2630-2640
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 2630-2640
2630. It is unlawful for any person or persons to practice, or offer to practice, physical therapy in this state for compensation received or expected, or to hold himself or herself out as a physical therapist, unless at the time of so doing the person holds a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked license issued under this chapter. Nothing in this section shall restrict the activities authorized by their licenses on the part of any persons licensed under this code or any initiative act, or the activities authorized to be performed pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 2655) or Chapter 7.7 (commencing with Section 3500). A physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter may utilize the services of one aide engaged in patient-related tasks to assist the physical therapist in his or her practice of physical therapy. "Patient-related task" means a physical therapy service rendered directly to the patient by an aide, excluding non-patient-related tasks. "Non-patient-related task" means a task related to observation of the patient, transport of the patient, physical support only during gait or transfer training, housekeeping duties, clerical duties, and similar functions. The aide shall at all times be under the orders, direction, and immediate supervision of the physical therapist. Nothing in this section shall authorize an aide to independently perform physical therapy or any physical therapy procedure. The board shall adopt regulations that set forth the standards and requirements for the orders, direction, and immediate supervision of an aide by a physical therapist. The physical therapist shall provide continuous and immediate supervision of the aide. The physical therapist shall be in the same facility as, and in proximity to, the location where the aide is performing patient-related tasks, and shall be readily available at all times to provide advice or instruction to the aide. When patient-related tasks are provided to a patient by an aide, the supervising physical therapist shall, at some point during the treatment day, provide direct service to the patient as treatment for the patient's condition, or to further evaluate and monitor the patient's progress, and shall correspondingly document the patient's record. The administration of massage, external baths, or normal exercise not a part of a physical therapy treatment shall not be prohibited by this section. 2632. All licenses for the practice of physical therapy in this state shall be issued by the board, and all applications for the licenses shall be filed with the board. Excepting as otherwise required by the director pursuant to Section 164, the license issued by the board shall describe the licensee as a "physical therapist licensed by the Physical Therapy Board of California." Each application shall be accompanied by the application fee prescribed by Section 2688, shall be signed by the applicant, and shall contain a statement under oath of the facts entitling the applicant to receive a license without examination or to take an examination. 2633. (a) A person holding a license as a physical therapist issued by the board may use the title "physical therapist" or the letters "P.T." or any other words, letters, or figures that indicate that the person using same is a licensed physical therapist. No other person shall be so designated or shall use the term licensed or registered physical therapist, licensed or registered physiotherapist, licensed or registered physical therapy technician, or the letters "L.P.T.," "R.P.T.," or "P.T.". (b) A licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) or, after adoption of the regulations described in subdivision (d), a doctoral degree in a related health science may do the following: (1) In a written communication, use the initials DPT, PhD, or EdD, as applicable, following the licensee's name. (2) In a written communication, use the title "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." preceding the licensee's name, if the licensee's name is immediately followed by an unabbreviated specification of the applicable doctoral degree held by the licensee. (3) In a spoken communication while engaged in the practice of physical therapy, use the title "doctor" preceding the person's name, if the speaker specifies that he or she is a physical therapist. (c) A doctoral degree described in subdivision (b) shall be granted by an institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by an accrediting agency recognized by the National Commission on Accrediting or the United States Department of Education that the board determines is equivalent to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. (d) The board shall define, by regulation, the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science for purposes of subdivision (b). 2634. The board may investigate each and every applicant for a license, before a license is issued, in order to determine whether or not the applicant has in fact the qualifications required by this chapter. 2635. Every applicant for a license under this chapter shall, at the time of application, be a person over 18 years of age, not addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance, have successfully completed the education and training required by Section 2650, and not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. 2636. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall receive a license under this chapter without first successfully passing the following examinations: (1) An examination under the direction of the board to demonstrate the applicant's knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the practice of physical therapy in California. The examination shall reasonably test the applicant's knowledge of these laws and regulations. (2) The national physical therapy examination for the applicant's licensure category. The examination for licensure as a physical therapist shall test entry-level competence to practice physical therapy. The examination for licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall test entry-level competence to practice as a physical therapist assistant in the technical application of physical therapy services. (b) An applicant may take the examinations for licensure as a physical therapist or for licensure as a physical therapist assistant after the applicant has met the educational requirements for that particular category of licensure. (c) The examinations required by the board for a license under this chapter may be conducted by the board or by a public or private organization specified by the board. The examinations may be conducted under a uniform examination system and, for that purpose, the board may make arrangements with organizations furnishing examination materials as may, in its discretion, be desirable. (d) The board shall establish a passing score for the examinations for licensure as a physical therapist and for the examinations for licensure as a physical therapist assistant. The board shall issue a license to an applicant who is otherwise qualified for licensure under this chapter and who receives a passing score as established by the board on the examinations. 2636.5. (a) An applicant may be issued a license without a written examination if he or she meets all of the following: (1) He or she is at the time of application licensed or registered as a physical therapist in a state, district, or territory of the United States having, in the opinion of the board, requirements for licensing or registration equal to or higher than those in California, and he or she has passed, to the satisfaction of the board, an examination for licensing or registration that is, in the opinion of the board, comparable to the examination used in this state. (2) He or she is a graduate of a physical therapist education program approved by the board, or has met the requirements of Section 2653. (3) He or she files an application as provided in Section 2632 and meets the requirements prescribed by Sections 2635 and 2650. (b) An applicant for licensure under subdivision (a), whose application is based on a certificate issued by a physical therapy licensing authority of another state may be required to pass an oral examination given by the board and file a statement of past work activity. (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 under the direct and immediate 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." 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 certified mail, return receipt requested. An applicant may only qualify once to perform as a physical therapist license applicant. 2638. Any applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who fails to pass the examination required by the board may take another examination and shall pay the reexamination fee. 2639. Every graduate of an approved physical therapist education program who has filed a complete application for licensure with the board for the first time may, following receipt of a letter of authorization to perform as a "physical therapist license applicant," perform as a physical therapist under the direct and immediate supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this state pending the results of the first licensing examination administered for which he or she is eligible following graduation from an approved physical therapist education program. During this period the applicant shall identify himself or herself only as a "physical therapist license applicant." If the applicant passes the examination, the physical therapist license applicant status shall remain in effect until a regular renewable license is issued, or licensure is denied, by the board. If the applicant fails the licensing examination, or if he or she passes the examination but licensure is denied, the applicant shall be prohibited from performing as a physical therapist license applicant at any time in the future. A person shall not be considered a graduate unless he or she has successfully completed all the clinical training and internships required for graduation from the program. If the applicant fails to take the next succeeding examination without due cause or fails to pass the examination or receive a license, all privileges under this section shall terminate upon notice by certified mail, return receipt requested. An applicant may only qualify once to perform as a physical therapist license applicant. 2640. (a) If the board uses computer administered testing for the administration of the licensing examination, this section shall apply and Section 2639 shall not apply. (b) Every graduate of an approved physical therapist education program who has filed a complete application for licensure with the board for the first time may, following receipt of a letter of authorization to take the licensing examination and perform as a "physical therapist license applicant," perform as a physical therapist under the direct and immediate supervision of a physical therapist licensed in this state, for 90 days pending the results of the first licensing examination administered. During this period, the applicant shall identify himself or herself only as a "physical therapist license applicant." If the applicant passes the examination, the physical therapist license applicant status shall remain in effect until a regular renewable license is issued, or licensure is denied, by the board. (c) A person shall not be considered a graduate unless he or she has successfully completed all the clinical training and internships required for graduation from the program. (d) If the applicant fails to take the examination within 90 days or fails to pass the examination or receive a license, all privileges under this section shall terminate. An applicant may only qualify once to perform as a physical therapist license applicant.