25.635.11 100th Legislative Session 110
2025 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 110
Introduced by: Senator Davis
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An Act to revise licensure and supervision requirements for physical therapists and 1
physical therapist assistants. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 3
Section 1. That § 36-10-27 be AMENDED: 4
36-10-27. A person seeking licensure to practice physical therapy in this state 5
shall: 6
(1) File a written an application with the State Board of Physical Therapy; 7
(2) Submit an application fee in an amount established by the board, in rule pursuant 8
to chapter 1-26, but not exceeding three hundred dollars; 9
(3) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is of good moral , 10
ethical, and professional character; and 11
(4) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has graduated from 12
a physical therapy program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the 13
United States Department of Education or by the Commission on Recognition of 14
Postsecondary Accreditation, or present evidence satisfactory to the board that: 15
(a) The applicant completed a course of professional instruction equivalent to 16
an approved a program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the 17
United States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition 18
of Postsecondary Accreditation; and 19
(b) The applicant has scored at least five hundred fifty on the TOEFL, obtained 20
a passing score on a comparative nationally recognized passed an English 21
proficiency examination approved by the board, or completed two years of 22
secondary or postsecondary education in any educational institution in 23
which the instruction is conducted in English; and 24
(5) Pass a national examination recognized by the board, with a grade acceptable to 25
the board. 26 25.635.11 2 110
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Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
Section 2. That § 36-10-29 be AMENDED: 1
36-10-29. The State Board of Physical Therapy shall issue a license to each 2
applicant who: 3
(1) Has passed a national examination, recognized by the board, with a grade 4
acceptable to the board; and 5
(2) Meets meets the requirements for licensure under this chapter and rules 6
promulgated by the board. 7
Section 3. That § 36-10-35.1 be AMENDED: 8
36-10-35.1. A person seeking licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall: 9
(1) Apply to File an application with the State Board of Physical Therapy; 10
(2) Submit an application fee in an amount established by the board, in rule pursuant 11
to chapter 1-26, but not exceeding three hundred dollars; and 12
(3) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is of good moral, 13
ethical, and professional character; 14
(4) Present evidence satisfactory to the board of: 15
(a) Graduation that the applicant has graduated from an accredited a physical therapist 16
assistant's assistant education program accredited by an accredited body 17
recognized by the board; and United States Department of Education or by the 18
Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or present evidence 19
satisfactory to the board that: 20
(a) The applicant completed a course of professional instruction equivalent to a 21
program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States 22
Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition of 23
Postsecondary Education; and 24
(b) Passage of a written examination, The applicant has passed an English 25
proficiency examination approved by the board, which tests the applicant's 26
knowledge on subjects relating to physical therapy or completed two years 27
of secondary or postsecondary education in any educational institution in 28
which the instruction is conducted in English; and 29
(5) Pass a national examination recognized by the board, with a grade acceptable to 30
the board. 31
Section 4. That § 36-10-35.8 be AMENDED: 32 25.635.11 3 110
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36-10-35.8. A physical therapist may not, at any one time, supervise more than 1
the equivalent of two full-time physical therapist assistants. The supervising physical 2
therapist shall register, with the State Board of Physical Therapy, the name and address 3
of each physical therapist assistant whom the physical therapist is supervising. The 4
registration must be on a form provided by the board, and submitted at least fifteen days 5
prior to the date on which supervision is to commence. 6
The supervising physical therapist shall, within ten days of termination, provide 7
written notification to the board, if the supervision of a physical therapist assistant is 8
terminated. The supervising physical therapist may delegate responsibility for the 9
supervision of a physical therapist assistant to another physical therapist, for a period not 10
exceeding thirty days. 11
Section 5. That § 36-10-35.9 be AMENDED: 12
36-10-35.9. When supervising a physical therapist assistant's care of a patient at 13
in any setting, the supervising physical therapist shall comply with the following standards 14
of supervision: 15
(1) The supervising physical therapist shall be accessible either in person or by 16
telecommunications to the physical therapist assistant at all times while the 17
physical therapist assistant is treating patients; 18
(2) The initial visit shall be made by the supervising physical therapist for evaluation 19
of the patient and establishment of a plan of care; 20
(3) At least every five physical therapist assistant visits, there shall be a joint visit or 21
a treatment rendered by the supervising physical therapist. The physical therapist 22
assistant shall be supervised by the supervising physical therapist at least once 23
every thirty calendar days. Every five physical therapist assistant visits or every 24
thirty days, whichever occurs first, a documented conference with the physical 25
therapist assistant outlining current treatment goals and program modifications 26
shall occur. The supervising physical therapist shall make the final scheduled visit 27
to terminate the plan of care; and 28
(4) Each visit by the supervising physical therapist shall include: 29
(a) A complete assessment of the patient; 30
(b) A review of the plan of care with appropriate revision or termination; and 31
(c) Assessment and recommendation for utilization of outside resources Before 32
assigning the physical therapist assistant to the patient for physical therapy 33 25.635.11 4 110
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Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
procedures and related tasks, the supervising physical therapist must perform a 1
comprehensive assessment of the patient and establish a plan of care; 2
(2) The supervising physical therapist must be present at least one of every ten patient 3
visits or one patient visit every thirty calendar days, whichever occurs sooner, while 4
the physical therapist assistant is performing physical therapy procedures and 5
related tasks. The supervising physical therapist may be present through the use 6
of interactive audio and visual communications technology. During each visit at 7
which the supervising physical therapist is required to be present, the supervising 8
physical therapist shall reassess the patient, review the plan of care, and if 9
appropriate, make changes to or terminate the plan of care; and 10
(3) During any other patient visit at which the supervising physical therapist is not 11
required to be present, the supervising physical therapist must be immediately 12
available for consultation and direction, either in person or by telecommunications 13
technology, while the physical therapist assistant is performing physical therapy 14
procedures and related tasks. 15