Chapter 486 — Chapter 486
33 sections in this chapter.
Fla. Stat. § 486.011 Short title
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This chapter may be cited as the “Physical Therapy Practice Act.”
Fla. Stat. § 486.015 Legislative intent
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The sole legislative purpose in enacting this chapter is to ensure that every physical therapy practitioner practicing in this state meets minimum requirements for safe practice. It is the legislative intent that physical therapy practitioners who fall below minimum competency or…
Fla. Stat. § 486.021 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:(1) “Board” means the Board of Physical Therapy Practice.(2) “Department” means the Department of Health.(3) “License” means the document of authorization granted by the board and issued by the department fo…
Fla. Stat. § 486.023 Board of Physical Therapy Practice
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(1) There is created within the department the Board of Physical Therapy Practice, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate.(2) Five board members shall be licensed physical therapists in good standing in this state who are res…
Fla. Stat. § 486.025 Powers and duties of the Board of Physical Therapy Practice
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The board may administer oaths; summon witnesses; take testimony in all matters relating to its duties under this chapter; establish or modify minimum standards of practice of physical therapy as defined in s. 486.021, including, but not limited to, standards of practice for the …
Fla. Stat. § 486.028 License to practice physical therapy required
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A person may not practice, or hold herself or himself out as being able to practice, physical therapy in this state unless she or he is licensed under this chapter or holds a compact privilege in this state under the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact as specified in s. 486.112. …
Fla. Stat. § 486.031 Physical therapist; licensing requirements; exemption
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1(1) To be eligible for licensing as a physical therapist, an applicant must:(a) Be at least 18 years old;(b) Be of good moral character; and(c)1. Have graduated from a school of physical therapy which has been approved for the educational preparation of physical therapists by th…
Fla. Stat. § 486.041 Physical therapist; application for license; fee
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A person who desires to be licensed as a physical therapist shall apply to the department in writing on a form furnished by the department. She or he shall embody in that application evidence under oath, satisfactory to the board, of possession of the qualifications preliminary t…
Fla. Stat. § 486.051 Physical therapist; examination of applicant
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The examinations of an applicant for licensing as a physical therapist shall be in accordance with rules adopted by the board, to test the applicant’s qualifications and shall include the taking of a test by the applicant. If an applicant fails to pass the examination in three at…
Fla. Stat. § 486.061 Physical therapist; issuance of license
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The board shall cause a license to be issued through the department to each applicant who successfully establishes eligibility under the terms of this chapter and remits the initial license fee set by the board, not to exceed $150. Any person who holds a license pursuant to this …
Fla. Stat. § 486.0715 Physical therapist; issuance of temporary permit
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(1) The board shall issue a temporary physical therapist permit to an applicant who meets the following requirements:(a) Completes an application for a temporary permit on a form approved by the department.(b) Is a graduate of an approved United States physical therapy educationa…
Fla. Stat. § 486.081 Physical therapist; issuance of license by endorsement; issuance of license without examination to person passing examination of another authorized examining board in a foreign country; fee; exemption
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(1) The board may grant a license by endorsement to be issued by the department to any applicant who meets the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145 or, without examination, to any applicant who presents evidence satisfactory to the board of having passed an…
Fla. Stat. § 486.085 Physical therapist; renewal of license; inactive status; reactivation of license; fees
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(1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of the renewal application and the fee set by the board not to exceed $200.(2) The department shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses.(3) A license that has become inactive may be reacti…
Fla. Stat. § 486.102 Physical therapist assistant; licensing requirements; exemption
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1(1) To be eligible for licensing by the board as a physical therapist assistant, an applicant must:(a) Be at least 18 years old;(b) Be of good moral character; and(c)1. Have graduated from a school providing a course of at least 2 years for physical therapist assistants, which h…
Fla. Stat. § 486.103 Physical therapist assistant; application for license; fee
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A person who desires to be licensed as a physical therapist assistant shall apply to the department in writing on a form furnished by the department. She or he shall embody in that application evidence under oath, satisfactory to the board, of possession of the qualifications pre…
Fla. Stat. § 486.104 Physical therapist assistant; examination of applicant
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The examination of an applicant for licensing as a physical therapist assistant shall be in accordance with rules adopted by the board, to test the applicant’s qualifications and shall include the taking of a test by the applicant. If an applicant fails to pass the examination in…
Fla. Stat. § 486.106 Physical therapist assistant; issuance of license
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The board shall issue a license to each applicant who successfully establishes eligibility under the terms of this chapter and remits the initial license fee set by the board, not to exceed $100. Any person who holds a license pursuant to this section may use the words “physical …
Fla. Stat. § 486.1065 Physical therapist assistant; issuance of temporary permit
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(1) The board shall issue a temporary physical therapist assistant permit to an applicant who meets the following requirements:(a) Completes an application for a temporary permit on a form approved by the department.(b) Is a graduate of an approved United States physical therapy …
Fla. Stat. § 486.107 Physical therapist assistant; issuance of license by endorsement; fee; exemption
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(1) The board may grant a license by endorsement to be issued by the department to any applicant who presents evidence to the board, under oath, of meeting the requirements for licensure by endorsement under s. 456.0145. Any person who holds a license pursuant to this section may…
Fla. Stat. § 486.108 Physical therapist assistant; renewal of license; inactive status; reactivation of license; fees
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(1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of the renewal application and the fee set by the board not to exceed $150.(2) The department shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses.(3) A license that has become inactive may be reacti…
Fla. Stat. § 486.109 Continuing education
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(1) The board shall require licensees to demonstrate their professional competence as a condition of renewal of a license by completing 24 hours of continuing education biennially.(2) The board shall approve only those courses sponsored by a college or university which provides a…
Fla. Stat. § 486.112 Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
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The Physical Therapy Licensure Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by this state with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:ARTICLE IPURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES(1) The purpose of the compact is to facilitate interstate pra…
Fla. Stat. § 486.113 Physical Therapy Compact Commission; public records and meetings exemptions
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(1) A physical therapist’s or a physical therapist assistant’s personal identifying information, other than the person’s name, licensure status, or licensure number, obtained from the coordinated database and reporting system described in Article VIII of s. 486.112 and held by th…
Fla. Stat. § 486.115 Disposition of fees
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All moneys collected by the department under this chapter shall be deposited and expended pursuant to the provisions of s. 456.025.
Fla. Stat. § 486.117 Physical therapist; performance of dry needling
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(1) The board shall establish minimum standards of practice for the performance of dry needling by physical therapists, including, at a minimum, all of the following:(a) Completion of 2 years of licensed practice as a physical therapist.(b) Completion of 50 hours of face-to-face …
Fla. Stat. § 486.123 Sexual misconduct in the practice of physical therapy
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The physical therapist-patient relationship is founded on mutual trust. Sexual misconduct in the practice of physical therapy means violation of the physical therapist-patient relationship through which the physical therapist uses that relationship to induce or attempt to induce …
Fla. Stat. § 486.125 Refusal, revocation, or suspension of license; administrative fines and other disciplinary measures
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(1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2) or s. 486.112:(a) Being unable to practice physical therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotic…
Fla. Stat. § 486.135 False representation of licensure, or willful misrepresentation or fraudulent representation to obtain license, unlawful
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(1)(a) It is unlawful for any person who is not licensed under this chapter as a physical therapist, or whose license has been suspended or revoked, to use in connection with her or his name or place of business the words “physical therapist,” “physiotherapist,” “physical therapy…
Fla. Stat. § 486.151 Prohibited acts; penalty
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(1) It is unlawful for any person to:(a) Practice physical therapy or attempt to practice physical therapy without an active license or temporary permit.(b) Use or attempt to use a license or temporary permit to practice physical therapy which is suspended, revoked, or void.(c) O…
Fla. Stat. § 486.153 Injunctive relief
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The department or any person may, in the name of the state, apply for injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any person from committing any act in violation of this chapter. Such proceedings shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other penalt…
Fla. Stat. § 486.161 Exemptions
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(1) No provision of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any person licensed in this state from using any physical agent as a part of, or incidental to, the lawful practice of her or his profession under the statutes applicable to the profession of chiropractic physician, …
Fla. Stat. § 486.171 Current valid licenses effective
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(1) Any person holding a license to practice physical therapy issued by the board or department, which license is valid when this act takes effect, shall be deemed to be licensed as a physical therapist under this chapter.(2) Any person employed by or assisting the physical thera…
Fla. Stat. § 486.172 Application of s. 456.021
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The provisions of s. 456.021 shall also be applicable to the provisions of this chapter.