Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE LICENSURE, EXAMINATION, AND PRACTICE OF 
PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The changing health and demographic trends that involve increasing 
prevalence of non-communicable diseases and population aging are already 
contributing to the rapid increases in the number of people experiencing 
declines in function globally. This puts to importance the role of physical 
therapists as movement and rehabilitation experts to examine each person 
and development a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or 
manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability. 
Republic Act No. 5680 also known as “An Act Creating the Board of 
Examiners for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists”, was enacted 
on June 21, 1969. As amended, this has been the governing law on 
standardizing and regulating Physical Therapists for more than 53 years. 
Despite Physical Therapy being part of the allied health sciences 
recognized internationally, being a five-year degree in tertiary education, and 
being recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) Disease Control and 
Prevention Bureau for their contributions in health and wellness for persons 
with disabilities and the elderly, the DOH has yet to list Physical Therapy in 
the Medicine and Health Services Group or in any group under the Index of 
Occupational Services (IOS) for local government units. 
September 28, 2022
3:16 pm
5251


Many physical therapists in the country have been considering to take 
independent practice or work abroad because of the lack of competitive 
salaries, security of tenure, and government positions available. In tertiary 
hospitals, there are no established physical therapist positions and most 
physical therapists are given volunteer or admin aide positions. 
This bill seeks to institutionalize, update and upgrade the definition, 
provide a description of the role of physical therapists in local government 
units, and to align the professions regulatory framework with local and 
international standards of practice for physical therapy. In turn, this 
proposed measure shall protect and uphold the welfare of Filipino physical 
therapists and ensure that they are globally competitive to provide services to 
those in need. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE LICENSURE, EXAMINATION, AND PRACTICE OF 
PHYSICAL THERAPY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, OBJECTIVES 
AND DEFINITION OF TERMS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “The Philippine 
Physical Therapy Profession Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the importance of 
physical therapy and physical therapists in nation building. Hence, it shall 
develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive, and well-rounded 
physical therapists whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent, 
world-class, and globally competitive through inviolable, honest, effective, and 
credible licensure examinations and through regulatory measures, programs, 
and activities that foster their continuing professional growth. The State shall 
also establish quality standards for physical therapists in linking Primary 
Health Care to community-based rehabilitation and public health. 
SECTION. 3. Objectives. – The Act provides for and shall govern: 
a) the administration and conduct of licensure examination, and
registration and licensing of physical therapist;
b) the supervision and regulation of the practice of the physical therapy in
the Philippines; and
c) the upgrading of the physical therapy profession.
5251


 
SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
 
a) Accreditation — is a type of quality assurance process that utilizes all 
aspects of review and assessment according to pre-defined standards. 
Accreditation 
may 
be 
applied to 
physical 
therapy 
education 
programmes or a programme of physical therapy service delivery; 
 
b) Autonomy — is the ability of a reflective practitioner to make 
independent judgments; open to initiate, terminate, or alter physical 
therapy intervention. It means the responsibility of the professional to 
manage his/her practice independently and to act according to the 
rules of ethics and the code of professional conduct within a framework 
of health legislation. Professional autonomy is usually stated in the law, 
regulation, directives or rules governing the scope of practice: 
i. 
Clinical autonomy: Responsibility of the practitioner to decide 
the programme of intervention and its modalities based on the 
diagnosis that he/she makes; 
 
ii. 
Management autonomy: Responsibility of the professional to 
manage his/her practice independently; 
 
iii. 
Professional autonomy: is usually stated in the law, regulation, 
directives or rules. It means the responsibility of the professional 
to make decisions regarding the management of a patient/client 
based on one’s own professional knowledge and expertise to 
manage his/her practice independently and to act according to 
the rules of ethics and the code of professional conduct within 
the framework of health legislation; 
 
c) Advanced scope of practice — physical therapists may develop a 
scope of practice beyond the usual and customary physical therapist’s 
practice as a result of attaining significant additional education, 
professional 
experience, 
and/or 
enhanced 
competencies.  
Specialization is an example of advanced scope of practice; 
 
d) Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) – refers 
to an integrated national organization, association, or society that is 
granted accreditation by the Board and the Commission as the 
Accredited Integrated Professional Organization of Physical Therapists; 
 
e) Direct access — the patient/client directly asks the physical therapist 
to provide services (the patient refers themselves) and the physical 
therapist freely decides his conduct and takes full responsibility for it. 
Also, the physical therapist has direct access to patients/clients and 
determines 
their 
need 
for 
the 
physical 
therapist’s 
examination/assessment and intervention/treatment without referral 
from a third party. 


 
f) Physical therapy is the set of services provided by physical therapists 
to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore 
maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. 
The service is provided in circumstances where movement and function 
are threatened by ageing, injury, pain, diseases, disorders, conditions 
or environmental factors and with the understanding that functional 
movement is central to what it means to be healthy. 
 
Physical therapy involves the interaction between the physical 
therapist, patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care 
givers and communities in a process where movement potential is 
examined/assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and 
skills unique to physical therapists; 
 
g) Physical Therapist is a person, having acquired a bachelor’s degree in 
Physical Therapy is qualified through in-service training and practical 
experience in the application of in carrying out the programs and 
services 
within 
the 
spheres 
of 
promotion, 
prevention, 
treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. These spheres 
encompass physical, psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing; 
 
h) Health promotion — is the combination of educational and 
environmental supports for actions and conditions of living conducive 
to health. The purpose of health promotion is to enable people to gain 
greater control over the determinants of their own health. 14 Health 
promotion represents a comprehensive social and political process, it 
not only embraces actions directed at strengthening the skills and 
capabilities of individuals, but also action directed towards changing 
social, environmental and economic conditions so as to alleviate their 
impact on public and individual health. Health promotion, and the 
associated efforts put into education, community development, policy, 
legislation and regulation, are equally valid for prevention of 
communicable diseases, injury and violence, and mental problems, as 
they are for prevention of non-communicable diseases; 
 
i) Self-referral — “Patients are able to refer themselves to a therapist 
without having to see anyone else first, or without being told to refer 
themselves by a health professional. This can relate to telephone, IT or 
face-to-face service 
 
j) Specialization — physical therapist specialization is the result of 
advanced knowledge, skills and competence attained by a physical 
therapist qualified in a specific area, within the scope of practice 
recognized as physical therapy. This usually results from defined 
training and educational pathways, associated with a formal process 
for testing and recognizing the advanced level acquired; 
 
 


k) Specialist physical therapist — is a physical therapist who has 
formally demonstrated advanced clinical competence in a defined 
specialty area within the scope of practice recognized as physical 
therapy. A specialist physical therapist would be expected to practice 
and/or teach in the specialty area of clinical practice and also to be 
involved in evaluation and practice/service development and to 
contribute to the body of knowledge relevant to their practice setting; 
 
l) Primary health care — is the first level of contact of individuals, the 
family and community with a nation’s health system bringing health 
services as close as possible to where people live and work, and 
constitutes the first element of a continuing health service process. It 
is an essential health service based on practical, scientifically sound 
and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally 
accessible to individuals and families in the community; 
 
m) Scope of Examination – refers to the range of topics or subjects 
provided by the Board in the syllabi of the four areas of scope of 
examination for physical therapy professionals in Sections 9 (m) and 15 
of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5.  Scope and Practice of the Physical Therapy Profession. – 
The scope and practice of the Physical Therapy profession is the application 
of physical therapist’s extensive knowledge of the body and its movement 
needs and potential is central to determining strategies for diagnosis and 
intervention. The practice settings will vary according to whether the 
physical 
therapy 
is 
concerned 
with 
health 
promotion, 
prevention, 
treatment/intervention, habilitation or rehabilitation. 
 
The scope of physical therapist practice is not limited to direct 
patient/client care, but also includes: public health strategies, advocating 
for patients/clients and for health, supervising and delegating to others, 
leading, managing, teaching, research, developing and implementing health 
policy at the local, national and international levels. 
 
Physical therapists operate as independent practitioners as well as 
members of health service provider teams. They are able to act as first contact 
practitioners, and patients/clients may seek direct services without referral 
from another health professional for the following purposes: 
a) promoting the health and wellbeing of individuals and the general 
public/society, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and 
exercise; 
b) preventing impairments, activity limitations, participatory restrictions 
and disabilities in individuals at risk of altered movement behaviours 
due to health factors, socio-economic stressors, environmental factors 
and lifestyle factors; 
c) providing interventions/treatment to restore integrity of body systems 
essential to movement, maximize function and recuperation, minimize 
incapacity, and enhance the quality of life, independent living and 


workability in individuals and groups of individuals with altered 
movement behaviours resulting from impairments, activity limitations, 
participatory restrictions and disabilities 
d) modifying environmental, home and work access and barriers to 
ensure full participation in one’s normal and expected societal roles 
 
The education and clinical practice of physical therapists will vary according 
to the social, economic, cultural and political contexts in which they practice. 
However, it is a single profession, and the first professional qualification, 
obtained in any country, represents the completion of a curriculum that 
qualifies the physical therapist to use the professional title and to practice as 
an independent professional. 
 
ARTICLE II 
CREATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY  
BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY 
 
SECTION 6. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory 
Board of Physical Therapy. – There is hereby created a Professional 
Regulatory Board of Physical Therapy to be composed of a Chairperson and 
three (3) Members, each Member representing one of the four (4) fields of 
specialization listed in Section 15, Article III, hereof,  to be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines from a list of three (3) recommendees of the 
Professional Regulation Commission for each position chosen from a list of 
four nominees for each position submitted by the Accredited Integrated 
Professional Organization of physical therapist. Provided, that a member 
representing a field of specialization has at least a bachelor’s degree in that 
particular field of specialization.  The new Board shall be constituted within 
three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
 
The Chairperson and the three (3) Members of the Board must be registered 
professionals and issued with certificates of registration and professional 
identification cards at the time of their appointment. 
 
SECTION 7. Qualifications of Board Members. – The Chairperson and 
Members of the Board, at the time of their appointment, must possess the 
following qualifications: 
a) Must be a natural-born citizen and resident of the Philippines for at 
least 5 years; 
b) Must be at least forty years of age; 
c) Must be of proven integrity and of high moral and ethical values in 
his/her personal as well as professional conduct; 
d) Must not have been convicted by a court in a final judgment in crime 
involving moral turpitude; 
e) Must be a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in the field of physical therapy, 
or a holder of a Master or Doctorate degree in the field of physical 
therapy from a school, college, or university recognized by the 
Government or abroad, and has been engaged in the practice of physical 
therapy profession for at least five (5) years before his/her appointment; 


f) Must not be connected with any school, college or university granting a 
degree, or review center, that qualifies graduates of such degree for 
admission to the licensure examination for physical therapy; and 
g) Must not be an incumbent officer or trustee of the accredited 
professional organization for physical therapists and in good standing 
h) A duly registered physical therapist under this Act with a valid 
certificate of registration and professional license and identification 
card.  
 
SECTION 8. Term of Office. – The Chairperson and Members of the Board 
shall hold office for a term of three (3) years or until their successors shall 
have been qualified and appointed. They may, however, be appointed for a 
second term. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired portion 
of the term only. Each member shall take an oath of office prior to the 
assumption of duties. 
The incumbent Chairperson and Members shall continue to serve until their 
replacements shall have been appointed and qualified. 
 
SECTION 9. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall have 
the following powers and functions: 
a) Promulgate, adopt and issue rules and regulations to carry out the 
provisions of this Act; 
b) Give and supervise the licensure examination for admission to the 
practice of the physical therapy profession; 
c) Supervise and regulate the licensure, registration and practice of the 
physical therapy profession; 
d) Administer the oath of a professional to the successful examinees in the 
licensure examination for physical therapist in appropriate mass oath-
taking ceremonies to be held for the purpose; 
e) Register and issue certificates of registration to successful examinees 
in licensure examinations for physical therapists and to persons 
qualified to register as physical therapists without examination; 
f) Suspend or revoke the certificate, reinstate of registration, license and 
professional identification card of a physical therapist for causes 
provided herein; 
g) Adopt an official seal of the Board as well as the seal of physical therapy; 
h) Adopt and promulgate a Code of Ethics for Physical Therapist and a 
Code of Professional Standards for the Practice of the Physical Therapy 
profession; endorsed by the accredited and integrated professional 
organization of physical therapists; 
i) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the physical therapy 
profession and whenever necessary, adopt measures as may be deemed 
appropriate for the enhancement or maintenance of high professional 
and ethical standards of the practice of the physical therapy profession; 
j) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), that all educational institutions offering courses in physical 
therapy 
education 
comply 
with 
the 
policies, 
standards 
and 
requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of 
curriculum, faculty, library and facilities as well as to conform itself 


with the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) necessary for 
education and training provisions in the conformance towards learning 
outcomes; 
k) Hear/try and decide administrative cases involving violations of the 
provisions of this Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations 
including the Code of Ethics for Physical Therapy and Code of 
Professional Standards for the Practice of Physical Therapy Profession 
and, for this purpose, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to 
secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of documents 
and to testify in connection herewith; 
l) Enforce compliance with the Continuing Professional Development Act 
of 2016 otherwise known as Republic Act 10912. The CPD law shall be 
mandatory for all physical therapists in coordination with the 
accredited national association of physical therapy; 
m) Prepare, adopt and issue, in consultation with the academe, specialist 
physical therapist the syllabi or tables of specification of the subjects 
for the licensure examinations and to amend the same; 
n) Issue special permits to persons admitted to the practice of physical 
therapy for a specific duration of time, and TESDA and DOH certificate 
of registration and accreditation / recognition for advance studies, 
researches and accomplishments that contribute to the enrichment of 
the profession; and 
o) Discharge and perform such other duties and functions as may be 
necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Act. 
p) Except matters which are ministerial in nature, all policies and 
functions of the Board embodied in resolutions as well as rules and 
regulations issued by the Board shall be subject to the review and 
approval of the Commission. 
 
SECTION 10. Compensation and Allowance of the Chairperson and 
Members of the Board. – The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall 
receive compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation and 
allowances received by the Chairpersons and Members of other Professional 
Regulatory Boards.  
 
SECTION 11. Removal and Suspension of the Chairperson and Members 
of the Board. – The President may, upon recommendation of the 
Commission, remove any Member of the Board for any of the following causes: 
a) Negligence; 
b) Incompetence; 
c) Immoral, dishonorable or unprofessional conduct; 
d) Violation of, or abetting the violation of, the Professional Standards or 
Code of Ethics for Physical Therapists; and/or 
e) Conviction in a final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude. 
a) The right of the respondent to due process and be assisted by counsel 
in an investigation shall be respected and upheld. The President may, 
also upon recommendation of the Commission, preventively suspend a 
Member under administrative investigation. 
 


SECTION 12. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, 
Secretarial and Support Services. – The Board shall be under the general 
supervision and administrative control of the Commission. All records of the 
Board including applications for examination, examination papers and 
results, minutes of deliberation, administrative cases and other investigations 
involving examinees and physical therapists shall be kept and subject to the 
disposition of the Commission. 
 
The Commission shall provide secretariat and support services to the Board 
for the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 13. Annual Report. – The Board shall, at the close of each calendar 
year, submit an annual report to the Commission, of its proceedings and 
accomplishments during the year and make recommendations for the 
adoption of measures that will upgrade the conditions affecting the practice 
of the physical therapy profession in the Philippines. 
 
 
ARTICLE III 
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION 
 
SECTION 14. Licensure Examination. – All applicants for registration for 
the practice of physical therapy shall be required to undergo and pass a 
written examination as provided in this Act except those who qualify for 
registration under Section 26 of this Act. The licensure examination for 
physical therapy professionals shall be given by the Board in such places and 
dates the Commission may designate subject to compliance with the 
requirements prescribed by the Commission. 
 
SECTION 15. Scope of Examination. – The examination for Physical 
Therapy professionals shall basically cover the following fields: 
a) Physical Therapy Application 1 
b) Physical Therapy Application 2 
• PT in Special Population 
• PT in Pediatrics 
• PT in Geriatrics 
• PT in CBR and Public Health linking to Primary Health Care 
c) Physical Therapy Application 3 
• Professional Ethics  
• Organization, Management 
• Research 
d) Physical Therapy Application 4 
The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, may revise or 
exclude any of the subjects or add new ones as the need arises, and may 
adjust or modify the percentage and in conformity with the latest 
developments in the profession here and abroad. 
 
SECTION 16. Qualifications of Applicants for Examination. – Each 
applicant for examination shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that: 


a) He/she is citizen of the Philippines subject to the provision on 
reciprocity as contained hereunder; 
b) He/she is of good moral character and must not have been convicted of 
any crime involving moral turpitude; and 
c) He/she is a graduate of at least a Bachelor of Science in Physical 
Therapy degree or its equivalent degree as determined by the Board 
from a school, college or university established and recognized by the 
Government, or a recognized university abroad whose physical therapy 
is recognized by the CHED.  
 
SECTION 17. Fraudulent Application. – The Board may suspend or revoke 
a certificate of registration and professional identification card already issued, 
if a registrant has been proved or found to have made misrepresentation/s in 
his application for examination. 
 
SECTION 18. Rating in the Board Examination. – To pass the licensure 
examination for physical therapy professionals, a candidate must obtain a 
weighted general average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) and with no 
grade lower than sixty percent (60%) in any given subjects. However, if an 
examinee obtained a general weighted average rating of seventy-five percent 
(75%) or higher but obtained a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any given 
subject/s, he/she shall be allowed to take the examination in the subject/s 
where a grade below sixty percent (60%) was obtained.  
 
SECTION 19. Report of Ratings. – The Board shall submit to the 
Commission the rating obtained by each examinee in the licensure 
examination within a period of ten (10) days after the examination in the last 
subject unless extended by the Commission for just and valid cause/s. 
 
SECTION 20. Report on the Performance of Examinees in Licensure 
Examination. – The Board, through the Commission, may recommend to the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) the following: 
a) The schools, colleges or universities whose successful examinees in 
three (3) consecutive licensure examination for Physical Therapist is 
less than eight percent (8%) of the total number of its candidates who 
took the licensure examinations shall be recommended for close 
monitoring of their Physical Therapy program; and 
b) The names of schools, colleges, or universities whose successful 
examinees in five (5) successive licensure examination for Physical 
Therapy is less than eight percent (8%) of the total number of its 
examinees in each of the licensure examination taken, and their 
physical therapy course/ program shall be recommended for closure. 
 
SECTION 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional 
License, and Identification Card. – A certificate of registration shall be 
issued to examinees who passed the licensure examination for physical 
therapists, as well as to a person that qualified to register as physical 
therapist without examination, subject to the payment of fees prescribed by 
the Commission. The Certificate of Registration, and professional license 


which indicates that the person named therein is entitled to practice as 
physical therapist with all the benefits and privileges pertaining thereto, shall 
bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and the seal of the 
Commission and the Board. The Certificate of Registration and professional 
license shall remain in full force and effect until revoked or suspended in 
accordance with this Act.  
 
A Professional Identification Card bearing the registration number, and date 
of issuance, shall be renewed every three (3) years and upon satisfying the 
requirements of the Board and the Continuing Professional Development Act 
of 2016 or RA 10912.  
 
SECTION 22. Initials. – The initials PTRP, which stands for Physical 
Therapists Registered Philippines, shall be used following the name of the 
registered physical therapist, especially when signing documents pertinent to 
the practice of the profession. 
 
SECTION 23. Non-issuance 
of 
Certificate 
of 
Registration 
and 
Professional Identification Card. – The Board shall not register and issue 
a Certificate of Registration to any successful examinee that has been 
convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving 
moral turpitude, or has been found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct 
after investigation by the Board, or has been declared to be of unsound mind. 
The reason for the refusal shall be set forth in writing. 
 
SECTION 24.  Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of 
Registration, Professional Identification Card or Cancellation of 
Special Temporary Permit. – The Board may, after giving proper notice of 
hearing to the party concerned, revoke the Certificate of Registration and 
Professional Identification Card of physical therapist or suspend him/her 
from the practice of the profession or cancel the special temporary permit of 
a foreign national for unprofessional or unethical conduct, malpractice, 
negligence, incompetence, or violation of any of the provisions of this Act, its 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Code of Ethics and Code of 
Professional Standards for physical therapist, and Code of Good Governance. 
 
SECTION 25. Reinstatement, Re-issuance, or Replacement of Certificate 
of Registration, Professional License and Identification Card. – The 
Board may, after two (2) years from the date of revocation of Certificate of 
Registration, reinstate any revoked Certificate of Registration and reissue a 
Professional License and Identification Card, Provided, that the cause of 
disqualification or revocation has already ceased to exist. 
 
A new certificate of registration, professional license, or special permit, to 
replace lost, destroyed, or mutilated ones, may be issued subject to the rules 
as implemented by the Board.  
 
SECTION 26. Continuing Professional Development. – All physical 
therapist shall abide by the requirements, rules, and regulation in the 


Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016 or RA 10912 to be 
promulgated by the PRC Regulatory Board, subject to the approval of the 
Commission, in coordination with the AIPO for physical therapy and the 
representative of duly accredited education institutions. For this purpose, the 
Board may create a CPD Council to implement the CPD program subject to 
the guidelines as may be issued by the Board. 
 
SECTION 27. Registration and Accreditation of Physical therapy 
without Examination. – Upon approval of the application and payment of 
the prescribed fees, certificate of registration and professional identification 
card shall be issued to the applicant for registration without examination who 
can prove to the satisfaction of the Board that items a, b, or c below has been 
met: 
a) He/she has at least a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from a 
school, college or university established or recognized by the 
Government; Provided, That the applicant has passed any of the civil 
service examination in physical therapy, or has been granted  
equivalent to second level eligibility by the Civil Service Commission by 
virtue of PD 907, or passed the Career Service (Professional) 
examination given by the Civil Service Commission; Provided further, 
That the applicant has served the physical therapy industry in public 
or private capacity for  five (5) years before the effectivity of Republic Act 
8550; 
b) He/she has a graduate degree (master or doctorate) in physical therapy, 
or closely related fields such as community development, public health, 
public administration and management from a school, college or 
university, established or recognized by the Government: Provided, That 
the applicant has served the health and social  industry in public or 
private capacity for at least ten (10) years; Provided further, That the 
applicant has published five (5) research and highly technical papers in 
reputable journals, books and proceedings within the ten-year service 
in physical therapy; 
c) He/she is a graduate of at least a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy 
from a school, college or university, established or recognized by the 
Government; Provided, That the applicant has served the company 
(private sector) for a total of ten (10) years;  
 
Provided further, That he/she can show proof of achievements, awards, 
commendations, or promotions of deserving performance and has published 
at least two (2) technical papers in physical therapy. 
 
The applicants are given one (1) year after the approval and publication of the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act to register as physical therapy 
without examination. 
 
SECTION 28. Roster of Physical therapists. – The Board, in coordination 
with the Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization, shall prepare, 
update and maintain a Roster of physical therapists, their residence and office 
addresses, dates of registration or issuance of certificate, and other data 


which the Board may deem relevant.  
 
The roster shall be open to the public, copies of which shall be made available 
to any party subject to the guidelines which may be prescribed by the 
Commission.  
 
SECTION 29. Issuance of Special Temporary Permit. – Upon application 
and payment of the required fee and subject to the approval of the 
Commission, the Board may issue special temporary permits to physical 
therapists from foreign countries whose services are urgently needed in the 
absence or inadequacy of physical therapist for the purpose of promoting or 
enhancing the practice of the physical therapy profession in the Philippines 
to the following persons: 
a) Foreign-licensed physical therapists called for consultation or a 
specified purpose that is deemed essential to national development: 
Provided, That the practice shall be limited only for the particular work 
being engaged: Provided, further, That there is no Filipino therapist 
qualified for such consultation or purpose; 
b) Foreign – licensed physical therapist whose service shall be free and 
who are highly needed under particular settings; 
c) Foreign–licensed physical therapists engaged as professors, lecturers, 
or critics in fields essential to occupational therapy education in the 
Philippines, whose engagement is limited to teaching only; and 
d) Foreign-licensed physical therapist recognized as an expert or specialist 
whose service is deemed essential to the advancement of the profession 
in the Philippines.  
 
The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and 
conditions: valid only for a period of not more than one (1) year subject to 
renewal; the branch or specialty of physical therapy which the permit holder 
can practice; and the specific place or places of practice such as clinic, 
hospital, center, school/college/university offering the course of physical 
therapy. The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, shall 
prescribe rule and regulations for the implementation of this particular 
section.  
 
SECTION 30. Foreign Reciprocity. – No foreign physical therapist shall be 
given a certificate of registration/professional license and professional 
identification card or be entitled to any of the privileges under this Act unless 
the country of which the foreign physical therapy is a subject or citizen 
specifically permits Filipino physical therapists to practice within its territorial 
limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of said country or state. 
 
SECTION 31. Seal and Use of Seal. – Every Physical Therapist shall obtain 
a seal of such design as the Board shall adopt and approve which shall be 
impressed upon all documents, records, papers and/or instruments prepared 
by/or under the direct supervision of or issued by a registered Physical 
therapist only during the period of the validity of his professional identification 
card. 


 
SECTION 32. Indication of Number, Certificate of Registration, 
Professional Tax Receipt, and APO Membership Official Receipt. – Every 
registered physical therapist shall be required to indicate the number of his 
certificate of registration, professional license and identification card, the date 
of issuance and expiration of said card including the number of his 
professional tax receipt, its date and place of issue, and AIPO Membership 
Official Receipt Number on any and all documents that he signs, uses or 
issues in connection with the practice of the physical therapy. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
PRACTICE OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPY 
 
SECTION 33. Oath. – All successful examinees and those qualified for 
registration without examination shall be required to take an oath of 
profession before any member of the Board or any officer of the Commission 
authorized by it, or any person authorized by law to administer oaths prior to 
entering into the practice of the physical therapist. 
 
SECTION 34. Acts Constituting the Practice of the Physical Therapist. – 
Any single act or transaction embraced within the provision of Section 5 
hereof shall constitute an act of engaging in the practice of the physical 
therapy. 
 
SECTION 35. Prohibition Against the Unauthorized Practice of the 
Physical Therapist. – No person shall practice the physical therapy in the 
Philippines or offer himself/herself as physical therapist, or use the title, 
word, letter, figure or any sign tending to convey  the impression that one is 
a Physical Therapist, or advertise or indicate in any manner whatsoever that 
one is qualified to practice the profession, unless he/she has satisfactorily 
passed the Board licensure examination for physical therapy, or registered as 
a physical therapist without examination, except as otherwise provided in this 
Act, and is a holder of a valid Certificate of Registration and a Professional 
Identification Card or a valid special temporary permit duly issued to him/her 
by the Board and the Commission. 
 
SECTION 36. Prohibition Against Corporate Practice. – The practice of 
physical therapy is a professional service, admission to which shall be 
determined upon basis of individual and personal qualification. No firm, 
company, or association may be registered or licensed as such for the practice 
of the physical therapy.  
 
SECTION 37. Protection of Title. – No person shall practice or offer to be a 
physical therapist, or use the title or word, letter, or any sign tending to convey 
impression of being a physical therapist, nor advertise or indicate in any 
manner whatsoever to be qualified to perform the work of a physical therapist 
without passing the licensure examination given by the Board, except as 
otherwise provided in this Act: 
 


a) Engage in the practice of physical therapy by representing 
himself/herself as a physical therapist without a valid registration, 
professional license, or a valid temporary/special permit granted by the 
Board pursuant to this Act; 
b) Represent to be a physical therapist during the time that his/her 
professional license is not valid or that his/her certificate of registration 
has been suspended or revoked, or that his/her temporary/special 
permit has been cancelled; 
c) Allow anybody to use his/her certificate of registration and/or 
professional license and/or temporary /special permit as a physical 
therapist to enable such unqualified individual to engage in the practice 
of physical therapy; 
d) Use as his/her own the certificate of registration, professional license, 
or temporary/special permit of another person; and 
e) Violate any provision of the Code of Ethics as recommended by the 
accredited national organization of physical therapists. 
 
SECTION 38. Prohibition Against Hiring Unlicensed Physical therapist. 
– Government agencies, educational institutions, private corporations/ 
companies, and entrepreneurs in physical therapy are prohibited from hiring 
unlicensed physical therapist whose work is defined in Section 5 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 39. Integration of Physical Therapists. – Physical Therapy 
profession shall be integrated into one (1) national professional organization 
of physical therapists which shall be duly registered with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (SEC). The Board, subject to approval by the 
Commission, shall accredit the said organization as the one and only 
Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of registered 
physical therapists. All physical therapists whose names appear in the 
Registry Book of Physical Therapists shall ipso facto or automatically become 
members thereof and shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant 
thereto upon payment of AIPO membership fees and dues. 
 
Membership in the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) 
shall not be a bar to membership in other organizations of the physical 
therapy profession. 
 
SECTION 40. Code of Ethics and Professional Standards. – The Board 
shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and the Code of Professional 
Standards for Physical Therapists which shall be issued by the Accredited 
Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of Physical Therapists. 
 
SECTION 41. Vested Rights: Automatic Registration of Physical 
Therapist. – All physical therapist who are registered and licensed under 
Resolution at the time this Act takes effect shall automatically be registered 
as physical therapists. 
 
 
 


ARTICLE V 
PENAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 42. Penal Provisions. – Any violation of this Act, including the 
violations of the Implementing Rules and Regulations thereof, shall be meted 
the penalty of a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) or 
more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00), or imprisonment 
of not less than six (6) months, or both upon the discretion of the court. 
 
SECTION 43. Appropriation. – The Chairperson of the Professional 
Regulation Commission shall immediately include in the Commission’s 
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be 
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act and thereafter. 
 
SECTION 44. Transitory Provision. – The existing Professional Board of 
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy shall continue to function in the 
interim without another appointment until such time that the new and 
separate Professional Regulatory Board of Physical Therapy shall have been 
constituted pursuant to this Act. 
 
SECTION 45. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Professional 
Regulation Commission shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
regulations, as well as the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for 
physical therapists, in coordination with other relevant stakeholders as may 
be necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 46. Separability Clause. – If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or 
part of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment 
shall not affect, invalidate or impair any other part of this Act. 
 
SECTION 47. Repealing Clause.  The provisions of other laws, decrees, 
executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 48. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers 
of general circulation. 
 
Approved,