Chapter 448

448.50 448.50 Definitions. In this subchapter:

448.50(1m) (1m) “Business entity” has the meaning given in s. 452.01 (3j).

448.50(1n) (1n) “Compact” means the physical therapy licensure compact under s. 448.985.

448.50(1o) (1o) “Compact privilege” means a compact privilege, as defined in s. 448.985 (2) (d), that is granted under the compact to an individual to practice in this state.

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(1v) (1v) “Examining board” means the physical therapy examining board.

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 examining board or who holds a physical therapist compact privilege.

448.50(3m) (3m) “Physical therapist assistant” means an individual who holds a license as a physical therapist assistant granted by the examining board or who holds a physical therapist assistant compact privilege.

448.50(4) (4) 

448.50(4)(a) (a) “Physical therapy” means, except as provided in par. (b), any of the following:

448.50(4)(a)1. 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(4)(a)2. 2. Alleviating impairments or functional limitations by instructing patients or designing, implementing, or modifying therapeutic interventions.

448.50(4)(a)3. 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(4)(a)4. 4. Engaging in administration, consultation, or research that is related to any activity specified in subds. 1. to 3.

448.50(4)(b) (b) “Physical therapy” does not include any of the following:

448.50(4)(b)1. 1. Using roentgen rays or radium for any purpose, except that “physical therapy” includes ordering X-rays to be performed by qualified persons, subject to s. 448.56 (7) (a), and using X-ray results to determine a course of care or to determine whether a referral to another health care provider is necessary.

448.50(4)(b)2. 2. Using electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization.

448.50(4)(b)3. 3. 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; 2009 a. 149; 2015 a. 375; 2019 a. 100.

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 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.