25.635.13 100th Legislative Session 110 2025 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 110 ENROLLED AN ACT ENTITLED An Act to revise licensure and supervision requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: Section 1. That § 36-10-27 be AMENDED: 36-10-27. A person seeking licensure to practice physical therapy in this state shall: (1) File an application with the State Board of Physical Therapy; (2) Submit an application fee in an amount established by the board, in rule pursuant to chapter 1-26, but not exceeding three hundred dollars; (3) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is of good moral, ethical, and professional character; (4) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has graduated from a physical therapy program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education or by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or present evidence satisfactory to the board that: (a) The applicant completed a course of professional instruction equivalent to a program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation; and (b) The applicant has passed an English proficiency examination approved by the board, or completed two years of secondary or postsecondary education in any educational institution in which the instruction is conducted in English; and (5) Pass a national examination recognized by the board, with a grade acceptable to the board. Section 2. That § 36-10-29 be AMENDED: 25.635.13 2 110 SB110 ENROLLED 36-10-29. The State Board of Physical Therapy shall issue a license to each applicant who meets the requirements for licensure under this chapter and rules promulgated by the board. Section 3. That § 36-10-35.1 be AMENDED: 36-10-35.1. A person seeking licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall: (1) File an application with the State Board of Physical Therapy; (2) Submit an application fee in an amount established by the board, in rule pursuant to chapter 1-26, but not exceeding three hundred dollars; (3) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is of good moral, ethical, and professional character; (4) Present evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has graduated from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by an accredited body recognized by the United States Department of Education or by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, or present evidence satisfactory to the board that: (a) The applicant completed a course of professional instruction equivalent to a program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Education; and (b) The applicant has passed an English proficiency examination approved by the board, or completed two years of secondary or postsecondary education in any educational institution in which the instruction is conducted in English; and (5) Pass a national examination recognized by the board, with a grade acceptable to the board. Section 4. That § 36-10-35.8 be AMENDED: 36-10-35.8. A physical therapist may not, at any one time, supervise more than the equivalent of two full-time physical therapist assistants. The supervising physical therapist may delegate responsibility for the supervision of a physical therapist assistant to another physical therapist. Section 5. That § 36-10-35.9 be AMENDED: 25.635.13 3 110 SB110 ENROLLED 36-10-35.9. When supervising a physical therapist assistant's care of a patient in any setting, the supervising physical therapist shall comply with the following standards of supervision: (1) Before assigning the physical therapist assistant to the patient for physical therapy procedures and related tasks, the supervising physical therapist must perform a comprehensive assessment of the patient and establish a plan of care; (2) The supervising physical therapist must be present at least one of every ten patient visits or one patient visit every thirty calendar days, whichever occurs sooner. The supervising physical therapist may be present through the use of interactive audio and visual communications technology. During each visit at which the supervising physical therapist is required to be present, the supervising physical therapist shall reassess the patient, review the plan of care, and if appropriate, make changes to or terminate the plan of care; and (3) During any other patient visit at which the supervising physical therapist is not required to be present, the supervising physical therapist must be immediately available for consultation and direction, either in person or by telecommunications technology, while the physical therapist assistant is performing physical therapy procedures and related tasks. 25.635.13 4 110 SB110 ENROLLED An Act to revise licensure and supervision requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. I certify that the attached Act originated in the: Senate as Bill No. 110 Secretary of the Senate President of the Senate Attest: Secretary of the Senate Speaker of the House Attest: Chief Clerk Senate Bill No. 110 File No. ____ Chapter No. ______ Received at this Executive Office this _____ day of _____________, 2025 at ____________M. By for the Governor The attached Act is hereby approved this ________ day of ______________, A.D., 2025 Governor STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA , ss. Office of the Secretary of State Filed ____________, 2025 at _________ o'clock __M. Secretary of State By Asst. Secretary of State