§ 25-27-1-2 — Unlawful practices; providing mandated school services

(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.