148A.6 - PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT.
148A.6 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT.
1. A licensed physical therapist assistant is required to
function under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical
therapist to perform physical therapy procedures delegated and
supervised by the licensed physical therapist in a manner consistent
with the rules adopted by the board. Selected and delegated tasks of
physical therapist assistants may include but are not limited to
therapeutic procedures and related tasks, routine operational
functions, documentation of treatment progress, and the use of
selected physical agents. The ability of the licensed physical
therapist assistant to perform the selected and delegated tasks shall
be assessed on an ongoing basis by the supervising physical
therapist. The licensed physical therapist assistant shall not
interpret referrals, perform initial evaluation or reevaluations,
initiate physical therapy treatment programs, change specified
treatment programs, or discharge a patient from physical therapy
services.
2. Each applicant for a license to practice as a physical
therapist assistant shall:
a. Successfully complete a course of study for the physical
therapist assistant accredited by the commission on accreditation in
education of the American physical therapy association, or another
appropriate accrediting body, and meet other requirements established
by the rules of the board.
b. Have passed an examination administered by the board.
3. This section does not prevent a person not licensed as a
physical therapist assistant from performing services ordinarily
performed by a physical therapy aide, assistant, or technician,
provided that the person does not represent to the public that the
person is a licensed physical therapist assistant, or use the title
"physical therapist assistant" or the letters "P.T.A.", and provided
that the person performs services consistent with the supervision
requirements of the board for persons not licensed as physical
therapist assistants. Section History: Recent Form
91 Acts, ch 228, §3; 2000 Acts, ch 1140, §33; 2004 Acts, ch 1068,
§2; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §101