The following persons are exempt from the licensure requirements of this chapter when engaged in the following activities:

(a) A regularly matriculated physical therapist student undertaking a course of professional instruction in an approved entry-level physical therapy education program or enrolled in a program of supervised clinical education under the direction of an approved physical therapy education program as described in Section 2651. These physical therapist students may perform physical therapy as a part of their course of study.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 2630.5

  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • physical therapy: as used in this chapter , and a license issued pursuant to this chapter does not authorize the diagnosis of disease. See California Business and Professions Code 2620
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(b) A regularly matriculated physical therapist assistant student undertaking a course of instruction in an approved physical therapy education program or enrolled in a program of supervised clinical education under the direction of an approved physical therapy education program as described in Section 2651. These physical therapist assistant students may perform physical therapy techniques as a part of their course of study.

(c) A physical therapist who holds a valid and unrestricted license in another jurisdiction of the United States or who is credentialed to practice physical therapy in another country if that person is researching, demonstrating, or providing physical therapy in connection with teaching or participating in an educational seminar of no more than 60 days in a calendar year.

(d) A physical therapist located outside this state, when in actual consultation, whether within this state or across state lines, with a licensed physical therapist of this state, or when he or she is an invited guest of the American Physical Therapy Association or one of its components, or an invited guest of an approved physical therapy school or college for the sole purpose of engaging in professional education through lectures, clinics, or demonstrations, if, at the time of the consultation, lecture, or demonstration, he or she holds a valid and unrestricted physical therapist license in the state or country in which he or she resides. The physical therapist shall not open an office, appoint a place to meet patients, receive calls from patients within the limits of this state, give orders, or have ultimate authority over the care of a physical therapy patient who is located within this state.

(e) A physical therapist who holds a valid and unrestricted license in another jurisdiction of the United States or credentialed to practice physical therapy in another country if that person, by contract or employment, is providing physical therapy to individuals affiliated with or employed by established athletic teams, athletic organizations, or performing arts companies temporarily practicing, competing, or performing in the state for no more than 60 days in a calendar year.

(f) A physical therapist assistant who holds a valid and unrestricted license in another jurisdiction of the United States and is assisting a physical therapist engaged in activities described in subdivision (c), (d), or (e).

(g) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has a valid and unrestricted license in a jurisdiction of the United States who is forced to leave his or her residence in a state other than California due to a governmentally declared emergency. This exemption applies for no more than 60 days following the declaration of the emergency. In order to be eligible for this exemption, the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall notify the board of his or her intent to practice in this state and provide a valid mailing address, telephone number, and email address.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 389, Sec. 29. (SB 198) Effective January 1, 2014.)