a position statement (BOD-P03-03-12-28) promoting the goal that all physical therapists hold the privileges of autonomous practice. In 2006, the House of Delegates of the APTA moved forward on the same topic with their position statement (HOD P06-06-18-12), reaffirming the concept from theBOD that "Autonomous physical therapist practice is characterized by independent, self-determined professional judgment and action." The statement further defined the 4 expected privileges of the autonomous physical therapist practitioner by the year 2020:1. Direct and unrestricted access: the physical therapist has the professional capability and ability to provide to all individuals the physical therapy services they choose without legal, regulatory, or payer restrictions.2. Professional ability to refer to other healthcare providers: the physical therapist has the professional capability and ability to refer to others in the healthcare system for identified or possible medical needs beyond the scope of physical therapist practice.3. Professional ability to refer to other professionals: the physical therapist has the professional capability and ability to refer to other professionals for identified patient/client needs beyond the scope of physical therapist practice.4. Professional ability to refer for diagnostic tests: the physical therapist has the professional capability and ability to refer for diagnostic tests that would clarify the patient/client situation and enhance the provision of physical therapy services. Professional Ability to Refer for Diagnostic TestsWhile each of the 4 privileges offer an exciting, and mostly measurable, glimpse into autonomous practice, the ability to refer for diagnostic tests is particularly relevant to the topic of this special issue on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As a doctoring profession, one could argue that the ability to refer a patient for MRI (and other imaging applications) must be available to the direct-access physical therapist. Though the prescription for and use of MRI has not typically been considered within the scope of physical therapist practice, as others have detailed, READINESS: WHAT DOES THE EVIDENCE SAY?Physical therapists undergo extensive didactic and clinical preparation; they possess excellent diagnostic skills, and are well versed in current best diagnostic and treatment-based evidence.4 Physical therapists are well suited to become key members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team that makes early decisions towards retarding or preventing the development of long-term physical impairments second1Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australiajournal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy | volume 41 | number 11 | november 2011 | 803 ary to injury and/or disease processes. A system that places physical therapists as first-line providers for patients with painful neuromusculoskeletal conditions may help to realize such an outcome.22 and The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.2 It must be emphasized that the physical therapists in these settings have undergone extensive advanced training in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients conditions in a direct-access setting, and in ordering imaging to aid in diagnosis when necessary. These examples provide evidence that an advanced training program can effectively establish the primary care scope of the physical therapist. But just as importantly, we must