Chapter 448

448.51 448.51 License required.

448.51(1) (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 or holds a valid physical therapist compact privilege.

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 or holds a valid physical therapist compact privilege.

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 or holds a valid physical therapist assistant compact privilege.

448.51(2) (2) 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 or holds a valid physical therapist compact privilege.

448.51 History History: 1993 a. 107; 1995 a. 166; 2001 a. 70, 105; 2015 a. 197; 2019 a. 100.

448.51 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. PT 1, 3, and 4, Wis. adm. code.

448.52 448.52 Applicability.

448.52(1m) (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:

448.52(1m)(a) (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(1m)(am) (am) An individual who is exempt from licensure as a physician under s. 448.03 (2m).

448.52(1m)(b) (b) Any person assisting a physical therapist in practice under the direct, on-premises supervision of the physical therapist.

448.52(1m)(c) (c) A physical therapy student or a physical therapist assistant student performing physical therapy procedures and related tasks, if doing so is within the scope of the student’s education or training. The examining board may promulgate rules related to the supervision of students who perform physical therapy procedures and related tasks.

448.52(1m)(d) (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(2m) (2m) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following:

448.52(2m)(a) (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(2m)(b) (b) A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446 claiming to render physical therapy modality services.

448.52 History History: 1993 a. 107 ss. 51, 52, 59; 1995 a. 166; 2001 a. 70, 105; 2017 a. 341; 2019 a. 138; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

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.

448.522 History History: 2001 a. 70.

448.527 448.527 Code of ethics. The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

448.527 History History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.53 448.53 Licensure of physical therapists.

448.53(1) (1) The examining 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)(b) (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

448.53(1)(c) (c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.

448.53(1)(d) (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that the applicant is a graduate of a school of physical therapy approved by the examining board, unless the examining board waives this requirement under sub. (3).

448.53(1)(e) (e) Passes an examination under s. 448.54.

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 examining board may establish by rule.

448.53(2) (2) The examining board may promulgate rules providing for various classes of temporary licenses to practice physical therapy.

448.53(3) (3) The examining board may waive the requirement under sub. (1) (d) for an applicant who establishes, to the satisfaction of the examining 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.

448.53 History History: 1993 a. 107; 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.53 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. PT 1, 3, and 4, Wis. adm. code.

448.535 448.535 Licensure of physical therapist assistants.

448.535(1) (1) The examining board shall grant a license as a physical therapist assistant to a person who does all of the following:

448.535(1)(a) (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.

448.535(1)(b) (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

448.535(1)(c) (c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.

448.535(1)(d) (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the examining board that the applicant is a graduate of a physical therapist assistant educational program accredited by an agency that is approved by the examining board.

448.535(1)(e) (e) Passes an examination under s. 448.54.

448.535(2) (2) The examining board may waive a requirement under sub. (1) (d) or (e), or both, for an applicant who establishes to the satisfaction of the examining board that he or she is licensed as a physical therapist assistant by another licensing jurisdiction in the United States. The examining board shall promulgate rules for granting a waiver under this subsection. The rules may require an applicant to satisfy additional requirements as a condition for granting a waiver.

448.535 History History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.54 448.54 Examination.

448.54(1) (1) The examining board shall conduct or arrange for examinations for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure at least semiannually and at times and places determined by the examining board.

448.54(2) (2) 

448.54(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3), examinations for physical therapist licensure shall consist of written or oral tests, or both, requiring applicants to demonstrate minimum competency in subjects substantially related to the practice of physical therapy.

448.54(2)(b) (b) Examinations for physical therapist assistant licensure shall consist of written or oral tests, or both, requiring applicants to demonstrate minimum competency in the technical application of physical therapy services.

448.54(3) (3) Notwithstanding s. 448.53 (1) (f), the examining board may not require an applicant for physical therapist licensure to take an oral examination or an examination to test proficiency in the English language for the sole reason that the applicant was educated at a physical therapy school that is not in the United States if the applicant establishes, to the satisfaction of the examining board, that he or she satisfies the requirements under s. 448.53 (3).

448.54 History History: 1993 a. 107; 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.54 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. PT 2, Wis. adm. code.

448.55 448.55 Issuance of license; expiration and renewal.

448.55(1) (1) The department shall issue a certificate of licensure to each person who is licensed under this subchapter.

448.55(2) (2) The renewal dates for licenses granted under this subchapter, other than temporary licenses granted under rules promulgated under s. 448.53 (2), are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department and shall include the renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a) and proof of compliance with the requirements established in any rules promulgated under sub. (3).

448.55(3) (3) The examining board shall promulgate rules that require an applicant for renewal of a license to demonstrate continued competence as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

448.55 History History: 1993 a. 107; 2001 a. 70; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 149.

448.55 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. PT 8 and 9, Wis. adm. code.

448.56 448.56 Practice requirements.

448.56(1) (1) Written referral. Except as provided in this subsection and s. 448.52, a person may practice physical therapy only upon the written referral of a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2). Written referral is not required if a physical therapist provides services in schools to children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5), pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of public instruction; provides services as part of a home health care agency; provides services to a patient in a nursing home pursuant to the patient’s plan of care; provides services related to athletic activities, conditioning, or injury prevention; or provides services to an individual for a previously diagnosed medical condition after informing the individual’s physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2) who made the diagnosis. The examining board may promulgate rules establishing additional services that are excepted from the written referral requirements of this subsection.

448.56(1m) (1m) Duty to refer.

448.56(1m)(a) (a) A physical therapist shall refer a patient to an appropriate health care practitioner if the physical therapist has reasonable cause to believe that symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of the practice of physical therapy.

448.56(1m)(b) (b) The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements that a physical therapist must satisfy if a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber makes a written referral under sub. (1). The purpose of the rules shall be to ensure continuity of care between the physical therapist and the health care practitioner.

448.56(2) (2) Fee splitting. No licensee or compact privilege holder may give or receive, directly or indirectly, to or from any other person any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of compensation or anything of value for sending, referring, or otherwise inducing a person to communicate with a licensee or compact privilege holder in a professional capacity, or for any professional services not actually rendered personally by the licensee or compact privilege holder or at the licensee’s or compact privilege holder’s direction.

448.56(3) (3) Billing by professional partnerships and corporations. If 2 or more physical therapists have entered into a bona fide partnership or have formed a service corporation for the practice of physical therapy, the partnership or corporation may not render a single bill for physical therapy services provided in the name of the partnership or corporation unless each physical therapist who provided services that are identified on the bill is identified on the bill as having rendered those services.

448.56(4) (4) Responsibility. A physical therapist is responsible for managing all aspects of the physical therapy care of each patient under his or her care.

448.56(5) (5) Patient records. A physical therapist shall create and maintain a patient record for every patient the physical therapist examines or treats.

448.56(6) (6) Physical therapist assistants. A physical therapist assistant may assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy if the physical therapist provides direct or general supervision of the physical therapist assistant. The examining board shall promulgate rules defining “direct or general supervision” for purposes of this subsection. Nothing in this subsection interferes with delegation authority under any other provision of this chapter.

448.56(7) (7) Ordering X-rays.

448.56(7)(a) (a) A physical therapist may order X-rays to be performed by qualified persons only if the physical therapist satisfies one of the following qualifications, as further specified by the examining board by rule:

448.56(7)(a)1. 1. The physical therapist holds a clinical doctorate degree in physical therapy.

448.56(7)(a)2. 2. The physical therapist has completed a nationally recognized specialty certification program.

448.56(7)(a)3. 3. The physical therapist has completed a nationally recognized residency or fellowship certified by an organization recognized by the examining board.

448.56(7)(a)4. 4. The physical therapist has completed a formal X-ray ordering training program with demonstrated physician involvement.

448.56(7)(b) (b) When a physical therapist orders an X-ray, the physical therapist shall communicate with the patient’s primary care physician or an appropriate health care practitioner to ensure coordination of care, unless all of the following apply:

448.56(7)(b)1. 1. A radiologist has read the X-ray and not identified a significant finding.

448.56(7)(b)2. 2. The patient does not have a primary care physician.

448.56(7)(b)3. 3. The patient was not referred to the physical therapist by another health care practitioner to receive care from the physical therapist.

448.56 History History: 1993 a. 107 ss. 54, 59; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27, 164; 2001 a. 70; 2003 a. 154; 2005 a. 187; 2009 a. 149; 2011 a. 161; 2015 a. 375; 2019 a. 100; 2021 a. 130.

448.56 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. PT 6, 7, and 10, Wis. adm. code.

448.565 448.565 Complaints. The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing procedures and requirements for filing complaints against licensees and compact privilege holders and shall publicize the procedures and requirements.

448.565 History History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149; 2019 a. 100; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

448.567 448.567 Performance audits. The examining board shall promulgate rules that require the examining board on a periodic basis to conduct performance self-audits of its activities under this subchapter.

448.567 History History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.57 448.57 Disciplinary proceedings and actions.