SECTIONS 2630-2640 - California Statutes

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.