Section 40.161. Certification as physical therapist assistants; practice; exceptions

(a) A person may not perform or hold himself out as being able to perform as a physical therapist assistant in this Commonwealth unless the person is certified by the Board under section 9.1 of the act (63 P. S. § 1309.1) and this subchapter or exempted under this section.

(b) A person or business entity may not use in connection with a business name or activity the words ‘‘physical therapist assistant,’’ the letters ‘‘P.T.A.’’ or similar words and related abbreviations to imply that physical therapist assistant services are being provided, unless the services are provided by a physical therapist assistant certified under the act and this subchapter.

(c) This subchapter does not prohibit physical therapist assistant students from assisting a physical therapist licensed to practice without restriction in this Commonwealth under the direct on-premises supervision of the physical therapist as is incidental to their course of study in a program which has been approved for the education and training for physical therapist assistants by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

(d) Physical therapist assistants shall identify themselves to patients as physical therapist assistants.

The provisions of this § 40.161 adopted July 24, 1992, effective July 25, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 3872; amended August 27, 2004, effective August 28, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 4697; amended December 21, 2012, effective December 22, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 7652. Immediately preceeding text appears at serial page (333457).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 40.161 amended under section 3(a) of the Physical Therapy Practice Act (63 P. S. § 1303(a)); section 812.1 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 279.3a); and section 16 of the act of July 4, 2008 (P. L. 293, No. 38).

Cross References

This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 40.165 (relating to authorization to provide services as a physical therapist assistant under indirect supervision); and 49 Pa. Code § 40.166 (relating to temporary certificate to provide services as a physical therapist assistant).