Arkansas physical therapy board reports growth in licensees and a $200,000 scholarship program

At a legislative committee presentation, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy reported growth in licensed practitioners and described a scholarship program funded from board reserves.

Lindsay Kinsey, director for the Physical Therapy Board, said the board has five voting members and licenses physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Kinsey told lawmakers, "We currently have 2,808 physical therapists and 1,781 physical therapy assistants, for a total of 4,589 licensees overall," and said the board has seen a 15.1% increase in physical therapists and a 9.8% increase in physical therapist assistants from 2021 through 2026.

Kinsey said the board reduced fees across the board in 2023 and now offers a $200,000 scholarship intended to help expand the workforce. When a committee member asked whether the scholarship was a single award, Matt Gilmore of the Department of Health replied, "It's it's 10 a year." Representative Jack Lademan noted the board's balance of about $1,100,000 and asked whether the scholarship and fee reductions were depleting reserves; staff said the scholarship began in 2023 and the balance has been drawn down in part by those policy changes, but that board staff are trying to 'be as frugal as possible.'

The committee accepted the physical therapy board's report as reviewed with no objection. No formal action was taken on funding or rule changes during the meeting.