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MO PT Juris practice questions

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Question 1Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

Under Missouri physical therapy licensure rules, which credential must a person hold before representing themselves as a physical therapist and providing physical therapy services?

  1. A current Missouri license issued by the Board Correct answer.
  2. A county business license held by the clinic
  3. A national physical therapy certification only
  4. A temporary student ID from an accredited program

Explanation

Missouri law makes the Board-issued license the credential required to practice and to use the protected title "physical therapist." National certification or a clinic business license does not substitute for state licensure.

Question 2Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri PT licensee changes both home address and practice location. What is the licensee's registration obligation?

  1. Report the updated addresses to the Board Correct answer.
  2. Publish the change in a local newspaper
  3. Notify only the new employer's human resources office
  4. Wait until the next renewal to report any address change

Explanation

The Board's register must reflect a licensee's current address so renewal, audit, and disciplinary notices reach the licensee. Reporting only to an employer or waiting for renewal does not satisfy that registration duty.

Question 3Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A PT's Missouri license expires on a Friday. The licensee submits renewal paperwork the following Monday but has not received confirmation. May the PT treat patients Monday?

  1. No, unless a physician signs an order
  2. No, practice before renewed licensure is unlicensed practice Correct answer.
  3. Yes, if the PT has completed the CE requirement
  4. Yes, because renewal paperwork was submitted

Explanation

A renewal application does not extend practice authority by itself; the license must be current or reinstated. Practicing after expiration can be treated as unlicensed practice and may lead to disciplinary action.

Question 4Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

What is the Missouri continuing education requirement for an active PT license in a full two-year renewal period?

  1. 10 contact hours per biennium
  2. 50 contact hours per biennium
  3. 20 contact hours per biennium
  4. 30 contact hours per biennium Correct answer.

Explanation

Missouri requires 30 contact hours of approved continuing education in each two-year renewal period for active physical therapists. The hours must include the ethics component specified by Board rules, and documentation must be retained.

Question 5Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

If the Board selects a PT for a continuing education audit, what must the licensee do?

  1. Provide certificates or acceptable documentation for claimed CE Correct answer.
  2. Ask the employer to certify attendance verbally
  3. Retake the jurisprudence examination
  4. Submit a list of courses without proof

Explanation

When selected for audit, the licensee bears the burden to document attendance and completion for the CE hours claimed. A course list without proof, verbal employer confirmation, or retaking jurisprudence does not satisfy the audit.

Question 6Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A licensee granted inactive status wants to continue seeing a few patients at a clinic. What does inactive status permit?

  1. Full practice if no fee is charged
  2. No practice until active status is restored Correct answer.
  3. Practice under a PT assistant's supervision
  4. Practice only patients seen before inactive status

Explanation

Inactive status preserves the registration but does not authorize patient care. A licensee must be restored to active status before practicing, even incidentally or without a fee.

Question 7Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

An applicant licensed in another state applies for Missouri licensure by endorsement. What must the applicant generally establish?

  1. Board-acceptable qualifications and Missouri compliance Correct answer.
  2. A new associate degree from a Missouri program
  3. Missouri license without any review because another state license exists
  4. Only payment of the renewal fee

Explanation

Endorsement is not automatic; the Board reviews the other state license and the applicant's education and examination history. The applicant must also satisfy Missouri application, fee, and jurisprudence requirements.

Question 8Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A physical therapist assistant uses the title "physical therapist" and evaluates a patient independently. Which licensure principle is violated?

  1. No violation if the PTA has ten years of experience
  2. No violation if the patient signed consent
  3. PTAs may use any title if supervised
  4. Limited PTA scope and protected PT title Correct answer.

Explanation

Physical therapist assistants work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, and the title "physical therapist" is reserved for licensed PTs. Patient consent or experience does not expand PTA scope or permit independent evaluation.

Question 9Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A PT license lapsed 18 months ago. The former licensee wants to resume work. What is required before returning to patient care?

  1. Use a colleague's license until renewed
  2. Complete only CE and resume immediately
  3. Begin work and complete reinstatement within 30 days
  4. Apply for reinstatement and obtain Board approval before practice Correct answer.

Explanation

Once a license lapses, the former licensee has no authority to practice while reinstatement is pending. The Board may require a reinstatement application, fees, CE, and other evidence before restoring the license.

Question 10Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

Which statement best describes the relationship between renewal and continuing education in Missouri?

  1. CE may be completed after renewal if reported by next cycle
  2. Renewal may be denied until required CE is documented Correct answer.
  3. CE is required only after a complaint
  4. CE is optional for experienced licensees

Explanation

Continuing education is a condition of renewal, not an optional or post-renewal task. The Board may withhold renewal when the required CE is not documented, and practicing on an unrenewed license is prohibited.

Question 11Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

An active Missouri physical therapist license is issued on a biennial renewal cycle. What does this mean for the licensee?

  1. Renewal is every four years, with CE due at the midpoint.
  2. Renewal is annual, and CE is reported monthly.
  3. Renewal is perpetual unless the Board opens an investigation.
  4. Renewal and CE are due every two years. Correct answer.

Explanation

Missouri PT licenses are renewed on a biennial cycle, so an active licensee must renew and complete the continuing education required for that two-year period. The license does not remain valid indefinitely, and CE is not reported monthly.

Question 12Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri PT licensee legally changes their surname and wants the license record to match. Which action best satisfies the registration obligation?

  1. Ask an employer to notify the Board through the facility's payroll records.
  2. Use both names on patient records until the Board discovers the change.
  3. Wait until the next renewal and write the new name in the margin.
  4. Notify the Board and submit documentation of the legal name change. Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensees are responsible for keeping the Board's record accurate. A legal name change should be reported with supporting documentation so the license and public verification reflect the correct name.

Question 13Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

Which continuing education offering best fits Missouri's expectation that CE be relevant to physical therapy practice?

  1. A vendor demonstration of office software with no learning assessment.
  2. A seminar on commercial real estate investing.
  3. A course on vestibular rehabilitation with a completion certificate. Correct answer.
  4. A journal issue read without any assessment or documentation.

Explanation

Continuing education for renewal must be relevant to physical therapy and documented. A clinical course with a completion certificate meets that expectation, while unrelated or undocumented activities do not.

Question 14Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A PT places their Missouri license on inactive status before stopping clinical work. How does inactive status differ from an expired license?

  1. Inactive status automatically restores active practice after one renewal cycle.
  2. Inactive status allows limited patient care if a supervising PT co-signs.
  3. Inactive status is the same as expiration except the fee is lower.
  4. Inactive status keeps the license record current but prohibits practice until reactivated. Correct answer.

Explanation

Inactive status is a nonpractice status that keeps the license record in the Board's system. The licensee may not treat patients until the Board grants reactivation; an expired license has lapsed and also requires Board action before practice.

Question 15Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A PT has held inactive Missouri status for one renewal cycle and now wants to return to direct patient care. What must the PT generally do first?

  1. Ask a colleague to supervise all care until the next renewal date.
  2. Apply to the Board for reactivation and meet fee and CE requirements. Correct answer.
  3. Begin treating patients while submitting a reactivation form within 30 days.
  4. Use the inactive license number on claims because the number never changes.

Explanation

An inactive licensee may not return to patient care simply by paying a fee or arranging informal supervision. Reactivation requires a Board application and compliance with the fee and CE requirements tied to the status change.

Question 16Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri PT licensee does not receive a renewal notice and allows the expiration date to pass. Which statement reflects the licensee's obligation?

  1. The licensee is excused from CE because the notice was not received.
  2. The licensee must still renew by the deadline; missing notice does not extend it. Correct answer.
  3. The licensee may practice on the expired license until a new notice arrives.
  4. The Board must mail a second notice before the license can expire.

Explanation

The renewal deadline is not excused by a lost or undelivered notice. Licensees must track their own expiration date and complete renewal, including CE, before the license lapses.

Question 17Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri physical therapist assistant provides treatment in an outpatient clinic. Which condition is required for lawful PTA practice?

  1. The PTA must be licensed and supervised by a PT. Correct answer.
  2. The PTA must have an independent provider number and evaluate each patient.
  3. The PTA may supervise PT students in place of the PT.
  4. The PTA may treat only patients who have never seen a PT.

Explanation

A PTA must hold a Missouri license and practice under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. The PTA role does not include independent evaluation or supervising PT students in place of the PT.

Question 18Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A student enrolled in an accredited physical therapist program performs interventions during a clinical rotation. Which circumstance best keeps the student outside Missouri licensure requirements?

  1. The student uses the title "physical therapist intern" on all billing forms.
  2. The student treats patients independently when the supervising PT is off-site.
  3. The student has passed the NPTE but has not yet applied for a Missouri license.
  4. The activities are supervised clinical education and the student does not claim licensure. Correct answer.

Explanation

The student exemption depends on the activities being part of supervised clinical education. A student who practices independently or presents as licensed falls outside the exemption and may be engaged in unlicensed practice.

Question 19Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A PT licensed in another state provides telehealth treatment to a patient located in Missouri. The PT has no Missouri license. Which analysis is correct?

  1. Telehealth is exempt from licensure because the PT never enters Missouri.
  2. The PT may practice for 30 days while awaiting Missouri endorsement.
  3. The PT generally needs a Missouri license because the patient is in Missouri. Correct answer.
  4. The PT may practice if the patient signs a waiver of Missouri licensure.

Explanation

Licensure is generally tied to where the patient is located, not where the provider sits. A PT in another state who treats a Missouri patient through telehealth therefore needs Missouri licensure unless a specific exception applies.

Question 20Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A new graduate has passed the NPTE but has not received a Missouri PT license. May the graduate work as a PT?

  1. No; the graduate must wait one full renewal cycle after passing.
  2. Yes; the graduate may practice under a PT's license for 90 days.
  3. No; the graduate cannot practice as a PT until licensed. Correct answer.
  4. Yes; passing the NPTE creates temporary practice authority.

Explanation

Passing the NPTE does not itself authorize practice in Missouri. The graduate must wait until the Board issues the license before working or representing themselves as a PT.

Question 21Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

Which Missouri agency is responsible for issuing and renewing physical therapist licenses?

  1. The Missouri Board of Nursing
  2. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
  3. The Board of Registration for the Healing Arts Correct answer.
  4. The Missouri Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Explanation

Physical therapist licensure in Missouri is administered through the Division of Professional Registration by the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. That board processes applications and renewals and handles disciplinary matters for PTs. The other listed entities license different professions or have no PT licensure role.

Question 22Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

An applicant for initial Missouri PT licensure by examination has passed the NPTE. Which document must generally be sent to the Board directly by the educational institution?

  1. A copy of the applicant's NPTE score report
  2. An official transcript from the physical therapy program Correct answer.
  3. A certificate showing 30 continuing education hours
  4. A letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor

Explanation

For initial licensure by examination, the Board generally requires an official transcript sent directly by the educational institution to verify completion of an accredited PT program. NPTE scores are reported through the examination vendor, and continuing education is not a requirement for initial licensure.

Question 23Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri PT licensee wants to confirm whether a colleague's license is active before covering a shift. Which source is most reliable?

  1. A screenshot of the colleague's continuing education certificates
  2. The Board's official online license verification system Correct answer.
  3. The colleague's employer's staff directory
  4. The colleague's printed business card

Explanation

The most reliable way to confirm licensure status is the Board's official online verification system, which reflects current license status and expiration. Business cards, employer directories, and CE certificates do not establish that a license is active.

Question 24Licensure, Registration, and Renewal

A Missouri PT licensee accepts a full-time non-clinical faculty position and provides no patient care during the entire renewal period. The licensee wants to keep the Missouri license active. Which statement is correct?

  1. The licensee may skip continuing education because no patients were treated.
  2. The license automatically converts to inactive status when no patient care is provided.
  3. The licensee must surrender the license and apply for a new one before returning to care.
  4. The licensee must renew and complete the required continuing education. Correct answer.

Explanation

Holding an active Missouri PT license carries renewal and continuing education obligations even if the licensee does not treat patients during the period. The license does not automatically become inactive, and CE is not waived solely because the licensee had no patient contact. A licensee who wants inactive status must affirmatively request it under Board procedures.

Question 25Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

Under Missouri's physical therapy statutes, which activity falls within the statutory definition of 'physical therapy'?

  1. Ordering radiographs and interpreting the images in order to establish or confirm a medical diagnosis such as a fracture or dislocation.
  2. Prescribing, dispensing, and adjusting legend medications used to manage musculoskeletal pain, inflammation, and muscle spasm.
  3. Performing surgical procedures and then managing the postoperative wound and any medical complications that develop.
  4. Evaluating and treating disability or injury through physical, chemical, and mechanical means such as heat, cold, and electricity. Correct answer.

Explanation

The statutory definition of physical therapy centers on evaluating and treating disability, injury, or disease through physical, chemical, and mechanical means, expressly including agents such as heat, cold, water, touch, sound, and electricity. Prescribing drugs, performing surgery, and radiologic diagnosis are medical acts outside that definition, so a therapist who believes they are needed must refer the patient rather than provide them.

Question 26Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A certified athletic trainer employed by a sports medicine clinic wants to advertise and bill for 'physical therapy' services for post-surgical knee patients. Under Missouri law, which statement is correct?

  1. The athletic trainer may provide the services if the clinic's medical director signs the plan of care.
  2. Only a licensed physical therapist may use the title or hold out as providing physical therapy. Correct answer.
  3. The athletic trainer may advertise physical therapy services if a licensed physical therapist reviews the treatment records each month.
  4. The athletic trainer may use the protected title if certified by a national athletic training board.

Explanation

Missouri's practice act restricts the titles 'physical therapist,' 'PT,' 'physiotherapist,' and the holding out of physical therapy services to persons licensed by the state. Certification by another body, physician oversight, or periodic review by a therapist does not create authority to advertise or deliver physical therapy, and doing so exposes both the individual and the clinic to discipline.

Question 27Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

In Missouri, which function may a physical therapist assistant not perform, even when the supervising physical therapist is in the same building?

  1. Performing the initial evaluation and establishing or modifying the plan of care. Correct answer.
  2. Carrying out delegated therapeutic exercises and modalities within the established plan of care.
  3. Documenting the patient's response to treatment in the medical record.
  4. Teaching the patient a home exercise program that the physical therapist designed.

Explanation

The assistant implements the plan of care and may document the patient's response, but the initial evaluation, the establishment and modification of the plan of care, and discharge decisions belong to the licensed physical therapist. The therapist's physical presence in the building does not convert an evaluation into a delegable task.

Question 28Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A rehabilitation aide who holds no license is assigned to apply hot packs and set up ultrasound while the physical therapist treats another patient in the same gym. Which statement is correct under Missouri law?

  1. The aide may perform both tasks after completing an employer-provided competency check.
  2. The aide may perform the tasks if a physical therapist assistant supervises directly.
  3. The aide may not render treatment; unlicensed personnel perform only non-treatment tasks. Correct answer.
  4. The aide may apply the hot packs and ultrasound because the physical therapist is on the premises.

Explanation

Unlicensed support personnel may perform only non-treatment tasks such as transport, clerical work, and equipment upkeep; applying modalities or directing exercise constitutes rendering physical therapy and requires a license. The therapist's proximity, an employer competency check, or direction by an assistant does not cure the absence of licensure.

Question 29Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

Which of the following practitioners may lawfully issue the prescription or referral that authorizes physical therapy treatment in Missouri?

  1. A licensed massage therapist in private practice.
  2. A registered nurse employed in an orthopedic clinic.
  3. A certified athletic trainer employed by a university sports medicine department.
  4. A licensed dentist. Correct answer.

Explanation

Physical therapy may be prescribed or referred by the practitioner categories the practice act recognizes, which include physicians and surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, and osteopathic physicians. Athletic trainers, massage therapists, and nurses are not authorized referral sources even when they evaluate patients or work alongside referring physicians.

Question 30Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A physical therapist agrees to pay a physician 15 percent of the treatment charges generated by that physician's referrals. How does Missouri law treat this arrangement?

  1. It is permitted if the payment is documented as a marketing expense.
  2. It is permitted if the physician is a shareholder in the clinic.
  3. It is permitted if the physician provides on-site supervision.
  4. It is prohibited fee splitting and a ground for discipline. Correct answer.

Explanation

Paying a referral source a percentage of the charges generated by those referrals is fee splitting, which the practice act prohibits and treats as grounds for discipline. Labels such as marketing expense, on-site supervision, or shared ownership do not change the character of a payment tied to the volume or value of referrals.

Question 31Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A patient referred for shoulder pain reports progressive numbness in both hands along with a new gait disturbance. Which action best complies with the physical therapist's obligations under Missouri law?

  1. Add cervical traction and reassess the patient in two weeks.
  2. Refer the patient promptly to an appropriate practitioner for further medical evaluation. Correct answer.
  3. Ask the physical therapist assistant to perform the reevaluation at the next visit.
  4. Continue the plan of care and document the findings at the next scheduled reassessment.

Explanation

When findings suggest a condition outside the scope of physical therapy or one requiring medical diagnosis and treatment, the therapist must refer the patient promptly rather than continue treatment. Delaying, adding interventions, or delegating the reevaluation does not satisfy that duty and may delay necessary medical care.

Question 32Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A physical therapist licensed in Kansas is hired to treat patients at a Missouri clinic for three days next month. What does Missouri law require?

  1. The therapist may treat only those patients who also reside in Kansas.
  2. A Missouri license must be obtained before the therapist practices in Missouri. Correct answer.
  3. Nothing, because Kansas and Missouri both use the same national licensure examination.
  4. A one-time courtesy notification to the Missouri board is sufficient.

Explanation

Licensure is state-specific; a license from another state, shared use of the national examination, or a courtesy notice does not authorize practice in Missouri. The therapist must hold a Missouri license before treating patients who are located in Missouri, however brief the engagement.

Question 33Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A physical therapist employed by an orthopedic group is directed by the practice's physician owner to inject a corticosteroid into a patient's shoulder to save the physician a trip to the office. What is the therapist's correct response?

  1. Decline; the therapist's scope is fixed by statute and does not expand with the employer's direction. Correct answer.
  2. Decline only if the therapist has not completed continuing education in injection therapy.
  3. Comply, but document in the record that the physician directed the procedure.
  4. Comply, because the supervising physician has delegated the procedure and remains responsible for it.

Explanation

Scope of practice is set by statute and by the license the therapist holds, not by the employer's business model or by a physician's delegation. Accepting the assignment would be practicing beyond the therapist's authorized scope and is a basis for discipline, and documenting the physician's instruction does not make the act authorized.

Question 34Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A physical therapist supervises two physical therapist assistants and one aide across two hospital units. Which statement correctly describes the therapist's statutory responsibility?

  1. The aide may adjust the treatment plan between visits if the therapist reviews and signs the note within one week.
  2. Responsibility for the delegated treatment shifts to the assistant at the moment the task is assigned.
  3. The therapist remains responsible for the plan of care, for delegating within the assistant's scope, and for discharge decisions. Correct answer.
  4. The therapist is responsible for the plan of care only on the unit where the therapist is physically present that day.

Explanation

The supervising therapist retains responsibility for the plan of care and may delegate only tasks that fall within the assistant's authorized scope; evaluation, reevaluation, modification of the plan, and discharge decisions stay with the therapist. Being physically present on one unit does not shift that duty to assistants or aides.

Question 35Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

In Missouri, which individual may lawfully use the title "physical therapist" and the abbreviation "PT" in connection with patient care?

  1. A physical therapist licensed by the Missouri board Correct answer.
  2. A physical therapist assistant licensed by the Missouri board
  3. A certified athletic trainer employed by a hospital
  4. A physical therapy aide with an associate degree

Explanation

Missouri's physical therapy practice act limits the title "physical therapist" and the designation "PT" to persons licensed by the state board as physical therapists. A licensed physical therapist assistant uses the distinct title and abbreviation "PTA." Aides and athletic trainers do not become physical therapists through their own credentials or employment setting.

Question 36Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

Missouri's statutory definition of physical therapy expressly excludes which of the following services?

  1. Gait training
  2. Electrosurgery Correct answer.
  3. Joint mobilization
  4. Therapeutic ultrasound

Explanation

The Missouri definition of physical therapy expressly excludes radiology, electrosurgery, surgery, and the making of a diagnosis of disease. Therapeutic ultrasound, gait training, and joint mobilization are treatment modalities or interventions that fall within physical therapy practice rather than within an excluded category.

Question 37Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A patient with a new ankle sprain self-refers to a Missouri physical therapist. If the patient fails to improve and no earlier referral indication arises, when is referral required?

  1. 90 days from the first treatment
  2. 10 visits or 30 days from the first treatment, whichever occurs first Correct answer.
  3. 7 days from the first treatment
  4. 60 days from the first treatment

Explanation

For a self-referred patient who fails to improve, Missouri requires referral after ten visits or thirty days, whichever occurs first. Consultation for continued treatment is a separate requirement and should not be confused with automatic referral for every improving patient. Earlier referral indications must be addressed promptly.

Question 38Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A Missouri physical therapist evaluating a patient after a fall suspects a distal radius fracture. The patient has no referral. What action is most consistent with the statutory scope of physical therapy?

  1. Perform diagnostic ultrasound to confirm the fracture
  2. Refer the patient to a physician for imaging and evaluation Correct answer.
  3. Order a wrist radiograph and review it before treatment
  4. Apply heat and proceed with strengthening

Explanation

Physical therapists may evaluate patients and identify impairments, but the statutory definition excludes radiology and the making of a diagnosis of disease. A suspected fracture therefore requires referral to a physician or other authorized provider for imaging and medical evaluation. Continuing treatment without addressing the suspected fracture is not consistent with the scope of practice.

Question 39Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A person has graduated from an accredited physical therapist assistant program but has not yet obtained a Missouri PTA license. May the person provide selected physical therapy interventions under a physical therapist's supervision?

  1. Yes, because graduation from an accredited program satisfies the licensure requirement
  2. Yes, if the supervising physical therapist co-signs every note
  3. No, because a Missouri PTA license is required before assisting with interventions Correct answer.
  4. No, unless the person is also enrolled in a physical therapist program

Explanation

Missouri requires licensure before a person may practice as a physical therapist assistant. Graduation from an accredited program is an eligibility step, not a substitute for the PTA license. Supervision and co-signing do not cure the absence of the required license.

Question 40Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

In Missouri, which term is defined as an unlicensed person who assists in the provision of physical therapy under supervision?

  1. Physical therapist assistant
  2. Certified athletic trainer
  3. Physical therapist
  4. Physical therapy aide Correct answer.

Explanation

A physical therapy aide is an unlicensed worker who assists in physical therapy under the required supervision. By contrast, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are licensed under the practice act. Athletic trainers hold a separate credential and are not the statutory category for an unlicensed physical therapy assistant.

Question 41Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A Missouri physical therapist whose license is inactive volunteers at a free clinic and provides gait training and manual therapy. What is the legal status of this activity?

  1. This is unlicensed practice; an active Missouri license is required Correct answer.
  2. The therapist may treat for 30 days under direct access
  3. The therapist may volunteer because no fee is charged
  4. The therapist may treat if a supervising physician is on site

Explanation

Practicing physical therapy in Missouri requires an active license; volunteering and receiving no payment do not create an exception. Direct access addresses whether a referral is needed, not whether the therapist holds a valid license. Physician supervision also does not substitute for physical therapist licensure.

Question 42Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A Missouri physical therapist is asked by a school to observe a student's gait and recommend classroom mobility accommodations, without providing direct treatment. Is this within the statutory definition of physical therapy?

  1. No, because only physicians may consult with schools
  2. Yes, but only if the student has a physician referral
  3. No, because physical therapy requires direct hands-on treatment
  4. Yes, because consultative services and instruction are within physical therapy Correct answer.

Explanation

Missouri's definition of physical therapy includes physical therapy evaluation, treatment planning, instruction, and consultative services. Observation and recommendations can therefore fall within the statutory scope even when no direct treatment is provided. The definition is not limited to hands-on modalities.

Question 43Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

During an evaluation, a patient asks the physical therapist to determine whether numbness is caused by diabetes. What is the most appropriate response under Missouri law?

  1. Perform additional tests until the diagnosis is confirmed
  2. Tell the patient the cause is diabetes and continue the plan
  3. State that disease diagnosis is outside PT scope and refer Correct answer.
  4. Document diabetes as the medical diagnosis and proceed

Explanation

Physical therapists may evaluate movement dysfunction and identify impairments, but the statutory definition excludes the making of a diagnosis of disease. When findings suggest a medical cause such as diabetes, the therapist should refer the patient to an authorized provider rather than label the disease. Continuing treatment as though the diagnosis were confirmed would exceed the statutory scope.

Question 44Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A second-year student in an accredited Missouri physical therapist program performs gait training during a clinical education course under a licensed physical therapist's supervision. The student is not licensed. Which statement is correct?

  1. The student is practicing without a license because gait training is licensed
  2. The student may perform it under the supervised clinical education exemption Correct answer.
  3. The student may perform it only after passing the national examination
  4. The student may perform it only if the patient signs a waiver

Explanation

Missouri law exempts students enrolled in an accredited physical therapy program when they perform physical therapy under supervision as part of their course of study. Gait training during a supervised clinical education course fits that exemption. A patient waiver or passage of the national examination is not the basis for the student exemption.

Question 45Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

Under Missouri's Physical Therapy Practice Act, the statutory definition of physical therapy is directed at preventing, correcting, or alleviating which of the following?

  1. A physical disability Correct answer.
  2. Dental disease
  3. A mental illness
  4. A communicable disease

Explanation

The Missouri definition describes physical therapy as evaluating and treating persons by physical measures and therapeutic exercise to prevent, correct, or alleviate a physical disability. It does not define the practice as treatment of mental illness, dental disease, or communicable disease.

Question 46Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

In Missouri, which designation may lawfully be used only by a person who holds a physical therapist assistant license?

  1. Exercise specialist
  2. PT tech
  3. PTA Correct answer.
  4. Rehab aide

Explanation

Missouri limits the title physical therapist assistant and the abbreviation PTA to persons licensed by the board. Unlicensed support staff may work as aides, but they may not use the PTA designation.

Question 47Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A Missouri physical therapist has completed advanced continuing education in pharmacology. Which service remains outside the scope of physical therapy practice?

  1. Joint mobilization
  2. Neuromuscular reeducation
  3. Prescribing controlled substances Correct answer.
  4. Therapeutic ultrasound

Explanation

Physical therapy scope includes manual therapy, exercise, modalities, and functional training, but it does not include prescribing drugs. Additional coursework does not enlarge the statutory scope of practice.

Question 48Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

In Missouri, supervision of a physical therapist assistant by a physical therapist requires the supervising physical therapist to do which of the following?

  1. Be in the same room during every treatment
  2. Review the assistant's care only at discharge
  3. Personally perform each delegated intervention
  4. Remain available for consultation and direction Correct answer.

Explanation

Missouri's supervision standard for physical therapist assistants requires the physical therapist to be available for consultation and direction, not necessarily physically present at every treatment. The supervising therapist remains responsible for the assistant's services.

Question 49Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A licensed physical therapist assistant wants to open an independent clinic and treat patients without a supervising physical therapist. What does Missouri law require?

  1. The PTA must practice under physical therapist supervision Correct answer.
  2. The PTA may practice independently for the first thirty days
  3. The PTA may practice independently if the clinic is owned by a physician
  4. The PTA may practice independently after ten years of experience

Explanation

A physical therapist assistant is licensed to assist a physical therapist under supervision and may not practice independently. The supervising physical therapist must retain responsibility for the plan of care and the services provided.

Question 50Scope of Practice and Statutory Definitions

A Missouri physical therapist wants to assign a task to an unlicensed physical therapy aide. Which assignment is consistent with the aide's lawful role?

  1. Apply ultrasound and adjust intensity as needed
  2. Progress the patient's therapeutic exercise without review
  3. Assist with transfers after instruction Correct answer.
  4. Perform an initial gait assessment

Explanation

An aide is an unlicensed assistant who may perform only non-skilled, delegated tasks and may not perform skilled physical therapy interventions. Assisting with transfers after instruction is a support task, while modality application and assessment require licensed personnel.