HB442 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Prosthetists and Orthotists Board, licensure, exemptions further provided for, Sec. 34-25A-5 am'd.

Summary

HB442 would end the broad 60-day out-of-state practice exemption for prosthetic, orthotic, and pedorthic care in Alabama, while creating a narrow exemption for association meetings or approved trainings and expanding licensure pathways for out-of-state practitioners.

What This Bill Does

It requires anyone practicing prosthetics, orthotics, or pedorthics in Alabama to be licensed in Alabama (with certain exceptions). It adds a new exemption allowing out-of-state licensed clinicians to provide services only at approved association meetings or trainings. It allows out-of-state licenses to be recognized without Alabama exams if their credentialing standards are substantially equivalent, creates 12-month temporary licenses for applicants awaiting exams, and offers a first-year exemption from exam for qualified applicants; it also requires licensees to display their license and prohibits misrepresentation of licensure.

Who It Affects

• Out-of-state licensed prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, or prosthetist/orthotists who want to work in Alabama, who must now obtain Alabama licensure or rely on limited exemptions (association meetings/training) and may qualify for temporary licenses or licensure without examination if standards are equivalent.
• Alabama residents and employers who receive prosthetic, orthotic, or pedorthic care, as services must be provided by licensed professionals, and the process for allowing out-of-state credentials or temporary practice is defined to protect patients.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates the general 60-day-per-12-month temporary practice exemption for out-of-state licensees, except for specific exemptions in approved settings.
• Creates a new exemption allowing out-of-state licensees to provide services in Alabama only at Alabama Prosthetic & Orthotic Association meetings or other board-approved training events.
• Allows the Board of Prosthetists and Orthotists to license out-of-state practitioners without examination if their credentialing standards are substantially equivalent to Alabama's.
• Authorizes a 12-month temporary license for applicants awaiting examination, with a one-time renewal for six months if the examinee fails the first sitting.
• Creates an optional pathway for licensure without examination for qualified applicants applying within one year of application forms being issued, based on current national credentials.
• Requires licensed practitioners to display their license and prohibits misrepresentation of license status.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prosthetists and Orthotists, State Board of