitions set forth in the statutes and regulations. The board does not issue statements which interpret these statutes and regulations for the sole purpose of determining whether certain treatment methods or diagnostic practices are within the scope of practice. The board adopted in March 2015, Principle 1, item 3, clearly indicates that licensees shall, "provide services within practitioner's level of competence as demonstrated by education training and professional experience." How do I request a verification of my license to another agency? Effective November 22, 2022, Alaska is providing primary source license verifications directly through our website. Requests and fees for verifications of licensure are no longer necessary. To obtain primary source verifications, utilize our Professional License Search Tool. Do you have another question? Please fill out our Customer Contact Form for the fastest response. Return to Top