Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and IC 25-27-2, it is unlawful for a person or business entity to do the following:

(1) Practice physical therapy without first obtaining from the board a license authorizing the person to practice physical therapy in this state.

(2) Profess to be or promote an employee to be a physical therapist, physiotherapist, doctor of physiotherapy, doctor of physical therapy, or registered physical therapist or to use the initials “P.T.”, “D.P.T.”, “L.P.T.”, or “R.P.T.”, or any other letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating that physical therapy is provided by a physical therapist, unless physical therapy is provided by or under the direction of a physical therapist.

(3) Advertise services for physical therapy or physiotherapy services, unless the individual performing those services is a physical therapist.

     (b) Except as provided in subsection (e) and section 2.5 of this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to practice physical therapy other than upon the order or referral of a physician, a podiatrist, a psychologist, a chiropractor, a dentist, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant holding an unlimited license to practice medicine, podiatric medicine, psychology, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, or as a physician assistant, respectively. It is unlawful for a physical therapist to use the services of a physical therapist assistant except as provided under this chapter. For the purposes of this subsection, the function of:

(1) teaching;

(2) doing research;

(3) providing advisory services; or

(4) conducting seminars on physical therapy;

is not considered to be a practice of physical therapy.

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and IC 25-27-2, it is unlawful for a person to profess to be or act as a physical therapist assistant or to use the initials “P.T.A.” or any other letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating that the person is a physical therapist assistant without first obtaining from the board a certificate authorizing the person to act as a physical therapist assistant. It is unlawful for the person to act as a physical therapist assistant other than under the general supervision of a licensed physical therapist who is in responsible charge of a patient. However, nothing in this chapter prohibits a person licensed or registered in this state under another law from engaging in the practice for which the person is licensed or registered. These exempted persons include persons engaged in the practice of osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, or podiatric medicine.

     (d) Except as provided in section 2.5 of this chapter, this chapter does not authorize a person who is licensed as a physical therapist or certified as a physical therapist assistant to:

(1) evaluate any physical disability or mental disorder except upon the order or referral of a physician, a podiatrist, a psychologist, a chiropractor, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a dentist;

(2) practice medicine, surgery (as described in IC 25-22.5-1-1.1(a)(1)(C)), dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, psychology, chiropractic, or podiatric medicine; or

(3) prescribe a drug or other remedial substance used in medicine.

     (e) Upon the referral of a licensed school psychologist, a physical therapist who is:

(1) licensed under this article; and

(2) an employee or contractor of a school corporation;

may provide mandated school services to a student that are within the physical therapist’s scope of practice.

Formerly: Acts 1957, c.198, s.2; Acts 1971, P.L.379, SEC.2. As amended by P.L.137-1985, SEC.8; P.L.157-1986, SEC.2; P.L.259-1987, SEC.2; P.L.240-1989, SEC.2; P.L.217-1993, SEC.4; P.L.98-2013, SEC.2; P.L.160-2019, SEC.10; P.L.196-2021, SEC.16; P.L.143-2022, SEC.73.