License: Physical Therapist Assistant

MS State Board of Physical Therapy external site

P.O. Box 55707

Jackson, MS 39296-5707

(601) 352-2918

6. “Practice of physical therapy” shall mean the practice of the health specialty and encompass physical therapy evaluation, treatment, planning, treatment administration, instruction, and consultative services, including but not limited to: a. Performing and interpreting tests and measurements as an aid to physical therapy treatment, for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical condition and to prevent the development of any physical or mental disability within the scope of physical therapy; and the performance of neuromuscular-skeletal tests and measurements as an aid in diagnosis, evaluation, or determination of the existence of and the extent of any body malfunction and to assess ongoing effects of intervention. Electromyography (EMG)/nerve conduction studies may be performed by a licensed physical therapist who is certified in electromyography by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS). b. Planning initial and subsequent treatment programs, on the basis of test findings; and c. Administering treatment by therapeutic exercise, neuro-developmental procedures, therapeutic massage/manual therapy, mechanical devices and therapeutic agents, which employ the physical, chemical and other properties of air, water, heat, cold, electricity, sound and radiant energy for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical condition or preventing the development of any physical or mental disability. Telehealth is an appropriate model of service delivery when it is provided in a manner consistent with the standards of practice, ethical principles, rules and regulations for Mississippi physical therapy practitioners. Intramuscular manipulation may be performed by a licensed physical therapist who has met the criteria as described hereunder: A. Intramuscular manual therapy is a physical intervention that uses a filiform needle no larger than 25 gauge needle to stimulate trigger points, diagnose and treat neuromuscular pain and functional movement deficits; is based upon Western medical concepts; requires an examination and diagnosis, and treats specific anatomic entities selected according to physical signs. Intramuscular manual therapy does not include the stimulation of auricular or distal points or any points based upon areas of Eastern (Oriental) medicine and acupuncture. B. Intramuscular manual therapy as defined pursuant to this rule is within the scope of practice of physical therapy. C. A physical therapist must have the knowledge, skill, ability, and documented competency to perform an act that is within the physical therapist’s scope of practice. D. To be deemed competent to perform intramuscular manual therapy a physical therapist must meet the following requirements: 1. Documented successful completion of an intramuscular manual therapy course of study; online study is not considered appropriate training. a. A minimum of 50 hours of face-to-face IMS/dry needling course study; online study is not considered appropriate training. b. Three years of practice as a licensed physical therapist prior to using the intramuscular manual therapy technique. 2. The physical therapist must have Board approved credentials for providing intramuscular manipulation which are on file with the Board office prior to using the treatment technique. E. The provider of the required educational course does not need to be a physical therapist. A intramuscular manual therapy course of study must meet the educational and clinical prerequisites as defined in this rule, D(1)(a)&(b) and demonstrate a minimum of two years of intramuscular manual therapy practice techniques. F. A physical therapist performing intramuscular manual therapy in his/her practice must have written informed consent for each patient where this technique is used. The patient must sign and receive a copy of the informed consent form. The consent form must, at a minimum, clearly state the following information: 1. Risks and benefits of intramuscular manual therapy. 2. Physical therapist’s level of education and training in intramuscular manual therapy. 3. The physical therapist will not stimulate any distal or auricular points during intramuscular manual therapy. G. When intramuscular manual therapy is performed, this must be clearly documented in the procedure notes and must indicate how the patient tolerated the technique as well as the outcome after the procedure. H. Intramuscular manual therapy shall not be delegated and must be directly performed by a qualified, licensed physical therapist. I. Intramuscular manual therapy must be performed in a manner consistent with generally accepted standards of practice, including but not limited to, aseptic techniques and standards of the center for communicable diseases. J. Failure to provide written documentation of appropriate educational credentials is a violation of this rule, and is prima facie evidence that the physical therapist is not competent and not permitted to perform intramuscular manual therapy. K. This rule is intended to regulate and clarify the scope of practice for the physical therapist. 7. “Physical therapist (PT)” means a person licensed in this state to practice physical therapy as defined in these regulations, and whose license is in good standing. 8. “Physical therapist assistant (PTA)” means a person who is licensed in this state and who assists a physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy under the direct, on-site supervision of the physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant may perform physical therapy procedures and related tasksthat have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapists, but shall not perform the following physical therapy activities: interpretation of referrals; physical therapy initial evaluation/screening and reevaluation; identification, determination or modification of plans of care (including goals and treatment programs); final discharge assessment/evaluation or establishment of the discharge plan; or therapeutic techniques beyond the skill and knowledge of the physical therapist assistant. 9. “Referral” means the written or oral designation of physical therapy services by a doctor of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, podiatry, or chiropractic, physician assistant, or by a nurse practitioner, holding a license in good standing under the laws of the state of Mississippi, another state, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia. The instruction may be as detailed or as general as the doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner in his or her sound discretion deems necessary in the particular case. 10. “Direct, on-site supervision” means face-to-face oversight by a licensed physical therapist at regular intervals, as prescribed in these regulations adopted by the Board, of the services provided to a patient by a licensed physical therapist assistant. 11. “Direct supervision” means face-to-face oversight at regular intervals of a physical therapist issued a temporary license under Part 3103 Rule 1.4 of these regulations by a licensed physical therapist. 12. “Face-to-face” means within each other’s sight or presence at regular intervals. 13. “Regular intervals” means every sixth treatment day or fourteenth calendar day, whichever comes first. 14. “turpitude” means depravity, vice, immorality Licensure Requirements: An applicant for a regular license as a physical therapist assistant shall submit to the Board, verified by oath, written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Board that the applicant: 1. Is of good moral character which is defined as “Good moral character” is a pattern of behavior conforming to the profession’s ethical standards and behavior that indicates honesty and truthfulness, integrity, respect among the community for lawful behavior, respect for the rights of others, and obedience to the lawful directives of public officers or officials or persons charged with the enforcement of the law and showing an absence of moral turpitude. The burden of demonstrating that the applicant possesses the good moral character required for licensure shall rest with the applicant. 2. Has graduated from a physical therapist assistant program accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education, Office on Postsecondary Education and has paid an application fee not to exceed double the price of the examination, no part of which shall be refundable. 3. Has passed an examination approved by the Board with the minimum passing score set by the Board and published annually; and a. An applicant who has taken the exam more than six times in any jurisdiction and who is not licensed is not eligible to sit for the examination in Mississippi. b. Has paid the required fee(s); c. Has valid social security number; and d. Applicants for licensure must pass the Board’s jurisprudence exam Licensure by Reciprocity: An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall submit to the Board, verified by oath, written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Board that: a. The applicant has a valid unrestricted license from another jurisdiction of the United States. b. That the requirements for said license are equivalent to or greater than those required in this state as set forth in the applicable laws, rules and regulations of this state and c. That said license is in good standing and has not been suspended or revoked. Privilege to Practice: Applicants who live in states participating in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact are eligible to receive a privilege to practice in accordance with the rules of the Physical Therapy Compact Commission as they currently exist or maybe hereafter amended from time to time. In order to receive a privilege to practice under the rule, applicants must: 1. Apply for a privilege to practice at the Licensure Compact Commission; 2. Pay to Licensure Compact Commission any fees required by the Commission or the Board; 3. Pass a jurisprudence exam required by the Board; 4. Comply with the rules and regulations governing the practice of Physical Therapy in MS; 5. Waive the Mississippi Licensure Compact fee for applicants who are active in the United States Military and their spouses. Foreign Trained Individuals: An applicant for licensure who has been trained as a physical therapist assistant in a foreign country, and desires to be licensed pursuant to the laws of the State of Mississippi, shall submit to the Board, verified by oath, in form and content satisfactory to the Board: 1. That the applicant is of good moral character; 2. That the applicant holds a diploma from an educational program for physical therapist assistants approved by the Board; 3. Documentary evidence that the educational program is substantially equivalent to that required of a non-foreign trained applicant for licensure; for the purpose of this section “substantially equivalent” means that an applicant for licensure educated outside of the United States shall have: a. Graduated from a physical therapist education program that prepares the applicant to engage without restriction in the practice of physical therapy. b. Provide written proof that the applicant’s school of physical therapy education is recognized by its own ministry of education. c. Undergone credentials evaluation as directed by the Board that determines the candidate has met uniform criteria for educational requirements as further established by rule. d. Completed any additional education as required by the Board. e. Passed the Board approved English proficiency examinations if the applicant’s native language is not English. f. Passed the examination approved by the Board. g. And meets other requirements established by rules of the Board. 4. Notwithstanding the provisions in the above section, if the applicant is educated outside the United States and is a graduate of a professional physical therapy educational program accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the Board, the Board may waive the requirements for documentary evidence that the educational program is substantially equivalent 5. Until and including December 31, 2006, demonstrable proficiency in the English language by passing all of the following English language examinations with scores to be determined by the Board: a. Minimum scores of: 1. 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE); and 2. 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE); and 3. 220 on the computer based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 560 on the paper based TOEFL; and b. Effective January 1, 2007, evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination: 1. Minimum scores on the TOEFL iBT: a. 24 on the writing section; b. 26 on the speaking section; c. 21 on the reading section; and d. 18 on the listening comprehension section The Board reserves the right to require a personal interview with any applicant for final determination of the exemption request. Temporary License: 1. A temporary license to practice as a physical therapist assistant may be granted to an applicant for licensure meeting the requirements of the applicable laws, rules and regulations and who has registered for the exam in this state but has not taken the approved examination or has not received the results of the examination, subject to the conditions of the applicable rules and regulations. 2. The Board may by rule provide for the issuance of a temporary license to a physical therapist assistant licensed in another state and has filed an application with the Board for a permanent license in this state. This temporary license will be granted for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days. 3. During a lawfully declared local, state, or national disaster or emergency, the Board may issue a temporary license to any otherwise qualified physical therapist assistant licensed and in good standing in another state or territory of the United States and who meets such other requirements as the Board may prescribe by rule and regulations. Abandonment: An application shall be deemed abandoned by the Board if, after one (1) year from the date of filing, the requirements for licensing have not been completed and submitted to the Board. Code of Ethics: 1. All licensees shall comply with the current American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics: Standards of Ethical Conduct and the accompanying Guide for Professional Conduct for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. 2. All licensees shall comply with the current American Physical Therapy Association Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy and the accompanying Criteria. Renewal of License General Provisions: The Board shall issue licenses which shall be subject to biennial renewal. The licensure period shall be construed as July 1 through June 30 of odd-numbered years for persons whose surnames begin with A through L and the licensure period shall be construed as July 1 through June 30 of even-numbered years for persons whose surnames begin with M through Z. Each licensee shall remain in his or her originally assigned licensure renewal group for all subsequent license renewals. Thus, even if a licensee’s name is changed, he or she shall remain in the same licensure renewal group as originally assigned. Students enrolled in an accredited physical therapist assistant educational program while engaged in completing a clinical requirement for graduation, which must be performed under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist shall be permitted to practice physical therapy in the state of MS without obtaining a license. Practitioners of physical therapy or persons acting as physical therapist assistants who are employed in the United States armed services, United States Public Health Service, Veterans Administration or other federal agency shall be permitted to practice physical therapy in the state of MS without obtaining a license; however, if such individual engages in the practice of physical therapy or acts as a physical therapist assistant outside of the scope of official duty, he must be licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. Physical therapist assistants licensed in other jurisdictions who are teaching or participating in physical therapy education projects, demonstrations or courses in this state, or providing physical therapy services to visiting established athletic organizations, performing arts companies or volunteering to provide services to competitors in events such as the Olympics or dance competitions in which their participation in the treatment of patients is minimal shall be permitted to do so without obtaining a license.