New Practice Act Requires New Rules

Oregon Physical Therapy Association - 503-262-9247

The following information was provided by the Oregon Physical Therapist Licensing Board

New PT Statute and Administrative Rules Effective January 01, 2006

On August 1, 2005, Governor Kulongoski signed into law Enrolled House Bill 3260 Chapter 627, to take effect January 1, 2006. This update, to the Oregon Physical Therapist Practice Act, was sponsored by the Oregon Physical Therapy Association (OPTA). The new Act required and empowered the Physical Therapist Licensing Board to adopt, amend, and repeal current Administrative Rules to include and encompass the changes as presented by House Bill 3260.

Copies of the new Statute (Practice Act) will not be available to the PT Board, or the public, until they are published by the Oregon State Legislative Counsel. That will probably be sometime in late February, early March of 2006. A copy of the changes to the Statute, Enrolled House Bill 3260, can be found at the Board website www.ptboard.state.or.us.

On 12/02/05, following the Proposed Administrative Rules Public Hearing; the PT Board adopted its proposed rule changes. The new Administrative Rules will take effect 01/01/06. The new rules can be found on the Board’s website at www.ptboard.state.or.us. If you are unable to access the site or print a copy of the new rules, please contact the Board office at 971-673-0200.

The two major changes to the Practice Act and Administrative Rules are:

Effective, 01/01/06, all physical therapists, by virtue of their current practice license, can treat patients for up to 30 days without a referral and without any special Board certification. PTs will no longer be required to maintain a Direct Access Certification to practice without referral.
The PT Board will require continuing education for the renewal of a PT and PTA practice license. The Proposed Rule Adoption of the new Division 35, regarding the requirement for continuing education upon renewal has been held, by the Board, pending further consideration. This decision was based on the public testimony received at the 12/02/05 public hearing. The adoption and publishing, of the continuing education requirements, will follow the re-drafting, Notice of Proposed Rule Making, and public hearing on the subject. This process will hopefully take place in early Spring, 2006.

However, the Board can state that the first certification period will be 01/01/06 through 03/31/08. No other requirements can be confirmed at this time.

Note: No Licensee’s 04/01/06 renewal will be impacted by this new requirement.

Also Note: The new Administrative Rules adopted by the PT Board on 12/02/05 and effective 01/01/06 are subject to change, pending final approval by the Oregon State Legislative Counsel and publishing by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.