HB 1583 — An Act amending the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of board, for training and license required and exceptions, for qualifications for license, examinations, failure of examinations, licensure without examination, issuing of license, foreign applicants for licensure, temporary license and perjury, for continuing education, for practice of physical therapy and for physical therapist assistant, education and examination, scope of duties and certification.

PRINTER'S NO.    1894

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1583
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY GALLAGHER, GIRAL, PIELLI, KHAN, CIRESI, SANCHEZ,
        DONAHUE, KENYATTA, BOROWSKI, CERRATO AND GREEN, JUNE 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JUNE 10, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), entitled
 2      "An act relating to the practice of physical therapy,"
 3      further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of
 4      board, for training and license required and exceptions, for
 5      qualifications for license, examinations, failure of
 6      examinations, licensure without examination, issuing of
 7      license, foreign applicants for licensure, temporary license
 8      and perjury, for continuing education, for practice of
 9      physical therapy and for physical therapist assistant,
10      education and examination, scope of duties and certification.
11      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12   hereby enacts as follows:
13      Section 1.    The definition of "certificate of authorization"
14   in section 2 of the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110),
15   known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act, is amended to read:
16      Section 2.    Definitions.--The following definitions shall
17   apply, when used in this act, unless otherwise expressed
18   therein:
19      * * *
20      ["Certificate of authorization" means a certificate, approved
21   by the board, to practice physical therapy without a referral
22   under section 9(a).]
 1      * * *
 2      Section 2.   Sections 3(a), 4(a), 6(a), 7.2, 9(b), (c) and (e)
 3   and 9.1(a) of the act are amended to read:
 4      Section 3.   Powers and Duties of Board.--(a)   It shall be the
 5   duty of the board to pass upon the qualifications of applicants
 6   for licensure as physical therapists and certification as
 7   physical therapist assistants, to conduct examinations, to issue
 8   and renew licenses [and certificates of authorization] to
 9   physical therapists and certificates to physical therapist
10   assistants who qualify under this act, and in proper cases to
11   refuse to issue, suspend or revoke the license [or certificate
12   of authorization] of any physical therapist or certificate of
13   any physical therapist assistant. The board may adopt rules and
14   regulations not inconsistent with law as it may deem necessary
15   for the performance of its duties and the proper administration
16   of this law. The board is authorized and empowered to appoint
17   hearing examiners and to conduct investigations and hearings
18   upon charges for discipline of a licensee or certificate holder
19   or for violations of this act and to cause, through the office
20   of the Attorney General, the prosecution and enjoinder of
21   individuals violating this act. The board shall maintain a
22   register listing the name of every living physical therapist
23   licensed to practice in this State, and every physical therapist
24   assistant duly certified pursuant to section 9.1, such
25   individual's last known place of residence, and the date and
26   number of the physical therapist's license and the physical
27   therapist assistant's certificate. Residential information shall
28   not be considered a public record under the act of June 21, 1957
29   (P.L.390, No.212), referred to as the Right-to-Know Law.
30      * * *

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 1      Section 4.   Training and License Required; Exceptions.--(a)
 2   It shall be unlawful for an individual to practice or hold
 3   [himself] oneself out as being able to practice physical therapy
 4   in this State in any manner whatsoever unless such individual
 5   has met the educational requirements and is licensed in
 6   accordance with the provisions of this act. The board shall
 7   determine standards, by regulations, regarding qualifications
 8   necessary for the performance of such tests or treatment forms
 9   as the board shall determine require additional training or
10   education beyond the educational requirements set forth by this
11   act, as such relates to the practice of physical therapy in
12   accordance with law. Nothing in this act, however, shall
13   prohibit an individual trained and licensed or certified to
14   practice or to act within the scope of his license or
15   certification in this State under any other law, from engaging
16   in the licensed or certified practice for which [he] the
17   individual is trained.
18      * * *
19      Section 6.   Qualifications for License; Examinations; Failure
20   of Examinations; Licensure Without Examination; Issuing of
21   License; Foreign Applicants for Licensure; Temporary License;
22   Perjury.--(a)   To be eligible for licensure as a physical
23   therapist, an applicant must be at least 20 years of age unless
24   otherwise determined by the board in its discretion, be of good
25   moral character, not be addicted to the habitual use of alcohol
26   or narcotics or other habit-forming drugs, and be a graduate of
27   a school offering an educational program in physical therapy as
28   adopted by the board, which program has been approved for the
29   education and training of physical therapists by the appropriate
30   nationally recognized accrediting agency. In assessing the moral

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 1   character of an applicant with a criminal conviction, the board
 2   shall conduct an individualized assessment in accordance with 63
 3   Pa.C.S. § 3113 (relating to consideration of criminal
 4   convictions). An applicant completing the professional study of
 5   physical therapy after 2002 must hold a minimum of a master's
 6   degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher
 7   education. An applicant completing the professional study of
 8   physical therapy between January 1967 and 2002 must hold a
 9   minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
10   institution of higher education. In the case of those applicants
11   who have completed requirements prior to the first day of
12   January, 1967, but who may not technically or totally fulfill
13   the above requirements, the board at its discretion and by the
14   majority vote of all members present may accept evidence of
15   satisfactory equivalence. The board shall not issue a license to
16   an applicant who has been convicted of a felony under the act of
17   April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as "The Controlled
18   Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," or of an offense
19   under the laws of another jurisdiction which, if committed in
20   this Commonwealth, would be a felony under "The Controlled
21   Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act," unless:
22      (1)   at least ten years have elapsed from the date of
23   conviction;
24      (2)   the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the board
25   that he has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation
26   since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should
27   not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the
28   health and safety of patients or the public or a substantial
29   risk of further criminal violations; and
30      (3)   the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications

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 1   contained in or authorized by this act.
 2      As used in this subsection the term "convicted" includes a
 3   judgment, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere.
 4      * * *
 5      Section 7.2.   Continuing Education.--For each license
 6   renewal, a licensee shall complete within the immediately
 7   preceding two-year period at least 30 hours of continuing
 8   physical therapy education as approved by the board. The
 9   licensee shall provide the board with evidence of the completion
10   of the continuing education. [A physical therapist who has met
11   the continuing education requirements for a certificate of
12   authorization set forth in section 9(c)(1) shall be deemed to
13   have met the continuing education requirement for license
14   renewal. No credit shall be given for any course in office
15   management or practice building.]
16      Section 9.   Practice of Physical Therapy.--* * *
17      (b)   Licensees who meet the standards set forth in this
18   subsection may [apply to the board for a certificate of
19   authorization to] practice physical therapy under this act
20   without the required referral under subsection (a). [A
21   certificate of authorization to] To practice physical therapy
22   without a referral under subsection (a) shall not authorize a
23   physical therapist either to treat a condition in an individual
24   which is a nonneurologic, nonmuscular or nonskeletal condition
25   or to treat an individual who has an acute cardiac or acute
26   pulmonary condition unless the physical therapist has consulted
27   with the individual's licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist
28   regarding the individual's condition and the physical therapy
29   treatment plan or has referred the individual to a licensed
30   physician, dentist or podiatrist for diagnosis and referral.

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 1   [The certificate of authorization shall be issued only to
 2   licensed physical therapists practicing physical therapy. The
 3   certificate of authorization shall be displayed by the
 4   certificate holder in a manner conspicuous to the public. The
 5   renewal of the certificate of authorization shall coincide with
 6   the renewal of the license of the licensee. Licensees making
 7   application for a certificate of authorization] To practice
 8   physical therapy under this subsection, a licensee shall present
 9   satisfactory evidence to the board of all of the following:
10      (1)    That the licensee has[:
11      (i)]    passed an examination for licensure to practice
12   physical therapy, which examination included testing on the
13   appropriate evaluative procedures to treat an individual without
14   a referral.[; or
15      (ii)    passed an examination for licensure to practice
16   physical therapy prior to 1990 and successfully completed a
17   course approved by the board on the appropriate evaluative
18   procedures to treat an individual without a referral.
19      (2)    That the licensee has:
20      (i)    practiced physical therapy as a licensed physical
21   therapist in the delivery of patient care in accordance with
22   this act on a continuous basis for at least two years
23   immediately preceding the application for a certificate of
24   authorization;
25      (ii)    been licensed under section 6(d.1) and has practiced
26   physical therapy in the delivery of patient care as a licensed
27   physical therapist in a reciprocal state on a continuous basis
28   for at least two years immediately preceding the application for
29   a certificate of authorization; or
30      (iii)    provided proof of meeting the standards of clause (i)

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 1   or (ii) of this paragraph through the application of any
 2   combination thereof.]
 3      (3)    That the license of that licensee has been maintained in
 4   good standing.
 5      (4)    That the licensee has professional liability insurance
 6   in accordance with the following provisions:
 7      (ii)    A licensee shall notify the board within 30 days of the
 8   licensee's failure to be covered by the required insurance.
 9   Failure to notify the board shall be actionable under section 11
10   or 12. [Further, the certificate of authorization of that
11   licensee shall automatically be suspended upon failure to be
12   covered by the required insurance and shall not be restored
13   until submission to the board of satisfactory evidence that the
14   licensee has the required professional liability insurance
15   coverage.]
16      (iii)     The board shall accept from licensees as satisfactory
17   evidence of insurance coverage under this subsection any or all
18   of the following: self-insurance, personally purchased
19   professional liability insurance, professional liability
20   insurance coverage provided by the licensee's employer or any
21   similar type of coverage.
22      (iii.1)    A licensee under this act, practicing in this
23   Commonwealth, shall maintain a level of professional liability
24   insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per
25   occurrence or claims made. Failure to maintain insurance
26   coverage as required shall subject the licensee to disciplinary
27   proceedings. The board shall accept as satisfactory evidence of
28   insurance coverage any of the following:
29      (A)    self-insurance;
30      (B)    personally purchased liability insurance; or

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 1      (C)    professional liability insurance coverage provided by
 2   the physical therapist's employer or similar insurance coverage
 3   acceptable to the board.
 4      (iii.2)   A license applicant shall provide proof that the
 5   applicant has obtained professional liability insurance in
 6   accordance with subparagraph (iii.1). It is sufficient if the
 7   applicant files with the application a copy of a letter from the
 8   applicant's professional liability insurance carrier indicating
 9   that the applicant will be covered against professional
10   liability in the required amounts effective upon the issuance of
11   the applicant's license to practice physical therapy in this
12   Commonwealth.
13      (iii.3)   Upon issuance of a license, a licensee has 30 days
14   to submit to the board the certificate of insurance or a copy of
15   the policy declaration page.
16      (iv)   The board shall adopt, by regulation, standards and
17   procedures established by the Insurance Commissioner for self-
18   insurance. In the absence of these standards and procedures, the
19   board, after consultation with the Insurance Commissioner, shall
20   establish standards and procedures by regulation for self-
21   insurance under this subsection.
22      [(c)   (1)   For each renewal of the certificate of
23   authorization, the licensee shall complete within the
24   immediately preceding two-year period at least 30 hours of
25   continuing physical therapy education related to keeping the
26   certificate holder apprised of advancements and new developments
27   in the practice of the physical therapy profession. At least ten
28   of the 30 hours shall be in appropriate evaluative procedures to
29   treat an individual without a referral. No credit shall be given
30   for any course in office management or practice building. The

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 1   licensee shall provide the board with evidence of the completion
 2   of the continuing education.
 3      (2)   Continuing education programs and program providers
 4   under this subsection shall be approved by the board in
 5   accordance with standards and criteria established by the board
 6   by regulation. The regulation shall include any fees necessary
 7   to implement this provision and provide for waiver of the
 8   continuing education requirement due to illness or hardship in
 9   any licensing renewal period.]
10      * * *
11      (e)   A physical therapist may treat an individual without a
12   referral as provided for in subsection (b) for up to [30] 60
13   days from the date of the first treatment. A physical therapist
14   shall not treat an individual beyond [30] 60 days from the date
15   of the first treatment unless he or she has obtained a referral
16   from a licensed physician; a licensed physician assistant
17   practicing pursuant to a written agreement with a physician; a
18   certified registered nurse practitioner practicing pursuant to a
19   collaborative agreement with a physician; or a licensed dentist
20   or licensed podiatrist, for the treatment of a condition that is
21   within the scope of practice of dentistry or podiatry. The date
22   of the first treatment for purposes of this subsection is the
23   date the individual is treated by any physical therapist
24   treating without a referral.
25      * * *
26      Section 9.1.   Physical Therapist Assistant; Education and
27   Examination; Scope of Duties; Certification.--(a)   To be
28   eligible for certification by the board as a physical therapist
29   assistant, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age unless
30   otherwise determined by the board, be of good moral character,

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 1   not be addicted to the habitual use of alcohol or narcotics or
 2   other habit-forming drugs, be a graduate of a physical therapist
 3   assistant program adopted by the board, which program has been
 4   approved for the education and training for physical therapist
 5   assistants by the appropriate nationally recognized accrediting
 6   agency and be successful in passing an examination approved by
 7   the board, subject to rules and regulations established by the
 8   board and administered in accordance with section 812.1 of the
 9   act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The
10   Administrative Code of 1929." In assessing the moral character
11   of an applicant with a criminal conviction, the board shall
12   conduct an individualized assessment in accordance with 63
13   Pa.C.S. § 3113 (relating to consideration of criminal
14   convictions). Applicants eligible to register with the board
15   shall be deemed eligible for certification by the board until
16   such time as the board promulgates any regulation regarding
17   certification. No applicant shall be certified unless [he] the
18   applicant has attained passing scores established by the board
19   and published prior to the administration of the examination.
20      * * *
21      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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