Wis. Stat. § 448.985 — WI Code / Chapter 448 / Section 448.985
Physical therapy licensure compact.
Status: in_force

(1) Purpose.

(a) The purpose of this compact is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of states to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure.

(b) This compact is designed to achieve all of the following objectives:

1. Increase public access to physical therapy services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses.

2. Enhance the states’ ability to protect the public’s health and safety.

3. Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multistate physical therapy practice.

4. Support spouses of relocating military members.

5. Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between member states.

6. Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that state’s practice standards.

(2) Definitions. As used in this compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Active duty military” means full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 USC chs. 1209 and 1211 .

(b) “Adverse action” means disciplinary action taken by a physical therapy licensing board based upon misconduct, unacceptable performance, or a combination of both.

(c) “Alternative program” means a nondisciplinary monitoring or practice remediation process approved by a physical therapy licensing board. This includes, but is not limited to, substance abuse issues.

(d) “Compact privilege” means the authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another member state to practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant in the remote state under its laws and rules. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the member state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter.

(e) “Continuing competence” means a requirement, as a condition of license renewal, to provide evidence of participation in, and/or completion of, educational and professional activities relevant to practice or area of work.

(f) “Data system” means a repository of information about licensees, including examination, licensure, investigative, compact privilege, and adverse action.

(g) “Encumbered license” means a license that a physical therapy licensing board has limited in any way.

(h) “Executive board” means a group of directors elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the commission.

(i) “Home state” means the member state that is the licensee’s primary state of residence.

(j) “Investigative information” means information, records, and documents received or generated by a physical therapy licensing board pursuant to an investigation.

(k) “Jurisprudence requirement” means the assessment of an individual’s knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of physical therapy in a state.

(L) “Licensee” means an individual who currently holds an authorization from the state to practice as a physical therapist or to work as a physical therapist assistant.

(m) “Member state” means a state that has enacted the compact.

(n) “Party state” means any member state in which a licensee holds a current license or compact privilege or is applying for a license or compact privilege.

(o) “Physical therapist” means an individual who is licensed by a state to practice physical therapy.

(p) “Physical therapist assistant” means an individual who is licensed/certified by a state and who assists the physical therapist in selected components of physical therapy.

(q) “Physical therapy,” “physical therapy practice,” and “the practice of physical therapy” mean the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

(r) “Physical therapy compact commission” or “commission” means the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the compact.

(s) “Physical therapy licensing board” or “licensing board” means the agency of a state that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

(t) “Remote state” means a member state other than the home state, where a licensee is exercising or seeking to exercise the compact privilege.

(u) “Rule” means a regulation, principle, or directive promulgated by the commission that has the force of law.

(v) “State” means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of America that regulates the practice of physical therapy.

(3) State participation in the compact.

(a) To participate in the compact, a state must do all of the following:

1. Participate fully in the commission’s data system, including using the commission’s unique identifier as defined in rules.

2. Have a mechanism in place for receiving and investigating complaints about licensees.

3. Notify the commission, in compliance with the terms of the compact and rules, of any adverse action or the availability of investigative information regarding a licensee.

4. Fully implement a criminal background check requirement, within a time frame established by rule, by receiving the results of the federal bureau of investigation record search on criminal background checks and use the results in making licensure decisions in accordance with par. (b) .

5. Comply with the rules of the commission.

6. Utilize a recognized national examination as a requirement for licensure pursuant to the rules of the commission.

7. Have continuing competence requirements as a condition for license renewal.

(b) Upon adoption of this statute, the member state shall have the authority to obtain biometric-based information from each physical therapy licensure applicant and submit this information to the federal bureau of investigation for a criminal background check in accordance with 28 USC 534 and 42 USC 14616 .

(c) A member state shall grant the compact privilege to a licensee holding a valid unencumbered license in another member state in accordance with the terms of the compact and rules.

(d) Member states may charge a fee for granting a compact privilege.

(4) Compact privilege.

(a) To exercise the compact privilege under the terms and provisions of the compact, the licensee shall satisfy all of the following:

1. Hold a license in the home state.

2. Have no encumbrance on any state license.

3. Be eligible for a compact privilege in any member state in accordance with pars. (d) , (g) , and (h) .

4. Have not had any adverse action against any license or compact privilege within the previous 2 years.

5. Notify the commission that the licensee is seeking the compact privilege within a remote state(s).

6. Pay any applicable fees, including any state fee, for the compact privilege.

7. Meet any jurisprudence requirements established by the remote state(s) in which the licensee is seeking a compact privilege.

8. Report to the commission adverse action taken by any nonmember state within 30 days from the date the adverse action is taken.

(b) The compact privilege is valid until the expiration date of the home license. The licensee must comply with the requirements of par. (a) to maintain the compact privilege in the remote state.

(c) A licensee providing physical therapy in a remote state under the compact privilege shall function within the laws and regulations of the remote state.

(d) A licensee providing physical therapy in a remote state is subject to that state’s regulatory authority. A remote state may, in accordance with due process and that state’s laws, remove a licensee’s compact privilege in the remote state for a specific period of time, impose fines, and/or take any other necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens. The licensee is not eligible for a compact privilege in any state until the specific time for removal has passed and all fines are paid.

(e) If a home state license is encumbered, the licensee shall lose the compact privilege in any remote state until all of the following occur:

1. The home state license is no longer encumbered.