PTBC CALIFORNIA LAW EXAM - THE
PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE ACT.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
PART ONE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
Article 1: Administration
Members of the Board - ANS 1) 1 PT involved in PT education,
2) 3 PTs with 5 years experience,
3) 3 public members who aren't licentiates of the board or any other medical board (CA citizen,
not school faculty)
Priority of the Board - ANS Protection of the public
Licensing, regulating and disciplinary roles
The mission of the Physical Therapy Board of California is to promote and protect the interests
of the people of California by the effective and consistent administration and enforcement of
the Physical Therapy Practice Act.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Terms of Serving on the Board - ANS 1) Appointed 4 years, exp. on June 1
2) 1 public and 4 PT members appt'd by governor
3) Senate Rules Committee and speaker of assembly each appoint 1 public
4) Members of the Board elect a president
5) Board may elect an executive officer to exercise the duties required
6) Board may appoint an commissioner on examination -who is suitable qualified but not a
member of the Board but will be subject to the rules and regs and same fees
3) Cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms
Qualifications of Public Members - ANS - Be a citizen of CA.
- Shall not be an officer or faculty member of any college in PT education.
- Shall not be a licentiate of the Medical Board of CA
Meetings - ANS 1 regular meeting annually in Sacramento, LA or SF or from time to time till
business is complete
Duties of the Members of the Board - ANS 1) May inspect PT facilities
2) May review patient charts
3) Can suspend and revoke licenses (notice must be given)
How is this Chapter cited? - ANS This chapter may be cited as the Physical Therapy Practice
Act
Public Employees - ANS PT consultants under contract for the board are considered a public
employee; or clerical or other employees necessary to carry out powers and duties of Board
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Article 2
General Provisions
Definition of Physical Therapy - ANS "art and science of physical or corrective rehab of any
bodily or mental condition of any person by use of physical, chemical or other properties of
heat, light, water, electricity...active, passive and resistive exercise and shall include PT evals,
treatment planning, instruction and consultative services"
ARTICLE 2 General Provisions - ANS - NOT ALLOWED:
- use of roentgen rays/radioactive materials for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
- electricity for surgical purposes is authorized
- diagnosis of disease not under Physical Therapy
- can apply topical meds if comply with regs and administration act (conferred with Medical
Board of California as to which ones and protocols; but NOT prescribe them
Neuromuscular evaluation - ANS 1) Can perform tissue penetration for evaluation neuro
performance
2) Must have authorization from MD/surgeon
3) PT must be certified by the board
4) PT CANNOT develop or make diagnostic or prognostic interpretations of data obtained
(violation of the Medical Practice Act)
Minimal Time that Patient Records must be kept for - ANS 7 years.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, 1) Patient records shall be kept for a period of no less than 7 years following the discharge of
the patient
2) Records of unemancipated minors shall be kept at least 1 year after the minor has reached 18
years of age.
No less than 7 years in any case
Documentation - ANS - evaluation, goals, treatment plan, summary of treatment
- any actual intervention given
- sign legibly
PTs cannot do what - ANS 1) PTs cannot diagnose disease
2) PTs cannot provide prognostic interpretation of data
3) PTs cannot prescribe medicines
4) Perform medicine, surgery or any other healing art
PT Aide
Duties & Regulations - ANS PT may use 1 aide to assist in PT
1) Patient related - services directly to the patient, excluding non patient related tasks
2) Non patient related tasks :Observation of patient, transport, physical support only during gait
training/transfers, housekeeping duties, clerical duties, and similar functions
- Under direct, continuous and immediate PT supervision at all time. Direction and order from
PT
- no authority for aide to independently perform PT or a PT procedure
- must be same facility and in proximity to PT aide when performing patient related tasks.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE ACT.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND UPDATED)
PART ONE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
Article 1: Administration
Members of the Board - ANS 1) 1 PT involved in PT education,
2) 3 PTs with 5 years experience,
3) 3 public members who aren't licentiates of the board or any other medical board (CA citizen,
not school faculty)
Priority of the Board - ANS Protection of the public
Licensing, regulating and disciplinary roles
The mission of the Physical Therapy Board of California is to promote and protect the interests
of the people of California by the effective and consistent administration and enforcement of
the Physical Therapy Practice Act.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Terms of Serving on the Board - ANS 1) Appointed 4 years, exp. on June 1
2) 1 public and 4 PT members appt'd by governor
3) Senate Rules Committee and speaker of assembly each appoint 1 public
4) Members of the Board elect a president
5) Board may elect an executive officer to exercise the duties required
6) Board may appoint an commissioner on examination -who is suitable qualified but not a
member of the Board but will be subject to the rules and regs and same fees
3) Cannot serve more than 2 consecutive terms
Qualifications of Public Members - ANS - Be a citizen of CA.
- Shall not be an officer or faculty member of any college in PT education.
- Shall not be a licentiate of the Medical Board of CA
Meetings - ANS 1 regular meeting annually in Sacramento, LA or SF or from time to time till
business is complete
Duties of the Members of the Board - ANS 1) May inspect PT facilities
2) May review patient charts
3) Can suspend and revoke licenses (notice must be given)
How is this Chapter cited? - ANS This chapter may be cited as the Physical Therapy Practice
Act
Public Employees - ANS PT consultants under contract for the board are considered a public
employee; or clerical or other employees necessary to carry out powers and duties of Board
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Article 2
General Provisions
Definition of Physical Therapy - ANS "art and science of physical or corrective rehab of any
bodily or mental condition of any person by use of physical, chemical or other properties of
heat, light, water, electricity...active, passive and resistive exercise and shall include PT evals,
treatment planning, instruction and consultative services"
ARTICLE 2 General Provisions - ANS - NOT ALLOWED:
- use of roentgen rays/radioactive materials for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
- electricity for surgical purposes is authorized
- diagnosis of disease not under Physical Therapy
- can apply topical meds if comply with regs and administration act (conferred with Medical
Board of California as to which ones and protocols; but NOT prescribe them
Neuromuscular evaluation - ANS 1) Can perform tissue penetration for evaluation neuro
performance
2) Must have authorization from MD/surgeon
3) PT must be certified by the board
4) PT CANNOT develop or make diagnostic or prognostic interpretations of data obtained
(violation of the Medical Practice Act)
Minimal Time that Patient Records must be kept for - ANS 7 years.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, 1) Patient records shall be kept for a period of no less than 7 years following the discharge of
the patient
2) Records of unemancipated minors shall be kept at least 1 year after the minor has reached 18
years of age.
No less than 7 years in any case
Documentation - ANS - evaluation, goals, treatment plan, summary of treatment
- any actual intervention given
- sign legibly
PTs cannot do what - ANS 1) PTs cannot diagnose disease
2) PTs cannot provide prognostic interpretation of data
3) PTs cannot prescribe medicines
4) Perform medicine, surgery or any other healing art
PT Aide
Duties & Regulations - ANS PT may use 1 aide to assist in PT
1) Patient related - services directly to the patient, excluding non patient related tasks
2) Non patient related tasks :Observation of patient, transport, physical support only during gait
training/transfers, housekeeping duties, clerical duties, and similar functions
- Under direct, continuous and immediate PT supervision at all time. Direction and order from
PT
- no authority for aide to independently perform PT or a PT procedure
- must be same facility and in proximity to PT aide when performing patient related tasks.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
