DC PT Jurisprudence study plan

Define each statutory term in the DC Physical Therapy Practice Act (physical therapy, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, supervision levels, and any defined modalities or techniques) in your own words and record each definition in a personal glossary.

Map the boundaries of physical therapy scope by listing at least ten activities that fall inside the scope and at least eight that fall outside or require another licensee's authority.

Identify the statutory provisions that prohibit unlicensed practice and describe how the Act treats aiding and abetting unlicensed practice.

Build a one-page comparison of what a physical therapist may do independently versus what requires referral, prescription, or collaboration under DC law.

Write ten original practice-scenario questions on scope and prohibited acts, then answer them without notes and score yourself.

Outline the statutory sections covering prohibited acts and unprofessional conduct as they intersect with scope of practice, citing section numbers where you can verify them.

Analyze at least six edge-case scenarios (e.g., dry needling, spinal manipulation, wellness screening, athletic event coverage, telehealth intake, delegation of an evaluation) and classify each as permitted, restricted, or prohibited, noting your reasoning.

Distinguish the roles and titles protected under the Act and explain the consequences of misrepresenting credentials.

Summarize how the Act addresses advertising, fee splitting, and patient solicitation, and connect each rule to a realistic practice situation.

Sequence the full licensure pathway from application through issuance, listing each document, fee, and verification step in order.

Describe the Board of Physical Therapy's composition, meeting cadence, and the categories of business it conducts, based on the governing statute and regulations.

Explain the requirements for licensure by examination versus licensure by endorsement or reciprocity, and identify which credentials and exam results must be verified.

List the grounds on which the Board may deny an application and describe how an applicant can respond to a deficiency notice.

Draft a checklist an applicant could follow to assemble a complete, error-free application packet.

Define each supervision level recognized in DC (direct, general, and any others the Act or rules establish) and state the documentation and on-site requirements that attach to each.

Differentiate the physical therapist assistant's permitted scope from the physical therapist's, listing at least eight tasks a PTA may perform and at least six that must remain with the PT.

Explain the rules for initial evaluation, reassessment, and modification of the plan of care, and identify which of these the PTA cannot perform.

Describe the supervision and delegation obligations that apply to unlicensed aides and students, including what may and may not be delegated.

Write four delegation scenarios and decide, with citations, whether the assignment is lawful.

Assemble a code-of-conduct summary covering informed consent, boundaries, conflicts of interest, patient confidentiality, and the patient's right to refuse or terminate care.

Identify the elements the Act and rules require in a patient record and describe retention, amendment, and release-of-records obligations.

Distinguish mandatory reporting duties (e.g., suspected abuse, impairment, or misconduct) from discretionary reporting, and state the timeline and recipient for each.

Analyze three ethical dilemmas involving patient rights and documentation, and write a defensible course of action for each.

Explain how documentation failures can independently support a disciplinary charge.

List the statutory and regulatory grounds for discipline and group them into practice-related, conduct-related, and licensure-related categories.

Sequence the disciplinary process from complaint intake through investigation, notice, hearing, decision, and appeal, identifying the Board's authority at each step.

Describe the range of sanctions available (reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, civil penalty, remediation) and the factors that influence which is imposed.

Explain the licensee's procedural rights, including notice, representation, and the opportunity to respond, and distinguish administrative from criminal exposure.

Write five disciplinary vignettes and predict the most likely charge and sanction with reasoning.

State the continuing education requirement in hours per renewal cycle, the categories of acceptable coursework, and any limits on self-study or online hours.

Describe the renewal cycle, late-renewal penalties, reinstatement steps for a lapsed license, and the recordkeeping a licensee must maintain for CE.

Outline infection control expectations relevant to outpatient and inpatient physical therapy settings, including hand hygiene, equipment cleaning, and bloodborne pathogen precautions.

Identify the safety and jurisdictional requirements that apply to practice settings, such as emergency procedures, incident reporting, and any setting-specific licensure or certification obligations.

Build a two-year CE compliance tracker template that a working clinician could maintain.

Re-review your weakest three domains using your own glossary, charts, and vignettes, and rewrite any item you previously answered incorrectly.

Complete a timed 100-question cumulative self-assessment you author or assemble from your own notes, and record a score by domain.

Rehearse the highest-risk distinctions (PT versus PTA scope, supervision levels, prohibited acts, disciplinary grounds) until you can state each from memory.

Identify any remaining statutory or regulatory gaps and assign yourself a targeted follow-up action for each.