Maryland Administrative Code

.01 Code of Ethics. A. The physical therapist and physical therapist assistant shall provide care regardless of the patient's: (1) Race; (2) Religion; (3) Color; (4) Age; (5) National origin; (6) Marital status; (7) Sexual orientation; (8) Gender identity; or (9) Disability. B. T…

.02 Sexual Misconduct. A. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may not engage in sexual misconduct. B. Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to: (1) Sexual behavior with a client or patient in the context of a professional evaluation, treatment, procedure…

.03 Penalties. Violation of Regulation .01 or .02 of this chapter may result in the Board taking action to reprimand a licensee or place the licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke the licensee's license. The Board may also impose a penalty not exceeding $5,000.

.01 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Board” means the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners of Maryland created by Health Occupations Article, §13-201, Annotated Code of Maryland. (2) “Clinical treatment hour” …

.02 Standards of Practice. A. Physical Therapists. (1) The physical therapist who establishes or changes the plan of care shall be ultimately responsible for patient care until another physical therapist: (a) Provides services to the patient; or (b) Provides supervision to the tr…

.02-1 Requirements for Documentation. A. The physical therapist shall document legibly the patient's chart each time the patient is seen for: (1) The initial visit, by including the following information: (a) Date; (b) Condition, or diagnosis, or both, for which physical therapy …

.03 Penalties. Violation of these regulations may result in the Board taking action to reprimand a licensee, place a licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license. The Board may also impose a penalty not exceeding $5,000.

.01 Definition. A. In these regulations, the following term has the meaning indicated. B. Term Defined. “Physical therapy aide” or “aide” means a person who performs certain physical therapy duties under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This individual may…

.02 Requirements. A. Supervision. (1) The physical therapy aide shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist when performing those physical therapy treatments that the aide is permitted to perform. (2) Exceptions. An aide may: (a) Perform non-treatment-r…

.03 Activities Which May Be Performed by Aides under Direct Supervision. The following activities may be performed by aides under direct supervision: A. Assist in the practice of gait and ambulation; B. Assist in the practice of functional activities; C. Assist in the practice of…

.04 Prohibited Activities. A. Evaluation may not be performed by aides. B. Treatments other than those listed in Regulation .03 of this chapter may not be performed by aides.

.05 Penalty. A physical therapy aide who violates the above regulations shall be considered by the Board to be practicing physical therapy in violation of the Maryland Physical Therapy Practice Act and may be referred to the appropriate State's Attorney's Office with a recommenda…

.01 Scope. This chapter governs procedures for disciplinary matters and hearings before the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

.02 Definitions A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “Administrative law judge” means the hearing officer assigned to preside over a hearing in a case which the Board has delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings purs…

.03 Confidentiality of Proceedings. A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the proceedings of the Board are confidential and that confidentiality may not be waived by the parties. B. The Office of Administrative Hearings’ proceedings involving the adjudication of a Board formal …

.04 Representation by Counsel. A. A respondent may be represented by counsel at any stage of a formal disciplinary action. B. If a hearing is held, the respondent shall be represented: (1) In proper person; or (2) By an attorney who has been: (a) Admitted to the Maryland Bar; or …

.05 Disposition of Complaints. A. For each complaint, after reviewing any completed investigative information or reports, the Board shall: (1) Dismiss the complaint; (2) Close the case with informal action; (3) Issue a cease and desist order; (4) Refer the matter for further inve…

.06 Notice of Charges or Notice of Initial Denial. A. If the Board issues charges or a notice of initial denial, the document shall be: (1) Served on the respondent by certified mail at the address the respondent is required to maintain with the Board; or (2) Hand-delivered in pe…

.07 Notice of Hearing. A. Except for a show cause hearing, written notice of all hearings shall be sent by the Executive Director or an officer of the Board to all parties at least 30 days before the hearing. B. The Board shall serve the notice of hearing by either: (1) Certified…

.08 Prehearing Conference and Case Resolution Conference. A. The Board may set a prehearing conference or a case resolution conference, or both. B. The prehearing conference may be used to prepare for the hearing by: (1) Delineating the issues; (2) Stipulating to facts, laws, and…

.09 Discovery. A. Discovery on Request. By written request served on the other party and filed with the Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings, as appropriate, a party may require another party to produce, within 15 days, the following: (1) A list of witnesses to be calle…

.10 Evidentiary Hearings. A. Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. B. The Board may delegate its authority to conduct hearings to: (1) A hearing committee of the Board; or (2) The Office of Administrative Hearings. C. Confidentiality. (1) Heari…

.11 Recommended Decisions, Exceptions Hearings, and Oral Argument. A. If a case has been delegated to a hearing committee of the Board or to the Office of Administrative Hearings pursuant to State Government Article, §10-205, Annotated Code of Maryland, the hearing committee or a…

.12 Revocation of Hearing Authority from the Office of Administrative Hearings. A. Consistent with the provisions of State Government Article, §10-205, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Board may revoke authority delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings by written notice.…

.13 Summary Suspensions. A. The Board shall order the summary suspension of a license if the Board determines that there is a substantial likelihood that a licensee poses a risk of harm to the public health, safety, or welfare. B. Based on information gathered in an investigation…

.14 Surrender of a License. A. The Board may accept the surrender of a license. B. The Board may require conditions for surrender of a license, including but not limited to: (1) The admission of a violation of the Maryland Physical Therapy Act; (2) The admission of facts; (3) A s…

.15 Probation and Violation of Probation. A. If the Board imposes a period of probation as a sanction, the Board may impose conditions of probation which the Board deems appropriate, including: (1) Re-education or completion of approved courses; (2) Payment of a fine; (3) Practic…

.16 Reinstatement. A. A licensee shall petition the Board for a lifting of the suspension of a license or a reinstatement following revocation or surrender of a license. B. The Board may reinstate a license only in accordance with: (1) The terms and conditions of the order of rev…

.01 Requirements for Licensure. A. Application Options. (1) An applicant educated in a physical therapy core curriculum outside the United States or its territories shall apply for licensure under one of the categories described in §A(2)—(4) of this regulation. (2) Examination. T…

.02 Reexamination. A. National Licensing Examination. (1) An applicant who fails shall repeat the examination. (2) Fees. (a) The applicant shall pay to the Board the reexamination fee as specified in COMAR 10.38.07. (b) An applicant who fails the licensing examination twice shall…

.03 Issuance of Licenses. A. Temporary License. (1) The Board may issue a temporary license to an applicant who, except for passing an examination otherwise required under Health Occupations Article, Title 13, Annotated Code of Maryland, has met the appropriate education and expe…

.04 Restrictions. A. The Board may refuse to grant a license to an applicant who: (1) Begins practice as a physical therapist before being licensed to practice in Maryland; (2) Practices after the date of expiration of the license; (3) Fails the licensing examinations; or (4) Fai…

.01 Scope. These regulations govern all persons licensed or applying for licensure by the Board.

.02 Fees. A. The following fees are established by the Board: (1) Application fee — $150; (2) Biennial renewal fee: (a) Physical therapist — $325; (b) Physical therapist assistant — $300; (3) Reinstatement fee — $400; (4) Restricted license — $125; (5) Duplicate license — $75; (6…

.03 Refunds. Fees paid to the Board are nonrefundable.

.04 Change of Fees. Fees are subject to change by action of the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. The Board shall notify licensees and applicants of changes.

.01 Scope. This chapter governs: A. A licensee applying for renewal; B. An individual applying for reinstatement of licensure; and C. Providers of continuing education.

.02 Definitions. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) “APTA” means the American Physical Therapy Association and its: (a) Academies; (b) Sections; and (c) State chapters. (2) CE Hour. (a) “CE hour” means a period of 60 minutes…

.03 Continuing Education Requirements. A. Continuing education is a requirement for renewal or reinstatement of licenses for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which may be obtained by: (1) Postgraduate studies which include academic and professional studies t…

.04 Continuing Education Course Approval. A. To obtain approval of continuing education, a provider shall submit the following information to the Board 6 weeks before the activity commencement date: (1) An application on a Board-approved application form, accompanied by any requi…

.05 Renewal Requirements. A. A licensee shall: (1) Earn CE hours between June 1 and May 31 during the 2-year period before renewal; and (2) Maintain records of the CE subject matter, certificates of completion, hours, date, and CE hours to present to the Board on request. B. CE h…

.06 Auditing Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements. A. The Board shall audit the continuing education records of as many licensees as time and resources allow. B. The Board shall send an audit letter to those to be audited at the close of the renewal period. C. At the…

.07 Reinstatement Requirements. A. A physical therapist shall earn 30 CE hours in the 2-year period immediately preceding reinstatement. B. A physical therapist assistant shall earn 20 CE hours in the 2-year period immediately preceding reins.

.08 Continuing Education Professional Development Criteria. CE activities meeting the criteria for continuing education requirements for the practice of physical therapy may include: A. Postgraduate academic course work in physical therapy taken at an accredited college or univer…

.01 Speech-Impaired Applicants. A. An applicant who claims a speech impairment shall fulfill all requirements for application and shall submit to the Board the following: (1) Documentation of the applicant's impairment from an otolaryngologist, who has current certification from …

.02 Other Requirements. A. A foreign-trained speech-impaired applicant shall notify the Board before taking a Board-approved standardized test of oral competency. B. The Board shall attempt to locate a speech-language pathologist fluent in the applicant's native language to asses…

.01 Scope. This chapter establishes standards for the imposition of disciplinary sanctions, monetary penalties, and civil fines for violations of the Maryland Physical Therapy Act.