The Board should require that PTA programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia accept qualified individuals with prior misdemeanors and felonies so long that they are not barred under “Barrier Laws” with the following considerations:

1) The length of time since the criminal offense occurred;

2) Whether there is sufficient evidence of rehabilitation;

3) Letters of recommendation;

4) Current sobriety as proven by testing;

5) Any other evidence of extenuating circumstances

In so doing, the Board will help ameliorate the shortage of physical therapist in Virginia, and help align PTA programs admission policies with those used by the Board during the licensure process.

Opening up the admittance process will help solve the PTA shortage in Virginia

There will be a shortage of almost 50% in the PTA work force by 2020[1]. We need region specific solutions to ensure care for the growing population whose needs may not be served due to a shortage of medical professionals[2].

Increasing capacity within the health care education and training system is one way to solve this problem. Opening up PTA educational programs to those with criminal backgrounds helps solve the PTA shortage in Virginia.

Programs should evaluate candidates on a case-by-case basis

Virginia law excludes individuals from working in certain environments who have been convicted of specified criminal acts. In doing so the legislature made a determination of the types of past criminal activity that would potentially endanger patients. Currently, physical therapy assistant programs go beyond the list compiled by the legislature[3].

In fact, the Board of Physical Therapy determines on a case-by-case basis whether a prior criminal conviction should be a bar to licensure in Virginia. Not only does it make sense to align the state’s PTA programs with this practice, it also matches the guidance provided by the AAMC which recommends that medical schools do not establish a list of prohibited offenses[4].

Instead, the AAMC advises member institutions to holistically evaluate each offense on a case-by-case basis.

So long as an applicant to a physical therapy assistant program has not been convicted of a criminal act that would be an absolute bar to employment under the “Barrier Laws” of the Commonwealth of Virginia, qualified applicants should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.