PT JURISPRUDENCE EXAM FOR CALIFORNIA
STUDY GUIDE LATEST UPDATED 2026
substantial relationship criteria- - ANSWER if you mess up bad enough to
compromise public health, safety or welfare they deny, suspend or revoke your
license
if not keep cash transactions for employee wages up to 3 years and records
available fined no more than $2500, and if don't pay... - ANSWER license will be
revoked
if referring people places for money it can be - ANSWER county jail for less than a
year, state prison, fine no more than $50,000 or both imprisonment and fine.
second conviction is imprisonment by state and/or $50,000 fine
-if say board certified, but are not, - ANSWER $10,000 fine per event
excessive prescribing or admistering of drugs fine between - ANSWER $100-600, or
imprisonment from 60-180 days
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
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
if the act involves present/immediate threat to health and safety of another person,
multiple violations or willful disregard of the law,
violations perpetrated against a senior citizen or disabled person,
history of 2 or more prior citations for the same or similar
violations.
Who can be shareholders? - ANSWER Each Shareholder, director and officer of a
physical therapy corporation, (except an assistant secratary and an
assistant treasure) MUST be a licensed PT.
Shares of capital stock in a professional corporation may only be issued to -
ANSWER A licensed PT
When one shareholder in a professional
corporation of 2+ shareholders dies or becomes a disqualified person for a period
exceeding 90 days, his/her shares shall be - ANSWER sold and trasferred to the
corporation it's shareholders or other eligible licensed persons on such terms are
agreed upon. Must happen within 6 months after death, 90 days after person labled
disqualified.
PTA-
- A PT shall not supervise more than how many PTA's as a general rule.
- In all cases is this true?
- In no case shall the total of PTA's exceed how many times the number of PT's at
one time? - ANSWER - 2
- The PTBC may approve for greater number of PTA's per PT if they feel there
STUDY GUIDE LATEST UPDATED 2026
substantial relationship criteria- - ANSWER if you mess up bad enough to
compromise public health, safety or welfare they deny, suspend or revoke your
license
if not keep cash transactions for employee wages up to 3 years and records
available fined no more than $2500, and if don't pay... - ANSWER license will be
revoked
if referring people places for money it can be - ANSWER county jail for less than a
year, state prison, fine no more than $50,000 or both imprisonment and fine.
second conviction is imprisonment by state and/or $50,000 fine
-if say board certified, but are not, - ANSWER $10,000 fine per event
excessive prescribing or admistering of drugs fine between - ANSWER $100-600, or
imprisonment from 60-180 days
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
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
if the act involves present/immediate threat to health and safety of another person,
multiple violations or willful disregard of the law,
violations perpetrated against a senior citizen or disabled person,
history of 2 or more prior citations for the same or similar
violations.
Who can be shareholders? - ANSWER Each Shareholder, director and officer of a
physical therapy corporation, (except an assistant secratary and an
assistant treasure) MUST be a licensed PT.
Shares of capital stock in a professional corporation may only be issued to -
ANSWER A licensed PT
When one shareholder in a professional
corporation of 2+ shareholders dies or becomes a disqualified person for a period
exceeding 90 days, his/her shares shall be - ANSWER sold and trasferred to the
corporation it's shareholders or other eligible licensed persons on such terms are
agreed upon. Must happen within 6 months after death, 90 days after person labled
disqualified.
PTA-
- A PT shall not supervise more than how many PTA's as a general rule.
- In all cases is this true?
- In no case shall the total of PTA's exceed how many times the number of PT's at
one time? - ANSWER - 2
- The PTBC may approve for greater number of PTA's per PT if they feel there
