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Model Practice Act

Modernizing the physical therapy practice acts

The Model Practice Act (MPA) is the preeminent standard and most effective tool available for revising and modernizing physical therapy practice acts. The continuing movement to update physical therapy practice acts helps ensure that these documents provide the legal authority to fully protect the public while allowing for the effective regulation of the profession. The legislative language presented in the Model Practice Act is provided to state legislatures and members of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy as a resource; actual legislative language will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

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This Seventh Edition:

  • Explicitly includes telehealth
  • Adds “physio” to the list of protected terms
  • Allows for providing physical therapy for animals when PT/PTA has the required education and training
  • Clearly states the Board is authorized to file complaints against licensees when it has knowledge of the individual engaging in unlawful or unlicensed practice

There are many more revisions to make the MPA align with contemporary practice.

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We appreciate your feedback

The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy welcomes recommendations relative to any aspect of The Model Practice Act for Physical Therapy: A Tool for Public Protection and Legislative Change.

Email recommendations to communications@fsbpt.org

Recommendations may be sent to the Federation for consideration in later revisions that will be initiated by the Ethics and Legislation Committee. The committee remains a continuing resource for any jurisdiction contemplating practice act changes. The Federation invites your use of this Model Practice Act for Physical Therapy and pledges its resources for your ongoing support.


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More tools

Below are more tools that we have developed for state licensing authorities in the regulation of physical therapy.

  • Coursework Tools (CWT)

    Find out how coursework tools are used to evaluate non-U.S. candidates.

  • Legislative tracking tool

    Track legislative issues important to your state.

  • Licensure Portability Resource Guide

    Potential ways to improve licensure portability.

  • Licensure reference guide

    Compare the requirements of various jurisdictions.

  • Minimum Data Set

    The MDS will allow physical therapy to answer questions that will determine, among others, the number of providers; the race and sex of these individuals; and the facilities and geographic location in which services are provided.

  • NPDB Basis for Action

    Learn about this alert mechanism for sanctioned individuals.

  • Remediation resources

    Read detail information about ethics remediation courses.

  • Scope of practice

    Use this tool to help you make decisions about the physical therapy scope of practice in your state.

  • Telehealth in Physical Therapy

    The purpose of this document is to provide information and general guidance to physical therapy jurisdictional authorities for regulating the use of telehealth technologies in the practice of physical therapy.