Michigan

United States Physical Therapy Practice Acts

Original Editor - Your name will be added here if you created the original content for this page.

Top Contributors - Linsey Schmalz, Admin, Elaine Lonnemann, WikiSysop and Kim Jackson  



Temporary License Requirements/Availability[edit | edit source]

A person shall not engage in the practice of physical therapy or practice as a physical therapist assistant unless licensed or otherwise authorized under this part. A person shall engage in the actual treatment of an individual only upon the prescription of an individual holding a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180, or the equivalent license issued by another state.

The board shall grant a limited license to an applicant who is a graduate of a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education. A limited license issued under this section is effective until the board formally issues or denies a license to the applicant.

Requirements for License[edit | edit source]

  • Program accreditation standards; physical therapist; adoption of standards by reference.

(1) The board approves and adopts by reference in these rules the standards and evaluative criteria for accreditation of physical therapist educational programs set forth by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education in the document entitled "Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapists," effective January 1, 2006.

(2) Any educational program for physical therapists that is accredited by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education qualifies as a physical therapist educational program approved by the board.

  • In addition to meeting the requirements of the code and these administrative rules, an applicant shall meet all of the following requirements:
    (a) Graduate from an accredited physical therapist educational program that meets the standards adopted by the board (b) Pass a physical therapist licensure examination that is approved by the board.
    (c) Pass the examination on laws and rules related to the practice of physical therapy in Michigan which is administered by the department.
  • To be eligible for examination, an applicant shall meet 1 of the following requirements:

(a) Graduate from an accredited physical therapist educational program that meets the standards adopted by the board in (b) Comply with the requirements of R 338.7135.
(c) Submit documentation acceptable to the board verifying that the applicant is currently enrolled in the final semester, term, or quarter of an approved physical therapist educational program and is expected to graduate.

  • Graduate of non-accredited postsecondary  institution;  physical therapist; examination; eligibility.
       (a)   Evidence  of  having completed a substantially equivalent physical therapist  educational  program
    includes an evaluation of the applicant's  non-accredited  education  by  the foreign credentialing commission on physical therapy (fccpt), 124 
  •   (b)  Demonstrate a  working  knowledge  of  the  English  language  if  the applicant's physical therapist educational program was taught in  a  language other than English.  To  demonstrate  a  working  knowledge  of  the  English language, the applicant shall establish either of the following:
      (i)  The applicant has obtained a score of not less than 550 on the test of English as a foreign language (toefl) and a score of not less  than  50  on  the  test  of  spoken English administered by the educational testing service.
  • ii)  The applicant has obtained a total score of not less than 89  on  the test of English  as  a  foreign  language  internet-based  test  (toefl  ibt)   (Not less than 21 on the reading section, Not less than 18 on the listening section, Not less than 26 on the speaking section, & Not less than 24 on the writing section.)

Supervision [edit | edit source]

A  physical  therapist  who  delegates  acts,  tasks,  functions,  or interventions  to  a  physical  therapist  assistant  shall  provide  general supervision of the physical therapist assistant. 

  • "General supervision" means that the PT is not required to be physically present on site, but must be continuously available  at  the  time the procedure is performed.
  • Continuously available includes  availability  by telecommunication or other electronic device.
  • A PT may not supervise more than 4 PTAs at one time

A  physical  therapist  who  delegates  acts,  tasks,  functions,  or interventions  shall also comply  with  all  of the following:

  (a)  Ensure the qualifications of the PTA under the PT's supervision, including verification of the  PTA's training, education, and licensure.
  (b)   Examine  and  evaluate  the  patient  or  client  before  delegating interventions to be performed by a PTA.
  (c)  Provide supervision of a PTA to  whom  acts, tasks, functions, or interventions have been delegated.
  (d)  Provide  predetermined  procedures  and  protocols  for  acts,  tasks, functions, or interventions that have been delegated.
  (e)  Maintain a record of the names of the PTAs to whom acts, tasks, functions, or interventions have been delegated.
  (f)  Monitor a PTA's practice  and  provision  of assigned physical therapy acts, tasks, functions, or interventions.
  (g)  Meet regularly and in person with the physical therapist assistant  to whom acts, tasks, functions, or interventions have been delegated to evaluate the  assistant's  performance,  review  records,  and  educate  the  PTA on the acts, tasks, functions, or interventions that have been delegated.

Physical Therapy Students [edit | edit source]

A PT who delegates acts, tasks,  or  functions  to  an unlicensed individual shall provide  direct  supervision  of  the  unlicensed individual. 

  •  "Direct  supervision"  means  that  the physical therapist  is  physically  present  and  immediately  available  for
    direction and supervision when patients or clients are present  at  the  time the act, task, or function is performed, and that the PT has direct contact with the patient during each visit. (Not applicable to Student PT or Student PTA)

A physical therapist who delegates acts,  tasks,  or  functions utilizing an unlicensed professional should abide by the following:
  (a)  Ensure the qualifications  of  the  unlicensed  individual  under  the PT's direct  supervision,  including  verification  of  the unlicensed individual's training and education.
  (b)  Examine and evaluate the patient before  delegating  acts, tasks, or functions to be performed by an unlicensed individual. (Not applicable to Student PT or Student PTA)
  (c)  Supervise an unlicensed individual to whom acts, tasks,  or  functions have been delegated.
  (d)  Provide predetermined procedures and protocols  for  acts,  tasks,  or functions that have been delegated.
  (e)  Maintain a record of the names of the unlicensed individuals  to  whom acts, tasks, or functions have been delegated.
  (f)  Monitor an unlicensed individual's practice and provision of  assigned acts, tasks, or functions.
  (g)  Meet regularly and in person with the unlicensed  individual  to  whom acts, tasks, or functions have been delegated to  evaluate  the  individual's performance, review records, and educate the  unlicensed  individual  on  the acts, tasks, or functions that have been delegated.

A PT  shall  not  supervise  more  than  3  unlicensed individuals at the same time, regardless of whether  the  PT has delegated the supervision of  an  unlicensed  individual  to  a  PTA 

A physical therapist shall not delegate the performance of a  physical therapy intervention to an unlicensed individual. (Not applicable to a Student PT or Student PTA)

Continued Competence [edit | edit source]

Currently there are no requirements listed in the state practice act for PTs to report continuing education opportunities to maintain their license.[1]

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

This act uses informal language of shall, but is really implicated to mean 'will.' Also, this practice act seems very detailed on giving variety of options to achieve requirements and seems willing to accommodate unique circumstances as well as giving a step-by-step process to achieve the requirements is helpful.

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

  • An applicant who fails to achieve passing scores on the examinations required in R 338. 7133 may retake either or both of the examinations without limitation. Thinking in the future that the APTA or the FSBPT will limit the amount of board re-takes.
  • The board approves the examination on laws and rules related to the practice of physical therapy in Michigan which is administered by the department. The passing score on the laws and rules examination is a converted score of not less than 75. The FSBPT passing scores were not specified and it was odd to find it narrowed down into a percentage.
  • No stated requirements for CE. I would want my PT to be as current in their treatment approach as possible and since graduating, methods are bound to change and improve.

http://www.apta.org/Licensure/StatePracticeActs/

References
[edit | edit source]

  1. Physical Therapist CE. Available at http://www.continuingeducation.com/physical-therapy/state-ce-requirements/kentucky Accessed April 19, 2012.

Michigan Legislature. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ddwz1quq5esrisa2lpowno55))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-333-17827 Accessed April 17, 2012.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Available at http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=33807101&Dpt=CH&RngHigh= Accessed April 18, 2012.

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.