We strive to be an effective voice in the midst of a continually changing healthcare climate. To accomplish our mission, dedicated leadership and staff work closely with committees and member boards. Together, we provide the insight and expertise necessary to help assure competent physical therapy healthcare for the public.
Our Federation was formed in 1986, to provide an organization through which member licensing authorities could work together to promote and protect the health, welfare and safety of the American public. We held our first meeting in Chicago, electing J. Scott Stephens as president, and in 1987, we formulated and adopted our bylaws. From 22 member states in 1987, we have expanded to include boards in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Membership in the Federation includes jurisdiction Member Boards that regulate the practice of physical therapy, Affiliate Members, Associate Members and Honorary Members. We are proud to call the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and the Ordre des physiotherapeutes du Quebec affiliate members. We continue to learn and share information with our Canadian counterparts.
In 1993, we held our first Summit Meeting, from which emerged a Statement of Focus, the basis for the Federation's Strategic Plan.
In 1999, we held our second Summit Meeting, which affirmed the Areas of Focus. The attendees of the meeting worked long and hard to produce a mission statement that has been the foundation of our strategic planning, The 1999 Delegate Assembly adopted this new mission, which stated that “the purpose of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy is to protect the public by providing service and leadership that promote safe and competent physical therapy practice.” A vision was also adopted, in which we declared that the Federation would “Set the Gold Standard for Service and Protection.”
Between 2000 and 2003, we brought the National Physical Therapy Examination development process and the item bank itself in house. We developed an online system of tracking exam registrations from the time of registration until the time the score is reported to the jurisdiction – and beyond. We developed a system for registering online for the exam. We have developed an electronic process for writing test items and maintaining the item bank.
In 2003, our Delegate Assembly approved a new vision statement. We now call the “Gold Standard” our motto, but claim this statement as our new vision:
“State licensing boards and their Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy will achieve a high level of public protection through a strong foundation of laws and regulatory standards in physical therapy, effective tools and systems to assess entry-level and continuing competence, and public and professional awareness of resources for public protection.”
The Federation has received both Stage One and Stage Two Accreditation from the Buros Institute for Assessment Consultation and Outreach, or BIACO. FSBPT earned the accreditation status following a rigorous evaluation of our National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) test development, administration and security practices.
In 2006, FSBPT, along with ASWB, FSMB, NABP ®, NBCOT® and NCSBN ®, developed the publication, “Changes in Healthcare Professions Scope of Practice: Legislative Considerations.” It was developed to assist legislators and regulatory bodies with making decisions about changes to healthcare professions’ scope of practice.
The Federation has been focusing on issue of continuing competence of licensed and certified PTs and PTAs for more than ten years. In 2007, the Delegate Assembly charged the Board of Directors to move forward with the development of a comprehensive continuing competence program in support of public protection to include, but not be limited to, the following components:
- Continuing competence tools
- A framework for integrating continuing competence tools
- A comprehensive continuing competence certification program
- Appropriate organizational structure.
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HONORARY MEMBERS . . .
Grateful acknowledgement is expressed to our honorary members, whose dedication, insight, and aspiration to high enterprises has significantly furthered our eminent cause.
Carolyn Bloom, PT Kansas
Donna Borden, PT Arizona
Robert Harden, PT Alabama
Eugene R. Lambert, PT Massachusetts
Richard McDougall, PT Kentucky
Susan Rush, PT Tennessee
J. Scott Stephens, PT North Carolina
Patricia Van Wagner, PT Washington
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