State of Ohio Licensing Procedure for Physical Therapist Assistants: The Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board in section 4755.47 of the Ohio Revised Code, states that the Physical Therapy section of the Ohio OT, PT, and AT Board may refuse to grant a license to an applicant for licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant on any of the following grounds:
a) Conviction of, found guilty of, pled guilty to, or received treatment in lieu of conviction for a felony and/or any offense involving moral turpitude in Ohio, another State, a U.S. Territory, or another country.
b) Indulgence in the use of chemical substances, controlled substances, other habit forming drugs, or alcohol to an extent that affects the individual’s professional competency;
c) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license by fraud or deception;
d) An adjudication by a court in Ohio, another State, or U.S. Territory that the applicant is incompetent for the purpose of holding the license and has not thereafter, been restored to legal capacity for that purpose;
e) Been disciplined in any State or U.S. Territory in which you have ever held a license to practice PT/PTA or any other health profession.
f) Been denied licensure to practice as a PT or PTA or another health care profession in Ohio, another State, or U.S. Territory.
g) Failure of the licensing examination.
h) Violation of the APTA Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (http://www.apta.org);
i) Violation of any sections of the Physical Therapy Ohio Revised Code (http://otptat.ohio.gov/pdfs/PTLawsRules.pdf). Therefore, any person to whom any of the above conditions applies may be denied licensure.

Potential clinical education sites and employers may require drug screens and/or criminal background investigations. The student/graduate may be responsible for the cost of the background check and/or drug screen. Individuals who have been convicted, found guilty of, pled guilty to, pled no contest to, entered an Alford plea, received treatment or intervention in lieu of conviction, or received diversion for any of the following crimes (this includes crimes that have been expunged if the crime has a direct and substantial relationship to physical therapy practice) may be ineligible for placement in a clinical education site and/or for employment.
a) A gross misdemeanor committed in Ohio, another State, Commonwealth, Territory, Province, or country.
b) A felony in Ohio, another State, Commonwealth, Territory, Province, or country.
c) A crime involving gross immorality or moral turpitude in Ohio, another State, Commonwealth, Territory, Province, or country.
d) A violation of any municipal, County, State, Commonwealth, or Federal drug law.