448.50(1r)
(1r) "Diagnosis" means a judgment that is made after examining the neuromusculoskeletal system or evaluating or studying its symptoms and that utilizes the techniques and science of physical therapy for the purpose of establishing a plan of therapeutic intervention, but does not include a chiropractic or medical diagnosis.
448.50(2)
(2) "Licensee" means a person who is licensed under this subchapter.
448.50(3)
(3) "Physical therapist" means an individual who has been graduated from a school of physical therapy and holds a license to practice physical therapy granted by the affiliated credentialing board.
448.50(3m)
(3m) "Physical therapist assistant" means an individual who holds a license as a physical therapist assistant granted by the affiliated credentialing board.
448.50(4)
(4) "Physical therapy" means that branch or system of treating the sick which is limited to therapeutic exercises with or without assistive devices, and physical measures including heat and cold, air, water, light, sound, electricity and massage; and physical testing and evaluation. The use of roentgen rays and radium for any purpose, and the use of electricity for surgical purposes including cauterization, are not part of physical therapy.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (4) is shown below as affected eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70.
Effective date text
(4) (a) "Physical therapy" means , except as provided in par. (b), any of the following:
448.50 Note
1. Examining, evaluating, or testing individuals with mechanical, physiological, or developmental impairments, functional limitations related to physical movement and mobility, disabilities, or other movement-related health conditions, in order to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, or plan of therapeutic intervention or to assess the ongoing effects of intervention. In this subdivision, "testing" means using standardized methods or techniques for gathering data about a patient.
448.50 Note
2. Alleviating impairments or functional limitations by instructing patients or designing, implementing, or modifying therapeutic interventions.
448.50 Note
3. Reducing the risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation, or disability, including by promoting or maintaining fitness, health, or quality of life in all age populations.
448.50 Note
4. Engaging in administration, consultation, or research that is related to any activity specified in subds. 1. to 3.
448.50 Note
(b) "Physical therapy" does not include using roentgen rays or radium for any purpose, using electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization, or prescribing drugs or devices.
448.50(5)
(5) "Sexual misconduct with a patient" means any of the following:
448.50(5)(a)
(a) Engaging in or soliciting a consensual or nonconsensual sexual relationship with a patient.
448.50(5)(b)
(b) Making sexual advances toward, requesting sexual favors from, or engaging in other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature with a patient.
448.50(5)(c)
(c) Intentionally viewing a completely or partially disrobed patient during the course of treatment if the viewing is not related to diagnosis or treatment.
448.50(6)
(6) "Therapeutic intervention" means the purposeful and skilled interaction between a physical therapist, patient, and, if appropriate, individuals involved in the patient's care, using physical therapy procedures or techniques that are intended to produce changes in the patient's condition and that are consistent with diagnosis and prognosis.
448.50 History
History: 1993 a. 107;
2001 a. 70.
448.50 Annotation
Physical therapists and massage therapists are not prohibited from performing the activities that are within their respective scopes of practice, even if those activities extend in some degree into the field of chiropractic science.
OAG 1-01.
448.51
448.51
License required. 448.51(1)(1) Except as provided in
s. 448.52, no person may practice physical therapy or designate himself or herself as a physical therapist or use or assume the title "physical therapist" or "physiotherapist" or "physical therapy technician" or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.", "P.T.T." or "R.P.T." or any other title, letters or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist unless the person is licensed under this subchapter.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is amended eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70 to read:
Effective date text
(1) Except as provided in s. 448.52, no person may practice physical therapy unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
448.51(1e)
(1e) No person may designate himself or herself as a physical therapist or use or assume the title "physical therapist," "physiotherapist," "physical therapy technician," "licensed physical therapist," "registered physical therapist," "master of physical therapy," "master of science in physical therapy," or "doctorate in physical therapy," or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.," "P.T.T.," "L.P.T.," "R.P.T.," "M.P.T.," "M.S.P.T.," or "D.P.T.," or any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist, unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
448.51(1s)
(1s) No person may designate himself or herself as a physical therapist assistant, use or assume the title "physical therapist assistant," or append to the person's name the letters "P.T.A." or any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a physical therapist assistant unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist assistant under this subchapter.
448.51(2)(a)(a) In this subsection, "advertisement" includes advertisements that appear on outdoor signs, in print or electronic media, and in material mailed to a person other than a patient or prospective patient who has requested the material.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is amended eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70 to read:
Effective date text
(a) In this subsection, "advertisement" includes advertisements that appear on outdoor signs, in print or electronic media, and in material mailed to a person other than a patient, client, or prospective patient or client who has requested the material.
448.51(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (c), no person may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services unless the person is licensed under this subchapter.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (b) is amended eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70 to read:
Effective date text
(b) Except as provided in s. 448.52 (2m), no person may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter.
448.51(2)(c)
(c) A chiropractor licensed under
ch. 446 may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services only as follows:
448.51(2)(c)2.a.
a. If, anytime before October 17, 1995, the chiropractor claimed in an advertisement to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services, the chiropractor may continue to claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services in an advertisement until the rules promulgated under
ss. 446.02 (10) and
448.525 take effect.
448.51(2)(c)2.b.
b. The chiropractor may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services in private communications with an individual who is a patient or prospective patient until the rules promulgated under
ss. 446.02 (10) and
448.525 take effect. This
subd. 2. b. also applies to an employee or agent of the chiropractor who claims that the chiropractor renders physical therapy or physiotherapy services.
448.51 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
PT 1,
3, and
4, Wis. adm. code.
448.52
448.52
Applicability. This subchapter does not require a license under this subchapter for any of the following, if the person does not claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services as prohibited under
s. 448.51 (2) (b):
448.52(1)
(1) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.
448.52(2)
(2) Any person assisting a physical therapist in practice under the direct, on-premises supervision of the physical therapist.
448.52(3)
(3) A physical therapist assistant assisting a physical therapist in practice under the general supervision of the physical therapist. In this subsection, "physical therapist assistant" means an individual who has graduated from a physical therapist assistant associate degree program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association. The affiliated credentialing board shall promulgate rules defining "general supervision" for purposes of this subsection.
448.52(4)
(4) A physical therapy student practicing physical therapy within the scope of the student's education or training.
448.52(5)
(5) A physical therapist who is licensed to practice physical therapy in another state or country and is providing a consultation or demonstration with a physical therapist who is licensed under this subchapter.
Effective date note
NOTE: This section is shown below as affected eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70.
Effective date text
448.52 Applicability. (1m) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following, if the person does not claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services:
Effective date text
(a) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.
448.52 Note
(b) Any person assisting a physical therapist in practice under the direct, on-premises supervision of the physical therapist.
448.52 Note
(c) A physical therapy student assisting a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy or a physical therapist assistant student assisting a physical therapist in performing physical therapy procedures and related tasks, if the assistance is within the scope of the student's education or training.
448.52 Note
(d) A physical therapist who is licensed to practice physical therapy in another state or country and is providing a consultation or demonstration with a physical therapist who is licensed under this subchapter.
448.52 Note
(2m) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following:
448.52 Note
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446 claiming to render physical therapy, if the physical therapy is provided by a physical therapist employed by the chiropractor.
448.52 Note
(b) A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446 claiming to render physical therapy modality services.
448.52 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
PT 5, Wis. adm. code.
448.522
448.522
Manipulation services. A physical therapist may not claim that any manipulation service that he or she provides is in any manner a chiropractic adjustment that is employed to correct a spinal subluxation.
Effective date note
NOTE: This section is created eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70.
448.522 History
History: 2001 a. 70.
448.525
448.525
Rules concerning claims to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services. 448.525(1)
(1) The affiliated credentialing board and the chiropractic examining board acting under
s. 446.02 (10) shall jointly promulgate rules that establish the circumstances under which and the extent to which a chiropractor licensed under
ch. 446 may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services within the scope of the practice of chiropractic.
448.525(2)
(2) The affiliated credentialing board may promulgate rules relating to the circumstances under which and the extent to which a chiropractor licensed under
ch. 446 may claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services within the scope of the practice of chiropractic only as provided under
sub. (1).
Effective date note
NOTE: This section is repealed eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70.
448.527
448.527
Code of ethics. The affiliated credentialing board shall promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.
Effective date note
NOTE: This section is created eff. 4-1-04 by
2001 Wis. Act 70.
448.527 History
History: 2001 a. 70.
448.53
448.53
Licensure of physical therapists. 448.53(1)
(1) The affiliated credentialing board shall grant a license as a physical therapist to a person who does all of the following:
448.53(1)(a)
(a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.
448.53(1)(c)
(c) Subject to
ss. 111.321,
111.322 and
111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.
448.53(1)(d)
(d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the applicant is a graduate of a school of physical therapy approved by the affiliated credentialing board, unless the affiliated credentialing board waives this requirement under
sub. (3).
448.53(1)(f)
(f) If the person was educated at a physical therapy school that is not in the United States, the person satisfies any additional requirements for demonstrating competence to practice physical therapy that the affiliated credentialing board may establish by rule.
448.53(2)
(2) The affiliated credentialing board may promulgate rules providing for various classes of temporary licenses to practice physical therapy.
448.53(3)
(3) The affiliated credentialing board may waive the requirement under
sub. (1) (d) for an applicant who establishes, to the satisfaction of the affiliated credentialing board, all of the following:
448.53(3)(a)
(a) That he or she is a graduate of a physical therapy school.
448.53(3)(b)
(b) That he or she is licensed as a physical therapist by another licensing jurisdiction in the United States.
448.53(3)(c)
(c) That the jurisdiction in which he or she is licensed required the licensee to be a graduate of a school approved by the licensing jurisdiction or of a school that the licensing jurisdiction evaluated for education equivalency.
448.53(3)(d)
(d) That he or she has actively practiced physical therapy, under the license issued by the other licensing jurisdiction in the United States, for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of his or her application.
