Ohio Physical Therapy Jurisprudence
Examination (OH JAM), 2026/2027 – 50-
Question Physical Therapy Legal Competency
Assessment
SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS & SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Q1. Under Ohio law, which of the following best defines the term
"Physical Therapist" (PT)?
A) An individual who assists a PT in providing patient care
B) A graduate of a physical therapy program who holds a current Ohio
license to evaluate and treat patients
C) Any health-care professional who can prescribe therapeutic exercise
D) A person who provides only administrative support in a PT clinic
Correct Answer: B. A graduate of a physical therapy program who
holds a current Ohio license to evaluate and treat patients
Rationale: Ohio law defines a PT as a graduate of an accredited program
who has passed the NPTE and holds a current Ohio license to evaluate and
treat patients . The PT is responsible for the initial examination of the
patient . A physical therapist practices or provides patient education and
instruction of physical therapy .
Q2. What is the definition of "Physical Therapy" under Ohio law?
A) Only the use of exercise equipment
B) The evaluation and treatment of a person by physical measures and the
use of therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures, with or without
assistive devices, for the purpose of preventing, correcting or alleviating any
disability
C) The prescription of medication for musculoskeletal conditions
D) The surgical treatment of orthopedic conditions
,Correct Answer: B. The evaluation and treatment of a person by
physical measures and the use of therapeutic exercises and
rehabilitative procedures
Rationale: Physical therapy includes engaging in physical therapy including
providing consultative services . The definition also encompasses the use of
therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures for preventing,
correcting or alleviating any disability.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the definition of a Physical
Therapist Assistant (PTA) in Ohio?
A) A person who independently evaluates and treats patients
B) A person who assists in the provision of physical therapy treatments,
including patient education and instruction, under supervision of a physical
therapist
C) A person who can prescribe physical therapy interventions
D) A person who supervises physical therapists
Correct Answer: B. A person who assists in the provision of physical
therapy treatments, including patient education and instruction,
under supervision of a physical therapist
Rationale: A PTA assists in the provision of physical therapy treatments
under the supervision of a physical therapist. The supervising PT must be
available by telecommunication at all times and respond appropriately to the
needs of the patient .
Q4. What does the term "Other Licensed Personnel" mean in Ohio
physical therapy regulations?
A) Only physical therapists from other states
B) Any person holding an Ohio license to practice as a health care
practitioner in a profession other than PT who is working under the direct
supervision of a physical therapist/assistant as delegated by the PT
C) Unlicensed administrative staff
D) Students in physical therapy programs
, Correct Answer: B. Any person holding an Ohio license to practice as a
health care practitioner in a profession other than PT who is
working under the direct supervision of a physical
therapist/assistant as delegated by the PT
Rationale: "Other licensed personnel" are persons holding an Ohio license in
another health profession working under direct supervision of a PT or PTA as
delegated by the PT, performing tasks related to delivery of physical
therapy .
Q5. Which of the following tasks are PTAs NOT qualified to perform?
(Select all that apply)
A) Interpret physician referrals
B) Conduct initial patient evaluation
C) Write initial or ongoing patient plans of care
D) Conduct re-evaluations of the patient or make changes to the patient plan
of care
E) Perform the discharge evaluation and complete the final discharge
summary
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: PTAs are not qualified to interpret physician referrals, conduct
initial patient evaluation, write initial or ongoing patient plans of care,
conduct re-evaluations or make changes to the plan of care, or perform the
discharge evaluation .
SECTION 2: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Q6. To apply for an initial license, the applicant must be at least
how many years old?
A) 16 years
B) 18 years
C) 21 years
D) 25 years
Examination (OH JAM), 2026/2027 – 50-
Question Physical Therapy Legal Competency
Assessment
SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS & SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Q1. Under Ohio law, which of the following best defines the term
"Physical Therapist" (PT)?
A) An individual who assists a PT in providing patient care
B) A graduate of a physical therapy program who holds a current Ohio
license to evaluate and treat patients
C) Any health-care professional who can prescribe therapeutic exercise
D) A person who provides only administrative support in a PT clinic
Correct Answer: B. A graduate of a physical therapy program who
holds a current Ohio license to evaluate and treat patients
Rationale: Ohio law defines a PT as a graduate of an accredited program
who has passed the NPTE and holds a current Ohio license to evaluate and
treat patients . The PT is responsible for the initial examination of the
patient . A physical therapist practices or provides patient education and
instruction of physical therapy .
Q2. What is the definition of "Physical Therapy" under Ohio law?
A) Only the use of exercise equipment
B) The evaluation and treatment of a person by physical measures and the
use of therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures, with or without
assistive devices, for the purpose of preventing, correcting or alleviating any
disability
C) The prescription of medication for musculoskeletal conditions
D) The surgical treatment of orthopedic conditions
,Correct Answer: B. The evaluation and treatment of a person by
physical measures and the use of therapeutic exercises and
rehabilitative procedures
Rationale: Physical therapy includes engaging in physical therapy including
providing consultative services . The definition also encompasses the use of
therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures for preventing,
correcting or alleviating any disability.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the definition of a Physical
Therapist Assistant (PTA) in Ohio?
A) A person who independently evaluates and treats patients
B) A person who assists in the provision of physical therapy treatments,
including patient education and instruction, under supervision of a physical
therapist
C) A person who can prescribe physical therapy interventions
D) A person who supervises physical therapists
Correct Answer: B. A person who assists in the provision of physical
therapy treatments, including patient education and instruction,
under supervision of a physical therapist
Rationale: A PTA assists in the provision of physical therapy treatments
under the supervision of a physical therapist. The supervising PT must be
available by telecommunication at all times and respond appropriately to the
needs of the patient .
Q4. What does the term "Other Licensed Personnel" mean in Ohio
physical therapy regulations?
A) Only physical therapists from other states
B) Any person holding an Ohio license to practice as a health care
practitioner in a profession other than PT who is working under the direct
supervision of a physical therapist/assistant as delegated by the PT
C) Unlicensed administrative staff
D) Students in physical therapy programs
, Correct Answer: B. Any person holding an Ohio license to practice as a
health care practitioner in a profession other than PT who is
working under the direct supervision of a physical
therapist/assistant as delegated by the PT
Rationale: "Other licensed personnel" are persons holding an Ohio license in
another health profession working under direct supervision of a PT or PTA as
delegated by the PT, performing tasks related to delivery of physical
therapy .
Q5. Which of the following tasks are PTAs NOT qualified to perform?
(Select all that apply)
A) Interpret physician referrals
B) Conduct initial patient evaluation
C) Write initial or ongoing patient plans of care
D) Conduct re-evaluations of the patient or make changes to the patient plan
of care
E) Perform the discharge evaluation and complete the final discharge
summary
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: PTAs are not qualified to interpret physician referrals, conduct
initial patient evaluation, write initial or ongoing patient plans of care,
conduct re-evaluations or make changes to the plan of care, or perform the
discharge evaluation .
SECTION 2: LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Q6. To apply for an initial license, the applicant must be at least
how many years old?
A) 16 years
B) 18 years
C) 21 years
D) 25 years
