Biennial Renewal

• Additional Renewal Requirements (California Code of Regulations on PT Continuing Competency, 16 CA ADC § 1399.90-99)
  • 30 hours of Continuing Competency
    • 2 hours of ethics, laws, and regulations, or some combination
    • 4 hours of life support for health care professionals
  • Submit Evidence of Continuing Competency Completion

Not a Member

Physical therapist may supervise 2 Physical Therapy Assistants under general supervision (California Physical Therapy Practice Act BPC § 2622)

Physical therapist may use 1 physical therapy aide under continuous and immediate supervision to assist with patient-related tasks (California Physical Therapy Practice Act BPC § 2622; Requirements for Use of Aides, 16 CCR § 1399)

• Physical Therapist Responsibilities (Patient Records,16 CA ADC § 1398.13; Physical Therapy Aide, Applicant and Student Identification, 16 CA ADC § 1398.11; Adequate Supervision Defined, 16 CCR § 1398.44)
  • Document and sign each treatment provided by a physical therapist assistant or physical therapy aide
  • Ensure all supervised physical therapy aides, applicants, and students performing patient-related tasks display their name and working title on a name tag in a minimum of 18 point font
  • Physical therapist assistants must be able to identify and communicate with physical therapist of record at all times during treatment of a patient

• Physical Therapist Assistant (Patient Records,16 CA ADC § 1398.13; Physical Therapy Aide, Applicant and Student Identification, 16 CA ADC § 1398.11; Adequate Supervision Defined, 16 CCR § 1398.44)
  • General supervision of a physical therapist
  • Must be able to identify and communicate with the physical therapist of record at all times during treatment of a patient
  • Physical therapist of record must document and sign each treatment provided by a physical therapist assistant
  • Wear an appropriate name tag

• Physical Therapy Aide (Requirements for Use of Aides, 16 CCR § 1399)
  • May perform non-patient or patient-related tasks
  • Physical therapist must evaluate and document the aide’s ability to perform patient-related tasks prior to assigning the task
  • Physical therapist must be present at the same facility, in immediate proximity, and readily available
  • Patient-Related Tasks
    • Physical therapist must perform direct service with the patient on the same day as physical therapy aide provides patient-related tasks

Information in California Physical Therapy Act BPC § 2620.1

• Requires a dated signature from an approved physician, surgeon, or podiatrist (see Evaluation/Reevaluation for additional details) on the physical therapy plan of care indicating approval to continue treatment past 45 calendar days or 12 visits (California Physical Therapy Act: Scope of Regulations and Exemptions 2620.1)
  • Requires an in-person examination and evaluation of the patient by an approved physician, surgeon, or podiatrist
• Prior to treatment, the patient needs to be provided with the notice as outlined in the California Physical Therapy Practice Act BPC § 2620.1
  • Orally and in writing
  • Minimum of 14 point font
  • Must be signed by the patient
• Form NTC 12-01 Provided to Each Patient (16 CA ADC § 1398.15 Notice to Consumers)
  • Details on how to provide the form to patients in 16 CA ADC § 1398.15 Notice to Consumers

• Physical Therapist of Record (Adequate Supervision Defined 16 CA ADC § 1398.44)
  • Physical therapist who performs the initial patient evaluation
    • Unless written documentation indicates the patient was transferred to another physical therapist

• Direct Access Approved Referral Sources (California Physical Therapy Practice Act BPC § 2620.1)
  • Physician or Surgeon with a Certificate from the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California
  • Podiatrist with a Certificate from the California Board of Podiatric Medicine

• Reevaluations (Requirements for Use of Aides)
  • Perform as necessary

Dry Needling – Prohibited

Telehealth – Information in CA BPC § 2290.5

Topical Medications – Information in 16 CA ADC § 1399.75 – 1399.85 Topical Medications, Administration of Medications, 16 CCR § 1399.77, Authorization and Protocols Required, 16 CCR § 1399.78, and Authorized Topical Medications 16 CCR § 1399.79

Electromyography – Board Certification Required. Information in Certification Required,16 CA ADC § 1399.61 and California Physical Therapy Practice Act BPC § 2620.5

• Name Tag (California BPC Division 2 Chapter 1 Article 7.5: 680 Health Care Practitioner’s Disclosure of Name and License Status)
  • Required to wear a name tag with name and license status in at least 18-point font
  • Exceptions:
    • Working in an office where the license is prominently displayed
    • Psychiatric Setting
    • Setting not licensed by the state

• Doctorate Degree (California Physical Therapy Act: Scope of Regulations and Exemptions 2620.1)
  • Written Communication
    • May use “Doctor” or “Dr” if the abbreviated specification of degree immediately follow the therapist’s name
  • Oral Communication
    • May use “Doctor” while engaged in physical therapy practice if specify being a physical therapist

• Name, Address, or E-mail Change (California Code of Regulations on Filing of Addresses, 16 CA ADC § 1398.6)
  • Notify the Physical Therapy Board of California in writing within 30 days of the change

California COVID-19 Related State of Emergency – Ended 2/28/2023

California for ALL

California Department of Public Health – COVID 19

Safer at Work California

California Emergency Medical Services Authority – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

California Governor Executive Orders

___________________

• Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement – Ended 4/3/2023 (California Department of Public Health Order – Health Care Worker Vaccine Requirement 1/25/2022; California State Public Health Officer Order – Adult Care Facilities and Direct Care Worker Vaccine Requirement (Updated 9/13/2022))

• COVID-19 Worker Leave & Benefits (Safer at Work California)
  • Use of Worker Benefits and Leave Navigator for information about COVID-19 leave and benefits

• Out-of-State Medical Personnel Extended for the Duration of the COVID-19 State of Emergency (California Emergency Medical Services Authority – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); California Board of Registered Nursing – EMSA Out-of-State Authorization Ending)
  • EMSA Out-of-State Authorization Ended 2/28/2023

(Updated 4/4/2023; 3/4/2023; 10/18/2022; 10/11/2022; 7/25/2022; 3/14/2022; 3/10/2022; 3/3/2022; 2/16/2022; 1/28/2022)

• Overtime (Employment Regulation & Supervision: Working Hours Section 510)
  • Working more than 8 hours within a 24 hour period
    • Compensated at least one and one-half times the regular rate
  • Working more than 12 hours within a 24 hour period
    • Compensated at least two times the regular rate
  • Exceptions in Employment Regulation & Supervision: Working Hours Section 511

• Meal Break (Employment Regulation & Supervision: Working Hours Section 512; ORDER NO. 4- 2001 Regulating Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Professional, Technical, Clerical, Mechanical and Similar Occupations)
  • 30-minute meal break within 5 hours of starting work if working more than 6 hours in a day
    • Meal break may be waived by mutual consent between employee and employer
  • Second 30-minute meal break within 10 hours of starting work if working more than 12 hours in a day
    • Second meal break may be waived by mutual consent between employee and employer if the first meal break is not waived

• Paid Rest Breaks (ORDER NO. 4- 2001 Regulating Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Professional, Technical, Clerical, Mechanical and Similar Occupations)
  • 10 min every 4 hours worked
  • Not authorized if works less than 3 1/2 hours
  • If not provided, the employer required to pay 1 hour of wages for each day a rest break not provided

• Time Paid (ORDER NO. 4- 2001 Regulating Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Professional, Technical, Clerical, Mechanical and Similar Occupations)
  • Required to be paid for 1/2 the usual or scheduled workday when reporting to a scheduled shift and provided no work or less than 1/2 of the scheduled workday
  • If called back to work, required to receive a minimum of 2 hours of pay
  • Exceptions in ORDER NO. 4- 2001 Regulating Wages, Hours and Working Conditions in the Professional, Technical, Clerical, Mechanical and Similar Occupations

• Paid Sick Leave (California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014; California Department of Industrial Relations – California Paid Sick Leave: Frequently Asked Questions)
  • Earn a minimum of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
    • Start earning the first day of employment
    • Work for the same California employer for a minimum of 30 days or more in a year
    • Employers may use alternative methods as noted in California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014
  • Using sick leave
    • May start using 90 days after start of employment
    • Detailed information on usages in California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014