(a) An applicant may be issued a license without a written examination if he or she meets all of the following:

1. (1) He or she is at the time of application licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in a state, district, or territory of the United States having, in the opinion of the board, requirements for licensing equal to or higher than those in California, and he or she has passed, to the satisfaction of the board, an examination for licensing that is, in the opinion of the board, comparable to the examination used in this state.
2. (2) He or she is a graduate of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant education program approved by the board, or has met the requirements of Section 2653.
3. (3) He or she files an application with the board and meets the requirements prescribed by Sections 2635 and 2650.

(c) An applicant who has filed a physical therapy application under this section with the board for the first time may, between the date of receipt of notice that his or her application is on file and the date of receipt of his or her license, perform as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, as appropriate, under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this state.

During this period the applicant shall identify himself or herself only as a “physical therapist license applicant” or “physical therapist assistant license applicant,” as appropriate.

If the applicant under this section does not qualify and receive a license as provided in this section and does not qualify under Section 2639, all privileges under this section shall terminate upon notice by the board. An applicant may only qualify once to perform as a physical therapist license applicant or physical therapist assistant license applicant.