The Virginia Board of Physical Therapy determines on a case-by-case basis whether a prior criminal conviction should be a bar to licensure in Virginia. Under the status quo, people whom employers and the Board might determine are fit for licensure are essentially denied entrance to the profession by education programs long before the Board can carefully consider each applicant on his or her own individual merits.

I understand that this practice is engrained into the NVCC MEC drinking water. However, just because it has been an accepted practice to date does not make it the right thing. In fact, the Association of American Medical Colleges, a leader in the academic medical community, recommends that medical schools do not establish a list of prohibited offenses. It advises member institutions to holistically evaluate each offense on a case-by-case basis. (American Physical Therapy Association Criminal Background Check Report For Physical Therapist Education Programs)

Lastly the absolute bar to admissions in physical therapy assistant programs hurts residents of Virginia. Someone from a state where educational programs do not treat prior felonies as an absolute bar to admission is free to apply for licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have the Board decide on the application on a case-by-case basis. For a resident of Virginia to receive the same privilege, he or she must first leave the state or the northern virginia area for school. This might result in higher tuition costs and it might discourage others from pursuing a profession for which they would otherwise be qualified. Once a Virginia resident leaves the state for an education, he or she might never return and deprive the Commonwealth of Virginia of the services of a qualified health care professional.

There are multiple ways legislation can be pushed forward by the VBPT to fix this that is within their jurisdiction. Please make NVCC adapt to good practice in order to be in good-standing with VBPT.

Thank you so much for your time and your service to Virginia.