Montana Administrative Code

24.118.2301 UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-319, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-316, 37-1-319, 37-36-202, MCA History: NEW, 2011 MAR p. 576, Eff. 4/15/11; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 427, Eff. 4/27/19; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 564, Eff. 5/15/2…

24.118.301 DEFINITIONS (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-36-101, 37-36-203, MCA History: NEW, 2011 MAR p. 576, Eff. 4/15/11; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 427, Eff. 4/27/19; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 564, Eff. 5/15/21; REP, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 20…

24.118.402 FEE SCHEDULE (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-134, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-134, 37-36-201, 37-36-202, MCA History: NEW, 2008 MAR p. 1705, Eff. 8/15/08; AMD, 2011 MAR p. 576, Eff. 4/15/11; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 2378, Eff. 11/24/12; AMD,…

24.118.403 FEE ABATEMENT (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 17-2-302, 17-2-303, 37-1-134, MCA History: NEW, 2022 MAR p. 1837, Eff. 9/24/22; REP, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.

24.118.501 APPLICATIONS (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-201, MCA History: NEW, 2012 MAR p. 2378, Eff. 11/24/12; REP, 2021 MAR p. 564, Eff. 5/15/21.

24.118.502 NONROUTINE APPLICATIONS (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-101, 37-1-131, MCA History: NEW, 2012 MAR p. 2378, Eff. 11/24/12; AMD, 2021 MAR p. 556, Eff. 5/15/21; REP, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.…

24.118.503 APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-101, 37-1-131, MCA History: NEW, 2021 MAR p. 556, Eff. 5/15/21; REP, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.

24.118.504 SUPERVISION (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-101, 37-36-203, MCA History: NEW, 2011 MAR p. 576, Eff. 4/15/11; REP, 2021 MAR p. 564, Eff. 5/15/21.

24.118.507 LIMIT ON NONLICENSEE CONDUCT (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-102, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-36-101, 37-36-203, 37-36-204, MCA History: NEW, 2011 MAR p. 576, Eff. 4/15/11; REP, 2019 MAR p. 427, Eff. 4/27/19.

24.118.509 MILITARY TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE (REPEALED) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-145, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-145, MCA History: NEW, 2014 MAR p. 1393, Eff. 6/27/14; REP, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.

24.119.1001 PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDES, LICENSE EXEMPTION, AND SUPERVISION (1) For the purpose of this rule, "direct supervision" means that the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant is onsite (on the premises physically) and immediately available for directi…

24.119.101 ORGANIZATIONAL RULE (1) The Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals adopts and incorporates the rules of the Department of Labor and Industry as listed in chapter 1 of this title. Authorizing statute(s): 2-4-201, MCA Implementing …

24.119.1013 DRY NEEDLING (1) Dry needling is a skilled technique performed by a physical therapist using a mechanical device, filiform needles, to penetrate the skin and/or underlying tissues to affect change in body structures and functions for the evaluation and management of n…

24.119.1014 FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS (1) Physical examinations for purposes of obtaining a Department of Transportation (DOT) motor carrier license are limited to licensees who have completed the requisite medical examiner training and exa…

24.119.1021 APPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION (1) Applicants for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant licensure by examination shall file with the board an application which shall include the following: (a) application fee; and (b) for applican…

24.119.1031 USE OF TOPICAL MEDICATIONS (1) Topical medication prescribed on a specific or standing basis by a licensed medical practitioner may be obtained from a pharmacy certified under 37-7-321, MCA, by either: (a) the physical therapist directly, who will administer the topic…

24.119.1034 TOPICAL MEDICATION PROTOCOLS (1) The following protocols apply to each classification and following list of topical medications for which a prescription is required under state or federal law: (a) bactericidal agents: (i) action: interferes with functions of the cell …

24.119.1037 APPLICATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF TOPICAL MEDICATION (1) All topical medication shall be applied or administered by a physical therapist in accordance with 37-11-106, MCA, by: direct application, iontophoresis, or phonophoresis. (2) All topical medication shall be app…

24.119.1210 SUPERVISION (1) A supervisor may not be responsible for more than two aides at any time. (2) Speech-language pathology and audiology assistants must notify the board within ten days of any change in supervisor. (3) Limited licensees and professional experience supervi…

24.119.1228 LIMITED LICENSES (1) A limited license permits an individual to complete a supervised professional experience as described in ARM 24.119.1229 in order to meet requirements for licensure as a speech-language pathologist. (2) Applicants for limited licensure must submit…

24.119.1229 SUPERVISED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (1) A limited licensee may perform all duties and functions of a licensed speech-language pathologist while engaged in a supervised professional experience. (2) A Montana supervised professional experience must: (a) be a minimum of 3…

24.119.1235 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AND AUDIOLOGIST LICENSURE – INITIAL APPLICANTS (1) Applicants for a Montana single-state speech-language pathologist license must: (a) have a minimum of a master's degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders from a progra…

24.119.1240 ASSISTANT LICENSURE – INITIAL APPLICANTS (1) Speech-language pathology assistant applicants not currently licensed in another state or jurisdiction and who did not serve as unlicensed aides or assistants in Montana prior to July 15, 2025, must have either: (a) a bacca…

24.119.1250 QUALIFICATIONS AND PERMITTED ACTIVITIES FOR AIDES (1) The speech-language pathology or audiology supervisor and/or appropriate administrative agency is responsible for ensuring that the speech-language pathology or audiology aide is adequately trained for the tasks th…

24.119.201 PROCEDURAL RULES (1) The Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals adopts and incorporates the rules of the Department of Labor and Industry as listed in chapter 2 of this title. Authorizing statute(s): 2-4-201, MCA Implementing sta…

24.119.202 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (1) The Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals adopts and incorporates the public participation rules of the Department of Labor and Industry as listed in chapter 2 of this title. Authorizing statute(s): 2-3-…

24.119.2101 CONTINUING EDUCATION (1) Licensees are required to obtain continuing education annually, as follows: (a) athletic trainers: continuing education required to maintain current certification by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer; (b) audiologists: 10 hou…

24.119.2301 UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT (1) The following is unprofessional conduct: (a) regarding patient records, failure to: (i) appropriately secure records; (ii) appropriately document patient care; or (iii) transfer records to another health care provider, the patient, or the pa…

24.119.401 FEES (1) Fees for athletic trainers are: (a) original application: $175; (b) renewal: $75. (2) Fees for occupational therapists and assistants are: (a) original application: $190; (b) renewal: $110; (c) provisional license: $120; (d) inactive status: (i) conversion to …

24.119.402 FEE ABATEMENT (1) The board adopts and incorporates by reference the fee abatement rule of the Department of Labor and Industry found at ARM 24.101.301. Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, 37-78-201, MCA Implementing statute(s): 17-2-302, 17-2-303, 37-1-134, MCA History:…

24.119.403 ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION (1) The board authorizes the department to: (a) administratively suspend licenses for deficiencies set forth in 37-1-321(1)(a) through (e), MCA; or (b) file a complaint pertaining to the deficiencies in (1) that are based on repeated or egregi…

24.119.405 NONROUTINE APPLICATIONS (1) For the purpose of processing nonroutine applications, the board incorporates the definitions of routine and nonroutine at ARM 24.101.402 by reference. (2) Nonroutine applications must be reviewed and approved by the board before a license m…

24.119.406 APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS (1) The board incorporates and adopts ARM 24.101.406. Authorizing statute(s): 37-1-131, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-1-101, 37-1-131, MCA History: NEW, 2026 MAR, Notice No. 2026-148, Eff. 7/25/26.

24.119.410 SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY (1) The board adopts and incorporates by reference the 2025 substantial equivalency list for the Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals publication. The publication is available on the board’s website. (2)…

24.119.420 INACTIVE LICENSE -- CONVERSION TO ACTIVE (1) Licenses of speech-language pathologists and audiologists, speech-language pathology and audiology assistants, and occupational therapists may be placed on inactive status by paying the appropriate fee and: (a) indicating in…

24.119.801 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVISIONAL LICENSE (1) A provisional license may be obtained by occupational therapy course graduates who are waiting to sit for examination. The provisional license is valid until the person either fails the first examination for which the pers…

24.119.803 EXAMINATIONS (1) The board adopts the examination and pass/fail criteria administered through the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). (2) Applicants must ensure that NBCOT forwards examination scores to the board. Authorizing statute(s): 37…

24.119.805 SUPERVISION (1) Supervisors shall determine the required level of supervision based on the supervisee's clinical experience, responsibilities, and competence. (2) Occupational therapists do not require supervision except for direct supervision of proctored treatments. …

24.119.806 RECOGNIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (1) For licensure as an occupational therapist, the board recognizes those educational programs approved or recognized either by the American Occupational Therapy Association or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Educatio…

24.119.807 STANDARDS OF PRACTICE (1) The board adopts by reference the 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association's Standards of Practice. A copy of these standards is available at aota.org. Authorizing statute(s): 37-78-201, MCA Implementing statute(s): 37-24-105, 37-24-106,…

24.119.809 APPROVED MODALITY INSTRUCTION (1) The board has approved the following sponsors or providers to provide instruction to licensees seeking endorsement to provide superficial physical agent modalities: (a) providers approved or recognized by the American Occupational Ther…

24.119.810 APPROVED TRAINING (1) Approved training includes proctored sessions provided by example and observation of either: (a) an occupational therapist: (i) approved by the board to administer superficial physical agent modalities and sound and electrical physical agent modal…

24.119.814 ENDORSEMENT TO APPLY TOPICAL MEDICATIONS (1) To obtain an endorsement for the administration or use of topical medications, an occupational therapist shall: (a) complete five hours of instruction or training approved by the board in: (i) principles of topical drug inte…

24.119.816 USE OF TOPICAL MEDICATIONS (1) Topical medication prescribed for a patient on a specific or standing basis by a licensed medical practitioner with prescriptive authority must be obtained by the patient or an authorized representative from a licensed Montana pharmacy. (…

24.119.817 PROTOCOLS FOR USE OF TOPICAL MEDICATIONS (1) Each licensee endorsed to administer topical medications must: (a) understand the use of approved topical medications; (b) read and understand the medication package inserts for indications, contraindications, and actions; (…

24.119.818 DEBRIDING AGENTS PROTOCOLS (1) Within the class of debriding agents, only the following subclasses are approved for use by a licensee on a patient: (a) papain-based ointments; (b) papain with urea additives; (c) anti-inflammatories; (d) collagenases; (e) endogenous pla…

24.119.819 ANESTHETIC AGENTS PROTOCOLS (1) Licensees may use anesthetic agents as directed by a licensed medical practitioner with prescriptive authority. (2) Anesthetic agents act by blocking both the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses by decreasing the neuron membrane'…