§ 148A.6 — Physical therapist assistant

Iowa § 148A.6

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title IV: PUBLIC HEALTH
• Ch. 148A: PHYSICAL THERAPY

Text

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
licensedphysicaltherapistassistant,orusethetitle“physicaltherapistassistant”ortheletters
3 PHYSICAL THERAPY, §148A.7
“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.