California

Original Editor - Ashlea Anthony from Bellarmine University's United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts project

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California Physical Therapy Practice Act

Access the California Physical Therapy Practice Act here.

Requirements for License

Applicants for licensure must:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Not be addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance
• Have successfully completed the education and training required by Section 2650
• Not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480
• Pass an examination under the direction of the board demonstrating the applicant's knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the practice of physical therapy in California
• Pass the NPTE for the applicant's licensure category
• Take the examination within 90 days of application
  

Temporary License Requirements/Availability

The state of California allows for temporary licensure pending a passing score on the NPTE.  The graduate of an approved PT education program may file a complete application for licensure with the board for the first time and then, after receiving a letter of authorization from the board, practice as a "physical therapist license applicant" under direct supervision of a PT who is licensed in the state of California.

• If the applicant passes the examination, s/he may continue to practice as a "physical therapist license applicant" until a regular renewable license is issued, or until licensure is denied by the board.
• If the applicant fails the examination, or if s/he passes the examination but licensure is denied by the board, the applicant will be prohibited from peforming as a physical therapist license applicant at any time in the future.
  

Requirements: 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.  An applicant may only qualify once to perform as a physical therapist license applicant.

Does the Act appear restrictive? Why/Why not?

The California practice act does not appear necessarily restrictive as it gives a fairly broad description of what is within the scope of the physical therapist.

However, one of the restrictions on physical therapists was centered around violation of the Medical Practice Act.  For instance, PTs can only perform such techniques as EMG/NCS with the "specified authorization" of a physician and surgeon, and are unable to develop diagnostic or prognostic interpretations of the data obtained from such tests.  Violation of this provision is actually a violation of the Medical Practice Act of California.

Is there anything unusual about this act?

I'm not sure if this is necessarily unusual, but I thought that it had an interesting definition of what is within the scope of the physical therapist.

"Physical therapy means the art and science of physical or corrective rehabilitation or of physical or corrective treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and active, passive, and resistive exercise..."

References

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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.