Physical Therapy

Practice Guidelines

Law, rules and regulations, not Guidelines, specify the requirements for practice and violating them constitutes professional misconduct. Not adhering to this Guideline may be interpreted as professional misconduct only if the conduct also violates pertinent law, rules and regulations, some citations of which are listed at the end of this Guideline.

Delegation of Tasks

Delegation to Licensed Professionals

• You may delegate physical therapy activities that are within the scope of another licensed professional (e.g., physical therapist assistant or massage therapist), so long as the licensee is competent to perform those activities and in accordance with any statutory requirements for supervision.
  
  
• Delegating tasks that are beyond the defined scope or the personal competency of another licensed individual may result in charges of professional misconduct against the professional who delegated the task and against the licensee.

Delegation to Unlicensed Personnel

• You may not delegate to an unlicensed person any tasks included in the scope of practice of physical therapy, even under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist. It may be unprofessional conduct for a licensee to delegate professional responsibilities when the delegating licensee knows that such a person is not qualified by licensure to perform such responsibilities.
  
  
• Unlicensed individuals may perform tasks such as answering phones, preparing paperwork, cleaning equipment, and assisting patients to prepare for treatment. A physical therapy aide or other unlicensed assistant may observe patients performing self-directed exercise protocols, but the licensed physical therapist must evaluate or treat the patient during each session. Family members or caregivers may be trained to assist the patient in the performance of self-directed tasks where appropriate (e.g., care at home).
  
  
• Students fulfilling the clinical portion of a physical therapy or physical therapist assistant education program must be under the on-site but not necessarily direct, personal supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The student must be enrolled in a program conducted in a school of physical therapy approved by the Education Department or in a clinical facility affiliated with the school.
  
  
• Individuals who are licensed in another jurisdiction may conduct clinical seminars for physical therapists without being licensed in New York State. Physical therapists who are licensed in another jurisdiction may attend such programs but may not engage in activities that would constitute treatment unless licensed or exempt in New York.