Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2650
Educational Standards
Redline — January 1, 2011 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2015
As of January 1, 2011
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each applicant for a license as a physical therapist shall be a graduate of a professional degree program of an accredited postsecondary institution or institutions approved by the board, and shall have completed a professional education including academic coursework and clinical internship in physical therapy.
(a) The physical therapist education requirements are as follows: (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each applicant for a license as a physical therapist shall be a graduate of a professional degree program of an accredited postsecondary institution or institutions approved by the board and shall have completed a professional education program including academic course work and clinical internship in physical therapy. (2) Unless otherwise specified by the board by regulation, the educational requirements shall include instruction in the subjects prescribed by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association or Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada and shall include a combination of didactic and clinical experiences. The clinical experience shall include at least 18 weeks of full-time experience with a variety of patients.
(b) As referenced in the evaluative criteria of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, the curriculum shall consist of a combination of didactic, clinical, and research experiences in physical therapy using critical thinking and weighing of evidence, and shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(1) The sciences basic to physical therapy including biomedical, physical, physiological, neurobiological, anatomical, social and behavioral sciences.
(2) Clinical sciences including laboratory or other practical experiences involving quantitative and qualitative evaluation within the scope of physical therapy practice including kinesiology, neuroscience, pathology, human development, and gerontology.
(3) Treatment that constitutes the practice of physical therapy.
(4) Learning experiences provided in the areas of administration, education, and consultation.
(5) Research methods including the review and critical analysis of research reports.
(6) Ethical, legal, and economical concepts of physical therapy practice.
(c) Each applicant shall have at least 18 weeks of full-time clinical experience with a variety of patients.
(b) The physical therapist assistant educational requirements are as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each applicant for a license as a physical therapist assistant shall be a graduate of a physical therapist assistant program of an accredited postsecondary institution or institutions approved by the board, and shall have completed both the academic and clinical experience required by the physical therapist assistant program, and have been awarded an associate degree.
(2) Unless otherwise specified by the board by regulation, the educational requirements shall include instruction in the subjects prescribed by the CAPTE of the American Physical Therapy Association or Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada or another body as may be approved by the board by regulation and shall include a combination of didactic and clinical experiences.
Official source: California Legislative Information. Reproduced from public-domain California statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.