Practice Act Definitions, Scope of Practice, and Protected Titles
What the exam tests
This domain asks you to define the statutory terms that control every later question: who is a physical therapist, what counts as physical therapy, and which titles are reserved to licensees. New Mexico's Physical Therapy Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 61-12D-1 et seq.) and Board rules in NMAC Title 16, Chapter 20 supply the operative language.
Core definitions and scope
- Physical therapy is the examination, evaluation, diagnosis within the PT scope, prognosis, and treatment of movement dysfunction and related impairments, plus prevention and wellness services. It includes delegating selected interventions to a PTA and supervising that care.
- A physical therapist is a person licensed under the Act; a physical therapist assistant is a licensed person who performs delegated physical therapy interventions under PT supervision.
- The PT's scope includes initial examination, establishing the plan of care, periodic re-evaluation, and discharge. The PTA's role is implementation, not independent evaluation or plan modification.
- PTs do not practice medicine: surgery, prescribing drugs, and medical diagnosis outside the movement scope are not authorized.
Protected titles
Only licensees may use 'physical therapist,' 'PT,' 'physical therapist assistant,' 'PTA,' and the doctoral title 'DPT' in a way that represents licensure. A degree, certificate, or out-of-state license does not authorize use of a New Mexico protected title or any act of practice.
Worked example
A person earns a DPT but never obtains a New Mexico license, then advertises 'Dr. A, PT, home rehab visits.' The problem is not the earned degree; it is the use of 'PT' and the offer of physical therapy services. Both imply licensure. The Board could treat this as unlicensed practice and title misuse.
Traps that cost marks
Do not confuse a physical therapy aide or technician with a PTA; aides are unlicensed and may not perform skilled PT interventions. Do not treat 'diagnosis' in the Act as unlimited medical diagnosis. Do not assume an out-of-state license or national exam score creates New Mexico practice authority.