As in effect on November 1, 2008
These rules are known as the "Physical Therapist Practice Act Rules".
In addition to the definitions in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a, as used in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a or these rules:
(1) "An accredited school of physical therapy", as used in Subsection 58-24a-109(2)(b), means a college or university:
(a) accredited by CAPTE; or
(b) a foreign education program which is equivalent to a CAPTE accredited program as determined by FSBPT's Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy.
(2) "Approved course work evaluation tool", as used in Subsection R156-24a-302a(3), means the FSBPT's September 2000 revised publication entitled "A Course Work Evaluation Tool For Persons Who Received Their Physical Therapy Education Outside the United States", which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference.
(3) "CAPTE" means Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
(4) "FSBPT" means the Federation of State Licensing Boards of Physical Therapy.
(5) "Joint mobilization", as used in Subsection 58-24a-104(2)(b), means passive and active movements of the joints of a patient, including the spine, to increase the mobility of joint systems; but, does not include specific vertebral adjustment and manipulation of the articulation of the spine by those methods or techniques which are generally recognized as the classic practice of chiropractic.
(6) "Unprofessional conduct" as defined in Title 58, Chapters 1 and 24a, is further defined, in accordance with Subsection 58-1-203(5), in Section R156-24a-502.
These rules are adopted by the division under the authority of Subsection 58-1-106(1) to enable the division to administer Title 58, Chapter 24a.
The organization of this rule and its relationship to Rule R156-1 is as described in Section R156-1- 107.
(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-109(2)(b), the accredited school of physical therapy for a physical therapist shall be accredited by CAPTE at the time of graduation.
(2) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-102(5), a physical therapist assistant shall complete one of the following CAPTE accredited physical therapy education programs:
(a) an associates, bachelors, or masters program; or
(b) a foreign physical therapy education program approved by the division in collaboration with the board, which program is equivalent to a program set forth in Subsection R156-24a-302a(2)(a).
(3) In accordance with Section 58-1-302, an applicant who has been licensed in a foreign country whose degree was not accredited by CAPTE shall document that his education is equal to a CAPTE accredited degree by submitting to the Division a credential evaluation from the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy which shall use the approved course work evaluation tool. Only educational deficiencies in the humanities, social sciences and liberal arts may be corrected by completing college level credits in the deficient areas or by passing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) demonstrating proficiency in the deficient areas.
(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-24a-109(2)(c), each applicant for licensure as a physical therapist, including endorsement applicants, shall pass the FSBPT's National Physical Therapy Examination with a passing score as established by the FSBPT.
(2) In accordance with Section 58-1-309, each applicant for licensure as a physical therapist, including endorsement applicants, shall pass all questions on the open book, take home Utah Physical Therapy Law and Rule Examination.
(3) An applicant must have completed the education requirements set forth in Subsection R156-24a- 302a(1) or (3), or be enrolled in the final semester of a CAPTE accredited program, in order to be eligible to sit for the examination required for Utah licensure as set forth in Subsection R156-24a-302b(1)(a).
(1) In accordance with Subsection 58-1-308(1), the renewal date for the two-year renewal cycle applicable to licensees under Title 58, Chapter 24a is established by rule in Section R156-1-308.
(2) Renewal procedures shall be in accordance with Section R156-1-308.
Unprofessional conduct includes:
(1) violating any provision of the American Physical Therapy Association's Code of Ethics, last amended January 1997, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference; and
(2) not providing supervision as set forth in Section R156-24a-503.
In accordance with Section 58-24a-112, the supervisory responsibilities of a physical therapist include the following:
(1) Adequate supervision requires at a minimum that a supervising physical therapist perform the following activities:
(a) designate or establish channels of written and oral communication;
(b) interpret available information concerning the individual under care;
(c) provide the initial evaluation;
(d) develop a plan of care, including short and long term goals;
(e) select and delegate appropriate tasks of the plan of care;
(f) assess competence of supportive personnel in the delegated tasks;
(g) identify and document precautions, special problems, contraindications, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation; and
(h) reevaluate, adjust plan care when necessary, perform final evaluation, and establish a follow-up plan.
(2) Supervision by a physical therapist of a physical therapist assistant shall include the following conditions:
(a) an initial visit shall be made by the physical therapist for evaluation of the patient and establishment of a plan of care; and
(b) supervision shall be on site by the physical therapist every sixth treatment but no longer than every 30 days from the time of the physical therapist's last evaluation or treatment.
(3) Duties delegated by a physical therapist to a physical therapist assistant may include:
(a) providing physical therapy services according to a plan of care established by the licensed physical therapist;
(b) adjusting a specific treatment procedure in accordance with changes in patient status only with prior evaluation and approval by the supervising physical therapist;
(c) responding to inquiries regarding patient status to appropriate parties within the plan of care established by a supervising physical therapist, but not interpreting data beyond the scope of his physical therapist assistant education; and
(d) referring inquires regarding patient prognosis to the supervising physical therapist.
(4) Duties delegated by a physical therapist to a physical therapist aide may include:
(a) engaging in assembly and disassembly, maintenance and transportation, preparation and all other operational activities relevant to equipment and accessories necessary for treatment; and
(b) providing only that type of elementary and direct patient care which the patient and family members could reasonably be expected to learn and perform.
(5) A physical therapist aide may not interpret referrals, perform evaluations or evaluate procedures, initiate or adjust treatment programs, assume responsibility for planning patient treatment care, perform debridement, topical medical application, or joint mobilization.
(6) Each physical therapist assistant and physical therapist aide shall clearly identify himself as a non-licensed person and shall not present or hold himself out in any way as a physical therapist.
In accordance with Subsection 58-28-8(12)(b), a physical therapist practicing animal massage must complete at least 100 hours of animal physical therapy training and education. The training shall consist of:
(1) completing 50 hours of on the job training under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian;
(2) completing a quadruped anatomy course; and
(3) completing the remaining hours in continuing education.
licensing, physical therapy
January 7, 2002
January 30, 2007
58-24a-101; 58-1-106(1); 58-1-202(1)
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