Chapter 688 — Chapter 688
113 sections in this chapter.
ORS 688.010 As used in ORS 688.010 to 688.201, unless the context requires otherwise
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(1) “Competence” means the application of knowledge, skills and behaviors by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant required for the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to function effectively, safely, ethically and legally within the context of the p…
ORS 688.015 (1) The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that providing for state administrative control, supervision, licensure and regulation of the practice of physical therapy in this state serves the purpose of protecting the public health, safety and welfare
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(2) It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that only individuals who meet and maintain prescribed standards of competence and conduct may engage in the practice of physical therapy as authorized by ORS 688.010 to 688.201 and implemented by the Oregon Board of Physical Thera…
ORS 688.020 (1) Unless a person is a licensed physical therapist or holds a temporary permit issued under ORS 688.110, a person may not
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(a) Practice physical therapy; or (b) Use in connection with the name of the person the words or letters “P.T.,” “R.P.T.,” “L.P.T.,” “D.P.T.,” “physio,” “physical therapist,” “physiotherapist,” “registered physical therapist,” “licensed physical therapist,” “Doctor of Physical Th…
ORS 688.030 (1) ORS 688.010 to 688.201 do not prohibit a person who is authorized by a health professional regulatory board to practice an occupation or profession from practicing that occupation or profession, including by performing an activity or procedure that is included in the practice of physical therapy that is within the person’s scope of practice, if the person does not represent, imply or claim that the person is a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant
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(2) ORS 688.010 to 688.201 do not apply to a person: (a) Enrolled in an entry-level professional education program approved by the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy who is satisfying clinical education requirements related to the person’s physical therapy education while under on-…
ORS 688.035 Short title. ORS 688.010 to 688.201 may be cited as the Oregon Physical Therapy Practice Act. [2005 c.627 §2]
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Note: See second note under 688.015. (Licensing)
ORS 688.040 Licensing procedure. (1) Any person desiring to be a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall apply in writing to the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy in the form and manner provided by the board by rule
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(2) Each application shall include or be accompanied by evidence, satisfactory to the board, that the applicant possesses the qualifications prescribed by ORS 688.050 for applicants for licensing as a physical therapist and ORS 688.055 for applicants for licensing as a physical t…
ORS 688.050 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may issue a license to practice as a physical therapist to an applicant who
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(a) Applies to the board in a form and manner prescribed by the board; (b) Is at least 18 years of age; (c) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, submits proof of graduation from an accredited professional physical therapy education program accredited by …
ORS 688.055 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may issue a license to practice as a physical therapist assistant to an applicant who
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(a) Applies to the board in a form and manner prescribed by the board; (b) Is at least 18 years of age; (c) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, submits proof of graduation from an accredited professional physical therapist assistant education program ac…
ORS 688.058 National examination; eligibility; violations; reporting requirement. (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may approve by rule a national examination to determine the fitness of a person to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. The physical therapist examination must test entry-level competence related to physical therapy theory, patient examination and evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment intervention, prevention and consultation. The physical therapist assistant examination must test for requisite knowledge and skills in the technical application of physical therapy services
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(2) In order to sit for an examination described in this section, an applicant shall: (a) Meet nationally recognized requirements approved by the board that support the integrity of the examination; and (b) Agree to abide by security and copyright provisions related to the examin…
ORS 688.060 [1959 c.461 §4; 1969 c.339 §7; 1971 c.585 §6; 1975 c.111 §6; repealed by 1983 c.740 §251]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.061 Authority of Oregon Board of Physical Therapy to require fingerprints of certain persons. For the purpose of requesting a state or nationwide criminal records check under ORS 181A.195, the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may require the fingerprints of a person who is
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(1) Applying for a license or permit, or renewal of a license or permit, issued under ORS 688.010 to 688.201; (2) Employed or applying for employment by the board in a position in which the person has or will have access to information that is made confidential under state or fed…
ORS 688.070 [1959 c.461 §7; 1969 c.339 §8; 1971 c.585 §7; 1975 c.526 §7; 1983 c.224 §1; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.080 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may license as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, without examination or verification of graduation from an education program, any person who
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(a) Applies for a license as provided in ORS 688.050 or 688.055; and (b) On the date of application, is a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has a current unrestricted license from another state or territory of the United States if the requirements for licensi…
ORS 688.090 License; certificate. The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy shall license as a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant each applicant who proves to the satisfaction of the board fitness for such license as provided in ORS 688.010 to 688.201. The board shall issue a certificate to each person licensed. The certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the right of the person to whom it is issued to represent that person as a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant, whichever certificate the person holds, subject to the provisions of ORS 688.010 to 688.201. [1959 c.461 §10; 1969 c.339 §10; 1971 c.585 §9; 1975 c.111 §8; 2019 c.43 §19]
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Note: 688.090 is repealed July 1, 2027. See sections 22 and 24, chapter 627, Oregon Laws 2025.
ORS 688.100 (1) A person licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall apply to the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy to renew the person’s license pursuant to the rules of the board. If a person fails to renew the person’s license on or before the expiration date specified by board rule, the person’s license is lapsed and the person may not practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant in this state until the lapsed license is reinstated
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(2) The board may reinstate a lapsed license upon completion of a renewal application and payment of all past renewal and delinquency fees, subject to the board’s discretion as described in subsection (3) of this section. (3) If a person’s license to practice as a physical therap…
ORS 688.110 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy, in its discretion, may issue without examination a temporary permit to a person to practice as a physical therapist or to work as a physical therapist assistant in this state if the person files an application for license as provided in ORS 688.080, and pays to the board at the time of filing the application the temporary permit fee
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(2) A person holding a temporary permit may practice physical therapy only under the direction of a physical therapist licensed under ORS 688.010 to 688.201. (3) The temporary permit shall be granted for a period not to exceed three months. The board may renew the temporary permi…
ORS 688.120 Fraudulent representations prohibited. A person may not obtain or attempt to obtain a license as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant or a temporary permit under ORS 688.110 by any fraudulent representation. [1959 c.461 §13; 1969 c.339 §13; 1971 c.585 §12; 1975 c.111 §9; 2005 c.21 §8; 2005 c.627 §10]
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(Miscellaneous)
ORS 688.125 Notice to patient of interest in physical therapy practice. In order to ensure that physical therapy treatment of a patient is based solely on the needs of a patient, any health care practitioner licensed by a health professional regulatory board as defined in ORS 676.160 who owns, in part or in whole, a physical therapy practice, or who employs a physical therapist, shall communicate the facts of that ownership or employment relationship to patients for whom physical therapy is prescribed and inform the patient that alternative sources of physical therapy treatment are available. [1987 c.726 §9; 2009 c.142 §5]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.129 Dry needling; rules. (1) A physical therapist may perform dry needling, as defined by the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy by rule
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(2) The board shall adopt rules to carry out this section, including rules to establish training requirements that a physical therapist must meet in order to perform dry needling. [2025 c.627 §5] Note: 688.129 becomes operative July 1, 2027. See section 24, chapter 627, Oregon La…
ORS 688.130 [1959 c.461 §16; 1965 c.314 §4; 1969 c.339 §14; 1971 c.585 §13; 1975 c.111 §10; 1983 c.224 §4; 1989 c.947 §1; 1991 c.381 §1; 1993 c.211 §1; 1999 c.539 §1; 1999 c.582 §15; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.132 Duty to refer person. (1) As used in this section, “provider of care” means a physician, chiropractic physician, podiatric physician and surgeon, naturopathic physician, dentist, physician associate or nurse practitioner
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(2) A licensed physical therapist shall immediately refer a person being treated by the licensed physical therapist to a provider of care if the person exhibits symptoms: (a) That require treatment or diagnosis by a provider of medical care; (b) For which physical therapy is cont…
ORS 688.134 [1993 c.211 §7; 1997 c.408 §1; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.135 (1) A physical therapist shall
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(a) Be responsible for managing all aspects of the physical therapy care of each patient, including: (A) The initial patient evaluation, determination of diagnosis, prognosis and development of the plan of treatment intervention and appropriate documentation; (B) Patient re-evalu…
ORS 688.138 Duty to report change of name or contact information. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall report to the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy a change to the physical therapist’s or physical therapist assistant’s name, business or residential address, contact email address or contact telephone number within 30 days after the date of the change. [2025 c.627 §4]
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Note: 688.138 becomes operative July 1, 2027. See section 24, chapter 627, Oregon Laws 2025. Note: 688.138 was added to and made a part of 688.010 to 688.201 by legislative action but was not added to any smaller series therein. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further …
ORS 688.140 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy, after notice and hearing as provided in ORS 688.145, may impose any or all of the following sanctions or take any of the following actions upon any of the grounds specified in subsection (2) of this section
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(a) Refuse to license any applicant. (b) Refuse to renew the license of any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. (c) Suspend or revoke the license of any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. (d) Suspend or revoke a temporary permit issued under ORS 6…
ORS 688.145 Discipline procedure; review of orders; confidential information. (1) When the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy proposes to impose any of the sanctions authorized in ORS 688.140, opportunity for hearing shall be accorded as provided in ORS chapter 183
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(2) Judicial review of orders under subsection (1) of this section shall be as provided in ORS chapter 183. (3) Information that the board obtains as part of an investigation into licensee or applicant conduct or as part of a contested case proceeding, consent order or stipulated…
ORS 688.148 Reinstatement of license. (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy may reinstate a revoked or suspended physical therapist license or physical therapist assistant license if the person whose license was revoked or suspended
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(a) Meets the requirements for initial licensure; and (b) Satisfactorily completes any requirements or meets any conditions for reinstatement of the license stipulated in a consent order at the time the license was revoked or suspended. (2) The board may require a person describe…
ORS 688.150 [1959 c.461 §15; 1969 c.339 §16; 1971 c.585 §15; repealed by 1971 c.734 §21]
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(State Board)
ORS 688.160 (1) The Oregon Board of Physical Therapy operates as a semi-independent state agency subject to ORS 182.456 to 182.472, for purposes of carrying out the provisions of ORS 688.010 to 688.201, 688.240 and 688.990. The board consists of eight members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner provided in ORS 171.562 and 171.565. All members of the board must be residents of this state. Of the members of the board
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(a) Five must be physical therapists who are Oregon residents, possess unrestricted licenses to practice physical therapy in this state, have been practicing in this state for at least two years preceding their appointments and have been practicing in the field of physical therap…
ORS 688.170 [1959 c.461 §19; 1969 c.314 §88; 1971 c.585 §17; 1999 c.1084 §27; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.180 [1959 c.461 §20; 1969 c.339 §18; 1971 c.585 §18; 1975 c.111 §13; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.190 [1959 c.461 §21; 1969 c.339 §19; repealed by 1971 c.585 §23]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.200 [1959 c.461 §24; 1961 c.593 §4; 1967 c.637 §33; 1971 c.585 §19; repealed by 1973 c.427 §33 (688.201 enacted in lieu of 688.200)]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.201 Disposition of receipts. (1) All moneys received under ORS 688.010 to 688.201 shall be paid into an account established by the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy under ORS 182.470. The board may establish an additional account under ORS 182.470 for the purpose of meeting financial obligations imposed on the State of Oregon as a result of this state’s participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact established under ORS 688.240
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(2) The moneys paid into the accounts established by the board under ORS 182.470 are continuously appropriated to the board and may be used only for the administration and enforcement of ORS 676.850, 676.860 and 688.010 to 688.201 and for the purpose of meeting financial obligati…
ORS 688.210 [1959 c.461 §23; 1969 c.339 §20; 1971 c.585 §20; 1975 c.111 §14; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.220 [1959 c.461 §22; 1971 c.585 §21; 1997 c.791 §44; 1999 c.59 §203; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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(Enforcement)
ORS 688.230 Report of suspected violation; confidentiality of report; liability of person reporting. (1) Any licensed health facility, licensed physical therapist, licensed physical therapist assistant, the Oregon Physical Therapy Association, physician licensed under ORS chapter 677 or dentist shall, and any other person may, report suspected violations of ORS 688.010 to 688.201 to the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy. The reports are confidential as provided under ORS 676.175
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(2) Any person who reports or provides information to the board under subsection (1) of this section and who provides information in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof. [1985 c.41 §7; 1997 c.791 §45; 2013 c.129 §37; 2019 c.43 §26]
ORS 688.235 [1989 c.843 §14; repealed by 2005 c.627 §18]
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(Physical Therapy Licensure Compact)
ORS 688.240 Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. The provisions of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact are as follows
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______________________________________________________________________________ PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSURE COMPACT SECTION 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy s…
ORS 688.405 Definitions for ORS 688.405 to 688.605. As used in ORS 688.405 to 688.605
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(1) “Actively engaged” means: (a) Practicing medical imaging; (b) Supervising or providing administrative services for medical imaging licensees, or students or trainees learning a medical imaging modality, at an institution that provides medical imaging services; (c) Teaching, p…
ORS 688.415 License or permit requirement; prohibited acts. (1) A person may not
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(a) Practice a medical imaging modality or purport to be a medical imaging licensee unless the person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of ORS 688.405 to 688.605; (b) Operate an X-ray machine as described in ORS 688.515 (1) and (2) or purport to be a limited X-ray mac…
ORS 688.425 Licensed persons may use title. (1) A person licensed in one of the medical imaging modalities in accordance with the provisions of ORS 688.405 to 688.605 may use the identifying titles and initials of the person’s credentialing organization
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(2) A person who holds a permit as a limited X-ray machine operator issued under ORS 688.515 may use the title of “Limited X-ray Machine Operator” or the letters “LXMO.” (3) A person may not use credential titles, abbreviations of credential titles or initials resembling credenti…
ORS 688.435 The provisions of ORS 688.405 to 688.605 do not apply to the following persons
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(1) Persons who operate dental X-ray equipment for the sole purpose of oral radiography. (2) Students in approved schools, while practicing one of the medical imaging modalities or subspecialties under the supervision of the school’s assigned clinical instructor. (3) Specific lic…
ORS 688.445 Licensing and renewal procedure; modalities; fees. (1) The Board of Medical Imaging shall issue
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(a) A license to practice a specified medical imaging modality in the State of Oregon to each person who meets the qualifications for a license as provided in ORS 688.455. The license shall identify the modality or subspecialty for which the qualifications have been met. (b)(A) A…
ORS 688.455 License fee; general qualifications. (1) The Board of Medical Imaging shall issue a license to a person to practice a medical imaging modality if the person makes an application in writing and pays a fee in an amount established by the board and if the person, at the time of application
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(a) Is at least 18 years of age; (b) Satisfies one of the following requirements: (A) Holds a credential issued by a credentialing organization in a medical imaging modality recognized by the board or provides the board with documentation of military training or experience that t…
ORS 688.460 Exemption from certain licensure requirements. (1) The Board of Medical Imaging may waive the requirements listed in ORS 688.455 (1)(b) for an individual who
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(a) Has substantial experience, as determined by the board, practicing the medical imaging modality for which the waiver is sought; and (b) Performs that medical imaging modality as an employee of, or under a contract with, a rural hospital, as defined in ORS 442.470. (2) An indi…
ORS 688.465 [1977 c.534 §7; 1981 c.603 §1; 1999 c.517 §4; 2005 c.151 §2; repealed by 2009 c.833 §32]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.475 [1977 c.534 §8; 1981 c.603 §2; 1999 c.517 §5; 2005 c.151 §3; repealed by 2009 c.833 §32]
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[Repealed or reserved.]
ORS 688.480 Qualifications of operators of certain equipment. Persons who operate hybrid imaging or radiation therapy equipment incorporating more than one medical imaging modality shall
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(1) Hold a primary credential in at least one of the modalities in use. (2) Be a medical imaging licensee in at least one of the modalities in use and have a restricted license in all other modalities incorporated into the hybrid imaging or radiation therapy equipment in accordan…
ORS 688.485 Examinations; fees. (1) The Board of Medical Imaging shall oversee examinations given each year for a limited X-ray machine operator permit
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(2) A limited X-ray machine operator permit applicant who fails to pass an examination may take additional examinations as required by the board by rule. (3) The board shall charge a fee for oversight of limited X-ray machine operator permit examinations in an amount determined b…