Wis. Stat. § 448.56 — WI Code / Chapter 448 / Section 448.56
Practice requirements.
Status: in_force

(1) Written referral. Except as provided in this subsection and s. 448.52 , a person may practice physical therapy only upon the written referral of a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse. Written referral is not required if a physical therapist provides services in schools to children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5) , pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of public instruction; provides services as part of a home health care agency; provides services to a patient in a nursing home pursuant to the patient’s plan of care; provides services related to athletic activities, conditioning, or injury prevention; or provides services to an individual for a previously diagnosed medical condition after informing the individual’s physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse who made the diagnosis. The examining board may promulgate rules establishing additional services that are excepted from the written referral requirements of this subsection.

(1m) Duty to refer.

(a) A physical therapist shall refer a patient to an appropriate health care practitioner if the physical therapist has reasonable cause to believe that symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of the practice of physical therapy.

(b) The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements that a physical therapist must satisfy if a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse makes a written referral under sub. (1) . The purpose of the rules shall be to ensure continuity of care between the physical therapist and the health care practitioner.

(2) Fee splitting. No licensee or compact privilege holder may give or receive, directly or indirectly, to or from any other person any fee, commission, rebate, or other form of compensation or anything of value for sending, referring, or otherwise inducing a person to communicate with a licensee or compact privilege holder in a professional capacity, or for any professional services not actually rendered personally by the licensee or compact privilege holder or at the licensee’s or compact privilege holder’s direction.

(3) Billing by professional partnerships and corporations. If 2 or more physical therapists have entered into a bona fide partnership or have formed a service corporation for the practice of physical therapy, the partnership or corporation may not render a single bill for physical therapy services provided in the name of the partnership or corporation unless each physical therapist who provided services that are identified on the bill is identified on the bill as having rendered those services.

(4) Responsibility. A physical therapist is responsible for managing all aspects of the physical therapy care of each patient under his or her care.

(5) Patient records. A physical therapist shall create and maintain a patient record for every patient the physical therapist examines or treats.

(6) Physical therapist assistants. A physical therapist assistant may assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy if the physical therapist provides direct or general supervision of the physical therapist assistant. The examining board shall promulgate rules defining “direct or general supervision” for purposes of this subsection. Nothing in this subsection interferes with delegation authority under any other provision of this chapter.

(7) Ordering X-rays.

(a) A physical therapist may order X-rays to be performed by qualified persons only if the physical therapist satisfies one of the following qualifications, as further specified by the examining board by rule:

1. The physical therapist holds a clinical doctorate degree in physical therapy.

2. The physical therapist has completed a nationally recognized specialty certification program.

3. The physical therapist has completed a nationally recognized residency or fellowship certified by an organization recognized by the examining board.

4. The physical therapist has completed a formal X-ray ordering training program with demonstrated physician involvement.

(b) When a physical therapist orders an X-ray, the physical therapist shall communicate with the patient’s primary care physician or an appropriate health care practitioner to ensure coordination of care, unless all of the following apply:

1. A radiologist has read the X-ray and not identified a significant finding.

2. The patient does not have a primary care physician.

3. The patient was not referred to the physical therapist by another health care practitioner to receive care from the physical therapist.

History: 1993 a. 107 ss. 54 , 59 ; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1) ; 1997 a. 27 , 164 ; 2001 a. 70 ; 2003 a. 154 ; 2005 a. 187 ; 2009 a. 149 ; 2011 a. 161 ; 2015 a. 375 ; 2019 a. 100 ; 2021 a. 130 ; 2025 a. 17 .