(A) The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure.

(B) This compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-45-510

  • Compact privilege: means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another member state to practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant in the remote state under its laws and rules. See South Carolina Code 40-45-520
  • Member state: means a state that has enacted the compact. See South Carolina Code 40-45-520
  • physical therapy: as used in this chapter , and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a physical therapist to prescribe medications or order laboratory or other medical tests. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • practice of physical therapy: means the evaluation and treatment of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate, and limit physical disability, bodily malfunction, and pain from injury, disease, and any other bodily or mental condition and includes the administration, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation of physical therapy tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures; the establishment, administration, evaluation, and modification of a physical therapy treatment plan which includes the use of physical, chemical, or mechanical agents, activities, instruction, and devices for prevention and therapeutic purposes; and the provision of consultation and educational and other advisory services for the purpose of preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of physical disability, bodily malfunction, and pain. See South Carolina Code 40-45-20
  • Remote state: means a member state other than the home state, where a licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege. See South Carolina Code 40-45-520
  • State: means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of America that regulates the practice of physical therapy. See South Carolina Code 40-45-520

(1) increase public access to physical therapy services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses;

(2) enhance the states’ ability to protect the public’s health and safety;

(3) encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multi-state physical therapy practice;

(4) support spouses of relocating military members;

(5) enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between member states; and

(6) allow a remote state to hold a provider of services with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that state’s practice standards.

  Previous section
Next section  
 Article 3 Contents