PT JURISPRUDENCE EXAM FOR
CALIFORNIA- STUDY GUIDE LATEST
UPDATED 2026
PTBC General information-
Location of the Board - ANSWER Sacramento
PT practice act is under which organization - ANSWER PTBC
Role of the PTBC - ANSWER - Protection of the public is the highest priority.
- Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be
promoted, it is the protection of the public that shall be paramount
With respect to a physical therapy corporation, the governmental agency referred to in which act,
is the Physical Therapy Board of California (remember the order of those words) - ANSWER
Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act
Board Member requirements-
Who is on the board? - ANSWER - 1 PT involved in the education of physical therapists
- 3 licensed PTs with at least 5 years experience
- 3 public members who cannot be licentiates of the PTBC board or ANY other board under the
Medical Board of California or be a close family member with someone on the board.
How many years can a person serve on the board - ANSWER No more than 2 consecutive terms
- 1 Term= 4 years so 8 years max
The board shall hold at least one regular meeting annually in which cities? - ANSWER
Sacramento
Los Angeles
San Francisco
PTA students must be supervised by a: - ANSWER PT
PTA may act as CI as long as supervision of a PT is present. PT must still countersign notes on
SAME DAY as patient related tasks were performed.
Continuing Education Hours-
"Hour" is the unit of measurement - means at least how many minutes of instruction? -
ANSWER 50 minutes of instruction
CEU= continuing education unit. 1 CEU = how many hours? - ANSWER 10 hours
How many hours required in 2 years? - ANSWER 30 (3 CEUs)
For FIRST TIME licence renewals the hour requirements shall be: - ANSWER one-half (15
hours) of the normal cycle. (must submit prior to expiration of license for this to apply)
, The 30 hours must include: - ANSWER 2 hours in ethics/laws/regs or
some combination
4 hours in life support for
healthcare providers.
Life support classes must be comparable of better than: - ANSWER American Health
Association's BLS course for healthcare providers.
-Each licensee shall keep and maintain
-records for a period of how many years? And include: - ANSWER -5 years of continuing
education
-the title of the course/activity,
the date taken or completed,
the record of participation
What is the rule about Direct Access? - ANSWER A PT may evaluate without a referral or a
diagnosis, but may not initiate treatment without a diagnosis.
A referral is not required.
How long shall a patient's record be held? - ANSWER No less than 7 Years after discharge
What is the exception of the 7 year record hold? - ANSWER Unemancipated minors shall be
maintained at least one year after the minor has reached the age of 18 years, and not in any case
less than 7 years.
How is a PT able to legally write their name as "Dr." - ANSWER As long as there is an
unnabreviated "Doctor of Physical Therapy" following their name.
How is a PT able to legally be spoken as a "Dr." - ANSWER (while engaged in the practice of
PT) use the title "doctor" preceding the person's name, if the speaker specifies that he/she is a
physical therapist
How long before citations are wiped from record? - ANSWER 5 years
(if multiple citations occur within 5 year window, all citations remain until most recent citation
has been present for 5 years.)
How much is an administrative fine?
What is it based on? - ANSWER -typically no less than $100, no more than $2,500
-good/bad faith of cited person, nature/severity of violation, history of similar violations, intent
of cooperation with board, attempt of cited to mitigate damage from violation
How much can a fine increase to, and for what reason? - ANSWER $5,000
CALIFORNIA- STUDY GUIDE LATEST
UPDATED 2026
PTBC General information-
Location of the Board - ANSWER Sacramento
PT practice act is under which organization - ANSWER PTBC
Role of the PTBC - ANSWER - Protection of the public is the highest priority.
- Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be
promoted, it is the protection of the public that shall be paramount
With respect to a physical therapy corporation, the governmental agency referred to in which act,
is the Physical Therapy Board of California (remember the order of those words) - ANSWER
Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act
Board Member requirements-
Who is on the board? - ANSWER - 1 PT involved in the education of physical therapists
- 3 licensed PTs with at least 5 years experience
- 3 public members who cannot be licentiates of the PTBC board or ANY other board under the
Medical Board of California or be a close family member with someone on the board.
How many years can a person serve on the board - ANSWER No more than 2 consecutive terms
- 1 Term= 4 years so 8 years max
The board shall hold at least one regular meeting annually in which cities? - ANSWER
Sacramento
Los Angeles
San Francisco
PTA students must be supervised by a: - ANSWER PT
PTA may act as CI as long as supervision of a PT is present. PT must still countersign notes on
SAME DAY as patient related tasks were performed.
Continuing Education Hours-
"Hour" is the unit of measurement - means at least how many minutes of instruction? -
ANSWER 50 minutes of instruction
CEU= continuing education unit. 1 CEU = how many hours? - ANSWER 10 hours
How many hours required in 2 years? - ANSWER 30 (3 CEUs)
For FIRST TIME licence renewals the hour requirements shall be: - ANSWER one-half (15
hours) of the normal cycle. (must submit prior to expiration of license for this to apply)
, The 30 hours must include: - ANSWER 2 hours in ethics/laws/regs or
some combination
4 hours in life support for
healthcare providers.
Life support classes must be comparable of better than: - ANSWER American Health
Association's BLS course for healthcare providers.
-Each licensee shall keep and maintain
-records for a period of how many years? And include: - ANSWER -5 years of continuing
education
-the title of the course/activity,
the date taken or completed,
the record of participation
What is the rule about Direct Access? - ANSWER A PT may evaluate without a referral or a
diagnosis, but may not initiate treatment without a diagnosis.
A referral is not required.
How long shall a patient's record be held? - ANSWER No less than 7 Years after discharge
What is the exception of the 7 year record hold? - ANSWER Unemancipated minors shall be
maintained at least one year after the minor has reached the age of 18 years, and not in any case
less than 7 years.
How is a PT able to legally write their name as "Dr." - ANSWER As long as there is an
unnabreviated "Doctor of Physical Therapy" following their name.
How is a PT able to legally be spoken as a "Dr." - ANSWER (while engaged in the practice of
PT) use the title "doctor" preceding the person's name, if the speaker specifies that he/she is a
physical therapist
How long before citations are wiped from record? - ANSWER 5 years
(if multiple citations occur within 5 year window, all citations remain until most recent citation
has been present for 5 years.)
How much is an administrative fine?
What is it based on? - ANSWER -typically no less than $100, no more than $2,500
-good/bad faith of cited person, nature/severity of violation, history of similar violations, intent
of cooperation with board, attempt of cited to mitigate damage from violation
How much can a fine increase to, and for what reason? - ANSWER $5,000
