AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 22, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 18, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 20, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 15, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

93

Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Sections 2601, 2622, and 2633 of, to add Section 2620.6 to, to repeal Section 2689 of, and to repeal and add Sections 2620, 2620.1, and 2620.5, 2620.5 of, the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, establishes the Physical Therapy Board of California to license and regulate physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines the terms “physical therapist,” “physical therapist assistant,” and “physical therapy” and sets forth the scope of practice of a physical therapist. Existing law authorizes only a licensed physical therapist to use the title “physical therapist” or the letters “P.T.” or any other words, letters, or figures indicating that the person is a licensed physical therapist. Existing law requires the board to define those doctoral degrees that are in a related health science for specified provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act. Existing law authorizes a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or, after the adoption of the above-described definition by the board, a doctoral degree in a related health science to, among other things, use the initials “DPT,” “PhD,” or “EdD”, as applicable, in a written communication following the licensee’s name. Existing regulations define a physical therapy related health science for the purpose of the above-described authorization to include, among other things, biology, biomechanics, and exercise physiology.

This bill, among other changes to the act, would redefine “physical therapy,” “physical therapist,” and “physical therapist assistant” for purposes of the act, as specified. The bill would, among other things, prohibit the use of any words, abbreviation, or insignia implying that physical therapy is provided unless those services are provided by or under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. The bill would delete the requirement on the board to define the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science described above and would update those provisions to, instead, specify that the doctoral degrees in a related health science are those specified by the board in regulation. The bill would additionally authorize a licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or a related health science to use the initials “DSc”, as applicable, following the licensee’s name.

This bill would delete existing requirements for the performance of tissue penetration by a physical therapist and instead would include within the practice of physical therapy the use of electrode needles to perform tissue penetration for the purpose of evaluating and interpreting performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system.

Existing law prohibits a physical therapist from supervising more than 2 physical therapist assistants at one time and establishes conditions for the initiation of services by a physical therapist directly, including providing a specified notice, orally and in writing, to a patient that is signed by the patient.

This bill would increase the number of physical therapist assistants a physical therapist is authorized to supervise from 2 to 3. The bill would require a physical therapist to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed health care provider when the situation or condition of the patient is beyond the scope of the education and training of the physical therapist. The bill would repeal the notice and other requirements for the provision of direct physical therapy treatment services.

Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2601 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2601.

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise specified:

(a) “Board” means the Physical Therapy Board of California.

(b) “Movement system” means the collection of all bodily systems that interact to move the body or its parts.

(c) “Physical therapist” or “physiotherapist” means a health care professional who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to practice physical therapy on a person. A physical therapist is part of the primary care team who works in a variety of settings to help improve function of the movement system.

(d) “Physical therapist assistant” or “physical therapy assistant” means a person who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to assist a physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy.

(e) “Physical therapist technician” and “physical therapy aide,” as described in Section 2630.4, shall be deemed identical and interchangeable terms.

(f) “Physical therapy” or “physiotherapy” means services specified in Section 2620 that are provided as follows:

(1) By or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.

(2) To assess and facilitate motion, force, energy, and motor control through the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, movement, and active, passive, and resistive exercise to maximize health, well-being, function, and community participation across the diversity of age, sex, gender, culture, environment, and psychosocial and socioeconomic status.

(3) For prevention, habilitation, rehabilitation, promotion of health and well-being of bodily and mental conditions, disease or movement-based impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions.

SEC. 2.

Section 2620 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.

SEC. 3.

Section 2620 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2620.

(a) The practice of physical therapy includes all of the following services:

(1) Examination and evaluation evaluation, using clinically appropriate methods, of the movement system and the system’s relation to health-related and disabling conditions, including a review of systems and medication regimen to identify developmental, mechanical, physiological, and biopsychosocial impairments of the movement system, participation restrictions, or other conditions to determine diagnosis of conditions of the movement system, prognosis, and intervention, and assess outcomes.

(2) The design, implementation, and modification of interventions to alleviate impairments, functional limitations, and participation restrictions related to the movement system or other health-related conditions.

(3) Furnishing, ordering, fabrication, and application of assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic, protective, and supportive devices and equipment consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 4023, subdivision (g) of Section 4059, and subdivision (d) of Section 4059.5.

(b) Physical therapy interventions techniques and procedures may include, but are not limited to, therapeutic exercise; gait training; functional training; self-care; training in self-care and in-home, community, or work integration or reintegration; manual therapy, including soft tissue mobilization, mobilization and joint mobilization or manipulation, and intramuscular manual therapy; manipulation; therapeutic massage; lymphatic drainage; neuromuscular reeducation; blood flow restriction; pulmonary management and airway clearance; integumentary protection and active repair; biophysical agents or modalities, including electrical, sound, light, mechanical, electromagnetic, or thermal; movement system counseling and education; nutritional education and counseling; and pain and stress management.

(1) Prevention or reduction of risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation, and disability, including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health, and wellness.

(2) Administration, consultation, education, and research.

(3) Referring for other indicated services and tests for consultation with other providers, decisionmaking, and patient management.

SEC. 4.

Section 2620.1 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.

SEC. 5.

Section 2620.1 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2620.1.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a referral or prior authorization for a patient to directly access physical therapist services.

(b) A physical therapist shall refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed health care provider when the situation or condition of the patient is beyond the scope of the education and training of the physical therapist.

SEC. 6.

Section 2620.5 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.

SEC. 7.

Section 2620.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:

2620.5.

The practice of physical therapy includes the use of electrode needles to perform tissue penetration for the purpose of evaluating and interpreting performance of the neuromusculoskeletal system.

SEC. 8.

Section 2622 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2622.

(a) A physical therapist shall be responsible for managing all aspects of the care of each patient as set forth in regulations promulgated by the board.

(b) A physical therapist shall not supervise more than three physical therapist assistants at one time to assist the physical therapist in their practice of physical therapy.

(c) A physical therapist may utilize the services of one aide engaged in patient-related tasks to aid the physical therapist in their practice of physical therapy.

SEC. 9.

Section 2633 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

2633.

(a) A person holding a license as a physical therapist issued by the board may use the title “physical therapist” or the letters “P.T.,” the title “doctor of physical therapy” or, subject to subdivision (b), the letters “D.P.T.,” or any other words, letters, or figures that indicate that the person using them is a licensed physical therapist. No other person shall be designated or use the term licensed or registered physical therapist, licensed or registered physiotherapist, licensed or registered physical therapy technician, or the letters “P.T.,” “D.P.T.,” “L.P.T.,” or “R.P.T.,” or any other words, abbreviation, or insignia implying that physical therapy is provided unless those services are provided by or under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. A person or business shall not advertise or otherwise promote a person as being a physical therapist or physiotherapist unless the individual is a licensed physical therapist. A person or business that offers, provides, or bills any person for services shall not characterize those services as physical therapy unless the person performing the service is a licensed physical therapist.

(b) A licensed physical therapist who has received a doctoral degree in physical therapy or, subject to subdivision (d), a doctoral degree in a related health science, may do the following:

(1) In a written communication, use the initials DPT, PhD, DSc, or EdD, as applicable, following the licensee’s name.

(2) In a written communication, use the title “Doctor” or the abbreviation “Dr.” preceding the licensee’s name, if the licensee’s name is immediately followed by an unabbreviated specification of the applicable doctoral degree held by the licensee.

(3) In a spoken communication while engaged in the practice of physical therapy, use the title “doctor” preceding the person’s name, if the speaker specifies that they are a physical therapist.

(c) A doctoral degree described in subdivision (b) shall be granted by an institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or by an accrediting agency recognized by the National Commission on Accrediting or the United States Department of Education that the board determines is equivalent to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(d) For purposes of subdivision (b), the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science shall be those specified by the board in regulation.

SEC. 10.

Section 2689 of the Business and Professions Code is repealed.

SEC. 11.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.