Montana

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

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Temporary License Requirements/Availability[edit | edit source]

37-11-310. Foreign-trained applicants. The foreign-trained physical therapist applicant's transcripts will be evaluated by a board-approved agency which reviews credentials. Upon receipt of this evaluation the board shall determine whether the number of academic credits awarded meets equivalent educational standards for a physical therapist degree or certificate established by an American physical therapist association accredited school of physical therapy. If the applicant's professional education credit hours are approved by the board, the applicant is eligible for a temporary license prior to examination.[1] 


After researching other websites I found that:

Limited Permit: Yes. Valid until applicant either fails or passes the first licensing exam; applicant must schedule the exam within 120 days of issuance of temporary license.[2]


Temporary License: No. The board may issue a license to a PT or PTA who is currently licensed in another state.[2]


The fee for a temporary license is $100.00.[2]

Requirements for License[edit | edit source]

37-11-303. Qualifications of applicants for license. (1) To be eligible for a license as a physical therapist, an applicant must:
(a) be of good moral character and at least 18 years of age;
(b) have graduated from an accredited school of physical therapy approved by the board; and
(c) pass to the satisfaction of the board a written or computerized examination prescribed by the board and, if considered necessary, an oral interview to determine the fitness of the applicant to practice as a physical therapist.[1]

Supervision[edit | edit source]

37-11-105. Supervision of physical therapist assistant, physical therapy aide, physical therapy student, or physical therapist assistant student.
(1) A physical therapist assistant shall practice under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist who is responsible for and participates in a patient's care. This supervision requires the licensed physical therapist to make an onsite visit to the client at least once for every six visits made by the assistant or once every 2 weeks, whichever occurs first.
(2) A licensed physical therapist may not concurrently supervise more than two full-time assistants or the equivalent. This supervision does not require the presence of the assistant.
(3) A physical therapy aide shall practice under the onsite supervision of a licensed physical therapist or a licensed assistant. A licensed assistant may not concurrently supervise more than one full-time aide or the equivalent. A licensed physical therapist may not concurrently supervise more than four aides or the equivalent or two assistants and two aides or the equivalent.
(4) A physical therapy student or physical therapist assistant student shall practice with the onsite supervision of a licensed physical therapist.[1]

Physical Therapy Students[edit | edit source]

Was apart of 37-11-105:

(4) A physical therapy student or physical therapist assistant student shall practice with the onsite supervision of a licensed physical therapist.[1]

Continued Competence[edit | edit source]

• Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours or 2 Continuing Education Units (CEU) every two years. [3]


• Licensees with odd-numbered licenses shall submit at least 20 continuing education hours earned within the 24 months prior to the renewal date. Odd-numbered licensees do not report on even-numbered years.[3]

• Licensees with even-numbered licenses shall submit at least 20 continuing education hours earned within the 24 months prior to the renewal date. Even-numbered licensees do not report on odd-numbered years.[3]

• No continuing education is required for licensees renewing for the first time.[3]

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?[edit | edit source]

I believe the act appears restrictive due to the fact it being very cut and dry; I never saw terms such as “not limited to”. Some examples include:


37-11-102. Exemptions. This chapter may not be construed to limit or regulate any other business or profession or any services rendered or performed in connection with another business or profession, including osteopathy, chiropractic, chiropractic physiotherapy, or massage therapists, to the extent they do massage.[1]


37-11-103. Restrictions on scope of practice. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing a physical therapist, whether licensed or not, to practice medicine, osteopathy, or chiropractic, dentistry, or podiatry; nor shall Title 37, chapter 11, be construed to limit or regulate any other business or profession or any services rendered or performed in connection with physical therapy.[1]


37-11-104. Physical therapy -- evaluation and treatment. (1) Physical therapy evaluation includes the administration, interpretation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures; the development of a plan of treatment; consultative, educational, and other advisory services; and instruction and supervision of supportive personnel.
(2) Treatment employs, for therapeutic effects, physical measures, activities and devices, for preventive and therapeutic purposes, exercises, rehabilitative procedures, massage, mobilization, and physical agents including but not limited to mechanical devices, heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, and sound.
(3) The evaluation and treatment procedures listed in subsections (1) and (2) may be performed by a licensed physical therapist without referral.[1]

Is there anything unusual about this act?[edit | edit source]

I found this act to be very straight forward one thing to point out is that Montana license expires April 1. The renewel period is from February 1 to April 1 and can be done online every year.[3]



Janet Bower Hulme, William Chris Newman, Kathleen Miller, and Joyce Dougan. Proprietary Physical Therapy Service in Entry-level Physical Therapy Curricula. Phys Ther. July 1988. 68:1123-1126. Available from: http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/68/7/1123.long

References[edit | edit source]

References will automatically be added here, see adding references tutorial.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.Montana Chapter: American Physical Therapy Association. 2012 [cited 2012 April 21]. Available from: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/37_11.htm
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 3. Rehab License Network, LLC. Providence Health & Services. 2010 [cited 2012April 22] Available from: http://www.rehablicense.com/licensure.php?profID=8&catID=1&stateID=27
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 2.Montana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Department of Labor & Industry: Business Standards; ? [cited 2012 April 18] Available from: http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_boards/ptp_board/board_page.asp

Disclaimer:   Informational Content is assimilated from the state practice act is a resource only and should not be considered a  substitute for the content within the state practice act.  All state practice acts can change and it is recommended that you refer to the original resource in the link above.