{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-327.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 327.020","heading":"License required -- Exceptions -- Use of designation or name.","body":"(1) A person shall not practice, work, or hold himself or herself out as being able to\npractice physical therapy or work as a physical therapist assistant unless the person:\n(a) 1. Meets the educational requirements of this chapter;\n2. Is licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;\n3. Is in good standing with the board; and\n4. Holds a license that is not suspended or revoked; or\n(b) Is eligible to practice or work through a compact privilege granted under KRS\n327.300.\n(2) This chapter shall not be construed to:\n(a) Prohibit any person licensed in this state under any other law from engaging\nin the practice for which that person is duly licensed;\n(b) Prohibit routine and restorative services performed by personnel employed by\nhospitals, physicians, or licensed health care facilities as relates to physical\ntherapists;\n(c) Preclude certified occupational therapists, respiratory technicians, or\nrespiratory therapists from practicing as defined in the United States\nDepartment of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health  Service, Health\nResources Administration, Bureau of Health Manpower, DHEW publication\nNo. (HRA) 80-28, \"A Report On Allied Health Personnel\"; or\n(d) Affect or prevent:\n1. A physical therapist student from engaging in clinical practice under the\nsupervision of a licensed physical therapist, as part of the student's\neducational program;\n2. A physical therapist assistant student from engaging in clinical practice\nunder the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or of a physical\ntherapist assistant consi stent with administrative regulations\npromulgated by the board, as part of the student's educational program;\n3. A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant who is licensed to\npractice in another state or country from conducting or participating  in a\nclinical residency under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed\nin Kentucky and for a period of not more than ninety (90) days;\n4. A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant who is licensed to\npractice in another state or countr y from conducting or participating in\nthe teaching of physical therapy in connection with an educational\nprogram and for a period of not more than ninety (90) days;\n5. A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant licensed in another\nstate or coun try from performing physical therapy on members of an\nout-of-state sports or entertainment group they accompany to Kentucky;\n6. The practice of chiropractic as defined in KRS 312.015;\n7. The practice of occupational therapy as defined in KRS 319A.010; or\n8. a. A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant who is\npracticing in the Armed Forces of the United States, United States\nPublic Health Service, or United States Department of Veterans\nAffairs pursuant to federal regulations for jurisdictional licensure\nof healthcare providers.\nb. If a person described in subdivision a. of this subparagraph\nengages in the practice of physical therapy outside the course and\nscope of his or her federal employment as a physical therapist or a\nphysical therapist ass istant, he or she shall then be required to\nobtain a license in accordance with this chapter and administrative\nregulations promulgated by the board.\n(3) A licensed physical therapist may hold himself or herself out as a \"physical\ntherapist\" or \"licensed p hysical therapist\" and may use the abbreviations \"P.T.\" or\n\"L.P.T.\" as a part of or immediately following the physical therapist's name, in\nconnection with the physical therapist's profession.\n(4) A licensed physical therapist assistant may hold himself or  herself out as a\n\"physical therapist assistant\" or \"licensed physical therapist assistant\" and may use\nthe abbreviations \"P.T.A.\" or \"L.P.T.A.\" as a part of or immediately following the\nphysical therapist assistant's name, in connection with the physical therapist\nassistant's profession.\n(5) It shall be unlawful for any person, or for any business entity, its employees, agents,\nor representatives to use in connection with the person's or entity's name or business\nactivity the words \"physical therapy,\" \"phy sical therapist,\" \"physiotherapy,\"\n\"physiotherapist,\" \"registered physical therapist,\" the letters \"P.T.,\" \"L.P.T.,\" or any\nother words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying directly or\nindirectly that physical therapy is provided or supplied or to bill for physical\ntherapy unless that physical therapy is provided by or under the supervision of a\nphysical therapist licensed and practicing in accordance with this chapter.\n(6) The provisions of subsections (1), (2), and (5) of this secti on shall not apply to\nvolunteer health practitioners providing services under KRS 39A.350 to 39A.366.","path":["KRS Chapter 327"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57287","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:21Z","sha256":"b1f83f28a53ef1e002c5785032b7b5d5c7a850004501f03cd6e618646bb4d7e3","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-327.010","next":"us-ky/krs-327.025"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}