Arizona PT Jurisprudence cheat sheet

The Arizona Physical Therapy Practice Act is codified at A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 20, sections 32-2001 et seq.

A.R.S. § 32-2001 supplies definitions, including 'physical therapy,' 'physical therapist,' 'physical therapist assistant,' and 'board.'

A current Arizona license is required to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; unlicensed practice is unlawful.

The Arizona Board of Physical Therapy administers licensure, renewal, investigation, and discipline under the Act.

The Board is composed of physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and public members appointed by the Governor.

Licensure pathways include examination and endorsement; the Board may issue temporary licenses under its rules.

PT and PTA licenses renew on a biennial cycle.

The Board may investigate complaints, conduct hearings, and impose sanctions authorized by the Act.

The Act authorizes civil penalties and criminal enforcement for unlicensed practice.

Board of Physical Therapy rules are codified in the Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 24 (R4-24-101 et seq.).

The rules implement the Practice Act in areas including licensure, renewal, continuing education, supervision, delegation, unprofessional conduct, and hearings.

Continuing education is required for license renewal; the Board may audit a licensee's CE documentation.

Disciplinary hearings are governed by the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act, A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6.

The Board may impose civil penalties and recover costs in addition to licensure sanctions.

A licensee must cooperate with Board investigations and respond to Board inquiries.

The Board may place a licensee on probation, suspend a license, or revoke a license.

The Board sets and publishes licensure and renewal fees by rule.

A final Board order may be appealed through judicial review under Arizona administrative law.

Physical therapy practice includes examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, prevention, and wellness services within the PT scope.

Arizona permits direct access: a PT may examine and treat a patient without a physician referral.

A PT must refer a patient to another provider when symptoms indicate a condition requiring medical diagnosis or treatment outside PT scope.

The PT performs the initial evaluation and establishes the plan of care; a PTA may not perform the initial evaluation.

A PTA implements selected interventions and collects data under PT supervision and may not independently modify the plan of care.

The supervising PT must be available for consultation and must provide direction appropriate to the patient's condition.

A PT may delegate routine, non-skilled tasks to unlicensed aides but retains responsibility for the care.

Unlicensed aides may not perform skilled physical therapy interventions or make clinical decisions.

Documentation must support the evaluation, plan of care, interventions, supervision, and billing of services.

The Board may discipline a licensee for unprofessional conduct, including fraud, incompetence, and practice beyond scope.

Available sanctions include censure, probation, suspension, revocation, and civil penalties.

The Board may deny licensure for unprofessional conduct or a disqualifying criminal conviction.

Licensees must protect patient confidentiality and comply with state and federal health information laws.

False, deceptive, or misleading advertising about credentials, services, or outcomes is prohibited.

Licensees must avoid conflicts of interest that compromise patient care or professional judgment.

The Board may issue cease-and-desist orders to stop unlicensed practice or other violations.

Disciplinary proceedings require notice and an opportunity for a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act.

A final Board disciplinary order may be reviewed by the Arizona superior court.