148A.6 Physical therapist assistant.

1. A licensed physical therapist assistant is required to function under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist to perform physical therapy procedures delegated and supervised by the licensed physical therapist in a manner consistent with the rules adopted by the board. Selected and delegated tasks of physical therapist assistants may include but are not limited to therapeutic procedures and related tasks, routine operational functions, documentation of treatment progress, and the use of selected physical agents. The ability of the licensed physical therapist assistant to perform the selected and delegated tasks shall be assessed on an ongoing basis by the supervising physical therapist. The licensed physical therapist assistant shall not interpret referrals, perform initial evaluation or reevaluations, initiate physical therapy treatment programs, change specified treatment programs, or discharge a patient from physical therapy services.

2. Each applicant for a license to practice as a physical therapist assistant shall:

a. Successfully complete a course of study for the physical therapist assistant accredited by the commission on accreditation in education of the American physical therapy association, or another appropriate accrediting body, and meet other requirements established by the rules of the board.

b. Have passed an examination administered by the board.

3. This section does not prevent a person not licensed as a physical therapist assistant from performing services ordinarily performed by a physical therapy aide, assistant, or technician, provided that the person does not represent to the public that the person is a licensed physical therapist assistant, or use the title “physical therapist assistant” or the letters “P.T.A.”, and provided that the person performs services consistent with the supervision requirements of the board for persons not licensed as physical therapist assistants.

91 Acts, ch 228, §3; 2000 Acts, ch 1140, §33; 2004 Acts, ch 1068, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §101