Physical Therapy Regulations & Licensing
Established in 1947 (§13–201), The Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners upholds the Maryland Physical Therapy Act which consists of the Health Occupations Article, Title 13 Statutes, and the Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 10, Subtitle 38.
All Licensed Maryland Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and those holding a Maryland Compact Privilege must understand and abide by the statutes and regulations of the Physical Therapy Act.
The mission of the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is to ensure the Maryland Physical Therapy Act effectively safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of individuals. The Board of Physical Therapy Examiners’ vision is that by adhering to the Maryland Physical Therapy Act, licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants safeguard the health and welfare of individuals seeking physical therapy services.
The Board of Physical Therapy Examiners protects individuals by carrying out duties such as oversight of the Physical Therapy Act, review of statutes and regulations, drafting bills, amending regulations, testifying, educating licensees, ensuring the relevancy of the Physical Therapy Act, and disciplining those who violate the law.
Open Session Board Meetings
Open Session Board meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM and are open to the public.
- Join by Google Meet: meet.google.com/rbp-mkdk-pbi
- Call-in number: +1 301-882-3047
- Access code: 720 935 914#
News from the Board
On March 21, 2023, the Board passed the following motion: That the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners recognizes the term “DPT,” as meaning Doctor of Physical Therapy, and unless licensed to practice physical therapy, a person may not use “DPT.”
Report any misuse of the term “DPT” by clicking this link to file a complaint with the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. (Ref: §13-402)
Click here to access the Maryland Register, Issue Date: July 28, 2023; Volume 50 – Issue 15 – Proposed Action on Regulations
The purpose of this action is to:
(1) Update and define certain terms;
(2) Clarify and identify opportunities for licensees to obtain continuing education (CE) hours;
(3) Update CE renewal and reinstatement requirements; and
(4) Make other revisions or technical corrections as needed.
Highlights include:
Supervision of physical therapists or physical therapist assistant students in a clinical rotation, which may earn 10 CE hours only once in a renewal period (1 CE hour equals 40 hours of supervision); or Research, which may earn 10 CE hours.
Comments may be sent to Jourdan Green, Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination, Maryland Department of Health, 201 West Preston Street, Room 512, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410-767-6499 (TTY 800-735-2258), or email to mdh.regs@maryland.gov. Comments will be accepted through August 28, 2023. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
In 2021, a bill passed that mandates healthcare workers participate in implicit bias training starting April 2022. This new legislation was established to confront racial inequality in the healthcare system.
Now, evidence-based implicit bias training is required of any health care professional looking to renew their license with a health occupations board. APTAMD developed a course that meets this requirement. It is open to all health professionals.
Members – log in to get the member rate of $25 ($50 for non)
At the time of your license renewal, you will attest to the completion of the training by checking the appropriate box in your renewal application. You are only required to attest to the completion of the training once. You will not need to repeat this attestation during subsequent renewals. More information is available on our implicit bias training web page.
The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners does issue temporary licenses. To apply for a temporary license, you can go to the Board of Examiner’s web site home page as well as the “Apply for a License” link has information to guide applicants. Read the statute.
How it works:
- An applicant who, except for passing an examination otherwise required under this subtitle, has met the appropriate education and experience requirements for a physical therapist license or a physical therapy assistant license under Maryland law.
- The individual has completed a PT/PTA curriculum that authorizes the holder to practice physical therapy under direct supervision while the temporary license is effective.
- A temporary license is valid until: 90 days after issuance; The Board issues a full license to practice physical therapy or limited physical therapy to the holder of the temporary license; or The Board revokes the temporary license.
On November 13, 2023, amended regulation (COMAR) 10.38.08 was implemented. “CE hour” means a period of 60 minutes in which the licensee is engaged in a learning activity. “Continuing education (CE)” means learning experiences that: (a) Include a licensee’s direct participation; and (b) Are designed to enhance the professional practice of physical therapy and limited physical therapy.
Click here for the Maryland Physical Therapy Act and read COMAR 10.38.08.
A licensee shall earn CE hours between April 1 and March 31 during the 2-year period before renewal; and maintain records of the CE subject matter, certificates of completion hours, date, and CE hours to present to the Board on request. CE hours completed after March 31 of the year of the renewal may not be accepted.
A PT shall earn 30 CE hours for the renewal period.
A PTA shall earn 20 CE hours for the renewal period.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Maryland has been asked by the Governor’s Appointment Office (GAO) to nominate physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who
- are engaged in the profession of physical therapy in this State
- have at least 5 years of experience
- are diverse, energetic, enthusiastic
- looking to bring their professional expertise to support the work the Board does, and
- can meet the time commitment to serve
Click on this link to complete an application through the APTA of Maryland or to apply through the Governor’s Appointment Office (GAO) click on this link.
The Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is committed to creating geographic, gender, and ethnic diverse representation to ensure that decisions reached reflect the viewpoints of all populations served. We thank you in advance for your interest in serving and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals.
The Physical Therapy Compact is an interstate agreement between member states to provide a state-developed collaborative structure to protect the public. This is achieved by increasing consumer access to physical therapy services by reducing regulatory barriers to interstate mobility and cross-state practice.
PT and PTA licensees who meet all eligibility requirements can purchase a compact privilege in a Compact member state and, in most cases, start practicing physical therapy in the other state almost immediately.
Get Started Maryland requires all PT Compact Privilege Applicants to complete the Maryland PT Compact Registration Form prior to purchasing a privilege. Once registered, you will receive further emailed instructions from mdh.bpteadmin@maryland.gov.
Questions? Contact us at mdh.bpteadmin@maryland.gov or call the Board Office at 410-764-4718.
The Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
- Chair Karen Gordes, PT, PhD, DScPT
- Chair Enjeen L. Woolford, PTA
- Vice Chair -Rebecca Holsinger, PT, DPT
- Member Pavankumar Raja, DPT, PT
- Member Michelle Finnegan, PT, DPT
- Member Vincent Conroy, PT, DScPT
- Public Member - James Connors
- Public Member - Pamela Stokes Eggleston, MBA
