Section 4755.48 | Prohibitions.
(A) No person shall employ fraud or deception in applying for or securing a license to practice physical therapy or to be a physical therapist assistant.
(B) No person shall practice or in any way imply or claim to the public by words, actions, or the use of letters as described in division (C) of this section to be able to practice physical therapy or to provide physical therapy services, including practice as a physical therapist assistant, unless the person holds a valid license under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code or except for submission of claims as provided in section 4755.56 of the Revised Code.
(C) No person shall use the words or letters, physical therapist, physical therapy, physical therapy services, physiotherapist, physiotherapy, physiotherapy services, licensed physical therapist, P.T., Ph.T., P.T.T., R.P.T., L.P.T., M.P.T., D.P.T., M.S.P.T., P.T.A., physical therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, physical therapy technician, licensed physical therapist assistant, L.P.T.A., R.P.T.A., or any other letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia, indicating or implying that the person is a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant without a valid license under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code.
(D) No person who practices physical therapy or assists in the provision of physical therapy treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist shall fail to display the person's current license granted under sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code in a conspicuous location in the place where the person spends the major part of the person's time so engaged.
(E) Nothing in sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code shall affect or interfere with the performance of the duties of any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in active service in the army, navy, coast guard, marine corps, air force, public health service, or marine hospital service of the United States, while so serving.
(F) Nothing in sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code shall prevent or restrict the activities or services of a person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in physical therapy in an accredited or approved educational program if the activities or services constitute a part of a supervised course of study and the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates the person's status as a student.
(G)(1) Subject to division (G)(2) of this section, nothing in sections 4755.40 to 4755.56 of the Revised Code shall prevent or restrict the activities or services of any person who holds a current, unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in another state when that person, pursuant to contract or employment with an athletic team located in the state in which the person holds the license, provides physical therapy to any of the following while the team is traveling to or from or participating in a sporting event in this state:
(a) A member of the athletic team;
(b) A member of the athletic team's coaching, communications, equipment, or sports medicine staff;
(c) A member of a band or cheerleading squad accompanying the athletic team;
(d) The athletic team's mascot.
(2) In providing physical therapy pursuant to division (G)(1) of this section, the person shall not do either of the following:
(a) Provide physical therapy at a health care facility;
(b) Provide physical therapy for more than sixty days in a calendar year.
(H)(1) Except as provided in division (H)(2) of this section and subject to division (I) of this section, no person shall practice physical therapy other than on the prescription of, or the referral of a patient by, a person who is licensed in this or another state to do at least one of the following:
(a) Practice medicine and surgery, chiropractic, dentistry, osteopathic medicine and surgery, podiatric medicine and surgery;
(b) Practice as a physician assistant;
(c) Practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse.
(2) The prohibition in division (H)(1) of this section on practicing physical therapy other than on the prescription of, or the referral of a patient by, any of the persons described in that division does not apply if either of the following applies to the person:
(a) The person holds a master's or doctorate degree from a professional physical therapy program that is accredited by a national physical therapy accreditation agency recognized by the United States department of education.
(b) On or before December 31, 2004, the person has completed at least two years of practical experience as a licensed physical therapist.
(I) To be authorized to prescribe physical therapy or refer a patient to a physical therapist for physical therapy, a person described in division (H)(1) of this section must be in good standing with the relevant licensing board in this state or the state in which the person is licensed and must act only within the person's scope of practice.
(J) In the prosecution of any person for violation of division (B) or (C) of this section, it is not necessary to allege or prove want of a valid license to practice physical therapy or to practice as a physical therapist assistant, but such matters shall be a matter of defense to be established by the accused.
The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.
Last updated June 30, 2021 at 4:43 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- March 27, 2013 – Senate Bill 141, House Bill 284 - 129th General Assembly [ View March 27, 2013 Version ]
- April 6, 2017 – House Bill 216 - 131st General Assembly [ View April 6, 2017 Version ]
- June 30, 2021 – Amended by Senate Bill 5 - 134th General Assembly [ View June 30, 2021 Version ]
- September 30, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly [ View September 30, 2021 Version ]
- December 29, 2023 – Amended by Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly [ View December 29, 2023 Version ]