N.Y. Education Law 6738 – Definition of physical therapist assistant
§ 6738. Definition of physical therapist assistant. a. A "physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed in accordance with this article who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist performing such patient related activities as are assigned by the supervising physical therapist. Duties of physical therapist assistants shall not include evaluation, testing, interpretation, planning or modification of patient programs. Supervision of a physical therapist assistant by a licensed physical therapist shall be on-site supervision, but not necessarily direct personal supervision. The number of licensed physical therapist assistants supervised by one licensed physical therapist shall not exceed the ratio of four licensed physical therapist assistants to one licensed physical therapist as shall be determined by the commissioner's regulations insuring that there be adequate supervision in the best interest of public health and safety. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a hospital from employing physical therapist assistants, provided they work under the supervision of physical therapists designated by the hospital and not beyond the scope of practice of a physical therapist assistant. The numerical limitation of this section shall not apply to work performed in a hospital, provided that there be adequate supervision in the best interest of public health and safety.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision a of this section, supervision of a licensed physical therapist assistant by a licensed physical therapist, (i) in a residential health care facility, as defined in Article 28 of the public health law, (ii) in a diagnostic and treatment center licensed under Article 28 of the public health law that provides, as its principal mission, services to individuals with developmental disabilities, (iii) in a facility, as defined in § 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, or (iv) under a monitored program of the office for people with developmental disabilities as defined in subdivision (a) of § 13.15 of the mental hygiene law, shall be continuous but not necessarily on site when the supervising physical therapist has determined, through evaluation, the setting of goals and the establishment of a treatment plan, that the program is one of maintenance as defined pursuant to title XVIII of the federal social security act. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the provision of physical therapy services when the condition requires multiple adjustments of sequences and procedures due to rapidly changing physiological status and/or response to treatment, or to children under five years of age.
* c. For the purposes of the provision of physical therapist assistant services in a home care services setting, as such services are defined in Article 36 of the public health law, except that the home care services setting shall not include early intervention services as defined in title two-A of Article 25 of the public health law, whether such services are provided by a home care services agency or under the supervision of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this article, continuous supervision of a licensed physical therapist assistant, who has had direct clinical experience for a period of not less than two years, by a licensed physical therapist shall not be construed as requiring the physical presence of such licensed physical therapist at the time and place where such services are performed. For purposes of this subdivision "continuous supervision" shall be deemed to include: (i) the licensed physical therapist's setting of goals, establishing a plan of care and determining whether the patient is appropriate to receive the services of a licensed physical therapist assistant subject to the licensed physical therapist's evaluation; (ii) an initial joint visit with the patient by the supervising licensed physical therapist and the licensed physical therapist assistant; (iii) periodic treatment and evaluation of the patient by the supervising licensed physical therapist, as indicated in the plan of care and as determined in accordance with patient need, but in no instance shall the interval between such treatment exceed every six patient visits or thirty days, whichever occurs first; and (iv) a final evaluation by the supervising licensed physical therapist to determine if the plan of care shall be terminated. For purposes of this subdivision, the number of licensed physical therapist assistant's supervised in the home care services setting by a licensed physical therapist shall not exceed the ratio of two physical therapist assistants to one licensed physical therapist.
* NB Repealed June 30, 2026
* d. (1) For purposes of the provision of licensed physical therapist assistant services in public primary or private primary or secondary schools and for preschool children, as that term is defined in paragraph i of subdivision one of section forty-four hundred ten of this chapter, and receiving services thereunder, continuous supervision of a licensed physical therapist assistant, who has direct clinical experience providing age appropriate physical therapy services for a period of not less than two years, by a licensed physical therapist shall not be construed as requiring the physical presence of such licensed physical therapist at the time and place where such services are performed. For purposes of this subdivision "continuous supervision" shall be deemed to include:
(i) the licensed physical therapist's setting of the goals, establishing a plan of care, determining on an initial and ongoing basis whether the patient is appropriate to receive the services of a licensed physical therapist assistant, determining the frequency of joint visits with the patient by both the supervising licensed physical therapist and the licensed physical therapist assistant, except that in no instance shall the interval, between joint visits, be more than every ninety calendar days, subject to the licensed physical therapist's evaluation;
(ii) an initial joint visit with the patient by the supervising licensed physical therapist and licensed physical therapist assistant;
(iii) periodic treatment and evaluation of the patient by the supervising licensed physical therapist as indicated in the plan of care and as determined in accordance with patient need, except that in no instance shall the interval between such treatment exceed every twelfth visit or thirty days which ever occurs first; and
(iv) notification of the supervising licensed physical therapist by the licensed physical therapist assistant whenever there is a change in status, condition or performance of the patient.
(2) This subdivision shall not apply to the provision of physical therapy services when a child's condition requires multiple adjustments of sequences and procedures due to rapidly changing physiologic status and/or response to treatment.
* NB Repealed June 30, 2025