You may or may not be aware that Governor Dunleavy signed SB 74 into law on August 31. This bill enables AK to join the Interstate Licensing Compact, which will reduce burdens for other therapists practicing here (provided they come from a member state) and for AK therapists to practice in other member states. Read more about the compact HERE. Please see below for a message from Glenn Saviers from the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing about next steps.
For anyone who was not licensed before August 31, fingerprint-based background checks will be required before a PT, OT, PTA, or OTA license can be issued. How this will work is that an applicant will need to mail a completed hardcopy fingerprint card to our office along with (or separate from, if need be) their application. The fingerprint card needs to follow the requirements listed on the Fingerprinting Requirements handout, available on the Board of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy’s website.
Once our office receives the fingerprint card, we will review it for completeness and confirm we received the $75 fingerprint processing fee. Then we will send it to the Department of Public Safety for processing. The Department of Public Safety will then send us the State and FBI background checks as required for licensure under the new law.
If your newest PT has already been approved for licensure, they may not need to submit the fingerprint card. It depends on when they were approved.
Thank you!
Glenn Saviers
Deputy Director
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
glenn.saviers@alaska.gov
Office: 907-465-2550
www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl
