Florida Jurisprudence Exam ()
PT Laws & Rules Q&A — Complete Exam with Answers & Rationales
Chapter 486, Florida Statutes | Chapter 456, Florida Statutes | Rule Chapter 64B17, F.A.C.
Section 1: Brief Introduction
The Florida Physical Therapy Jurisprudence (Laws & Rules) Exam assesses a licensee's
working knowledge of the Physical Therapy Practice Act (Chapter 486, F.S.), the general
health-professions provisions of Chapter 456, F.S., and the Board of Physical Therapy
Practice rules (Rule Chapter 64B17, F.A.C.). Key content areas include scope of practice and
direct access, licensure and renewal, supervision and delegation, continuing education,
patient rights and records, telehealth, dry needling, ethics, and disciplinary law. Each
question below is followed immediately by its correct answer (bold, cyan) and a citation-
based rationale.
Section 2: The Complete Exam
1. Which chapter of the Florida Statutes is known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act?
A. Chapter 456, Florida Statutes
B. Chapter 458, Florida Statutes
C. Chapter 486, Florida Statutes
D. Chapter 490, Florida Statutes
Rationale: Chapter 486, F.S., governs the practice of physical therapy in Florida. Chapter 456,
F.S., contains general provisions applicable to all health professions, while Chapter 458
governs medical doctors.
2. Under s. 486.021(11), F.S., the “practice of physical therapy” includes all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. Therapeutic exercise and functional movement training
B. Manual therapy, massage, and airway clearance techniques
C. Specific chiropractic spinal manipulation
D. Wound care and maintenance of the integumentary system
Rationale: Section 486.021(11)(c), F.S., expressly states that the practice of physical therapy
does not authorize the practice of chiropractic medicine, including specific spinal
manipulation, or acupuncture. For specific spinal manipulation, the PT must refer the patient
to a practitioner licensed under Chapter 460, F.S.
3. The Board of Physical Therapy Practice is created within which state agency?
, A. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation
B. The Agency for Health Care Administration
C. The Department of Health
D. The Department of Education
Rationale: Section 486.023(1), F.S., creates the Board of Physical Therapy Practice within the
Department of Health. The Department's Division of Medical Quality Assurance supports the
Board's licensing and disciplinary functions.
4. What is the composition of the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice?
A. Five members, all of whom must be licensed physical therapists
B. Seven members: five licensed physical therapists with at least 4 years of
practice and two residents who have never been licensed health care
practitioners
C. Nine members: six physical therapists and three physical therapist assistants
D. Seven members: four physical therapists, two physical therapist assistants, and one
consumer
Rationale: Section 486.023(1)-(2), F.S., establishes a seven-member Board appointed by the
Governor: five licensed PTs in good standing who have practiced at least 4 years immediately
before appointment, and two consumer members who have never been licensed health care
practitioners.
5. Members of the Board of Physical Therapy Practice serve terms of:
A. Two years
B. Three years
C. Four years
D. Six years
Rationale: Under s. 486.023(3), F.S., as terms expire the Governor appoints successors for
terms of 4 years, and members serve until their successors are appointed.
6. Under s. 486.021(9), F.S., “direct supervision” of a temporary permit holder requires:
A. Telephone availability of the supervising physical therapist
B. The physical presence of the licensed physical therapist for consultation and
direction, except in an emergency
C. Weekly co-signature of notes with no on-site requirement
D. Supervision by any licensed health care practitioner
Rationale: Section 486.021(9), F.S., defines direct supervision as supervision by a Florida-
licensed PT and, except in a case of emergency, requires the physical presence of the licensed
PT for consultation and direction of a PT or PTA practicing under a temporary permit as a
candidate for licensure by examination.
, 7. Under s. 486.021(8), F.S., the terms “physical therapy” and “physiotherapy” are:
A. Distinct professions with separate licensure tracks
B. Deemed identical and interchangeable with each other
C. Permitted only for doctorally prepared licensees
D. Terms reserved exclusively for hospital-based practice
Rationale: Section 486.021(8), F.S., provides that “physical therapy” and “physiotherapy” are
deemed identical and interchangeable terms describing the same health care profession.
8. A Florida physical therapist may perform electromyography (EMG) as an aid to
diagnosis:
A. Freely, as it is within the ordinary scope of PT practice
B. Only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine
C. Only in a hospital licensed under Chapter 395, F.S.
D. Never, under any circumstances
Rationale: Section 486.021(11), F.S., permits the performance of electromyography as an aid
to diagnosis only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine. It is
therefore a conditional, not an unrestricted, element of the PT scope of practice.
9. Which of the following practitioners may NOT serve as a “practitioner of record” for
purposes of Florida’s direct access provisions?
A. A physician licensed under Chapter 458, F.S. (M.D.)
B. A chiropractic physician licensed under Chapter 460, F.S.
C. A dentist licensed under Chapter 466, F.S.
D. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under s. 464.012, F.S.
Rationale: Under s. 486.021(11)(a), F.S., a practitioner of record must be a health care
practitioner licensed under Chapter 458, 459, 460, 461, or 466, F.S., and engaged in active
practice. An APRN may provide a plan of treatment for a patient, but is not among the
practitioners eligible to serve as the practitioner of record.
10. A patient self-refers to a physical therapist for low back pain that has never been
assessed by a practitioner of record. Physical therapy will be required beyond 30 days. The
PT must:
A. Discharge the patient at day 30 without exception
B. Continue treatment indefinitely under the PT-developed plan
C. Have a practitioner of record review and sign the plan of treatment
D. Obtain approval from the Board of Physical Therapy Practice
PT Laws & Rules Q&A — Complete Exam with Answers & Rationales
Chapter 486, Florida Statutes | Chapter 456, Florida Statutes | Rule Chapter 64B17, F.A.C.
Section 1: Brief Introduction
The Florida Physical Therapy Jurisprudence (Laws & Rules) Exam assesses a licensee's
working knowledge of the Physical Therapy Practice Act (Chapter 486, F.S.), the general
health-professions provisions of Chapter 456, F.S., and the Board of Physical Therapy
Practice rules (Rule Chapter 64B17, F.A.C.). Key content areas include scope of practice and
direct access, licensure and renewal, supervision and delegation, continuing education,
patient rights and records, telehealth, dry needling, ethics, and disciplinary law. Each
question below is followed immediately by its correct answer (bold, cyan) and a citation-
based rationale.
Section 2: The Complete Exam
1. Which chapter of the Florida Statutes is known as the Physical Therapy Practice Act?
A. Chapter 456, Florida Statutes
B. Chapter 458, Florida Statutes
C. Chapter 486, Florida Statutes
D. Chapter 490, Florida Statutes
Rationale: Chapter 486, F.S., governs the practice of physical therapy in Florida. Chapter 456,
F.S., contains general provisions applicable to all health professions, while Chapter 458
governs medical doctors.
2. Under s. 486.021(11), F.S., the “practice of physical therapy” includes all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. Therapeutic exercise and functional movement training
B. Manual therapy, massage, and airway clearance techniques
C. Specific chiropractic spinal manipulation
D. Wound care and maintenance of the integumentary system
Rationale: Section 486.021(11)(c), F.S., expressly states that the practice of physical therapy
does not authorize the practice of chiropractic medicine, including specific spinal
manipulation, or acupuncture. For specific spinal manipulation, the PT must refer the patient
to a practitioner licensed under Chapter 460, F.S.
3. The Board of Physical Therapy Practice is created within which state agency?
, A. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation
B. The Agency for Health Care Administration
C. The Department of Health
D. The Department of Education
Rationale: Section 486.023(1), F.S., creates the Board of Physical Therapy Practice within the
Department of Health. The Department's Division of Medical Quality Assurance supports the
Board's licensing and disciplinary functions.
4. What is the composition of the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice?
A. Five members, all of whom must be licensed physical therapists
B. Seven members: five licensed physical therapists with at least 4 years of
practice and two residents who have never been licensed health care
practitioners
C. Nine members: six physical therapists and three physical therapist assistants
D. Seven members: four physical therapists, two physical therapist assistants, and one
consumer
Rationale: Section 486.023(1)-(2), F.S., establishes a seven-member Board appointed by the
Governor: five licensed PTs in good standing who have practiced at least 4 years immediately
before appointment, and two consumer members who have never been licensed health care
practitioners.
5. Members of the Board of Physical Therapy Practice serve terms of:
A. Two years
B. Three years
C. Four years
D. Six years
Rationale: Under s. 486.023(3), F.S., as terms expire the Governor appoints successors for
terms of 4 years, and members serve until their successors are appointed.
6. Under s. 486.021(9), F.S., “direct supervision” of a temporary permit holder requires:
A. Telephone availability of the supervising physical therapist
B. The physical presence of the licensed physical therapist for consultation and
direction, except in an emergency
C. Weekly co-signature of notes with no on-site requirement
D. Supervision by any licensed health care practitioner
Rationale: Section 486.021(9), F.S., defines direct supervision as supervision by a Florida-
licensed PT and, except in a case of emergency, requires the physical presence of the licensed
PT for consultation and direction of a PT or PTA practicing under a temporary permit as a
candidate for licensure by examination.
, 7. Under s. 486.021(8), F.S., the terms “physical therapy” and “physiotherapy” are:
A. Distinct professions with separate licensure tracks
B. Deemed identical and interchangeable with each other
C. Permitted only for doctorally prepared licensees
D. Terms reserved exclusively for hospital-based practice
Rationale: Section 486.021(8), F.S., provides that “physical therapy” and “physiotherapy” are
deemed identical and interchangeable terms describing the same health care profession.
8. A Florida physical therapist may perform electromyography (EMG) as an aid to
diagnosis:
A. Freely, as it is within the ordinary scope of PT practice
B. Only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine
C. Only in a hospital licensed under Chapter 395, F.S.
D. Never, under any circumstances
Rationale: Section 486.021(11), F.S., permits the performance of electromyography as an aid
to diagnosis only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine. It is
therefore a conditional, not an unrestricted, element of the PT scope of practice.
9. Which of the following practitioners may NOT serve as a “practitioner of record” for
purposes of Florida’s direct access provisions?
A. A physician licensed under Chapter 458, F.S. (M.D.)
B. A chiropractic physician licensed under Chapter 460, F.S.
C. A dentist licensed under Chapter 466, F.S.
D. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under s. 464.012, F.S.
Rationale: Under s. 486.021(11)(a), F.S., a practitioner of record must be a health care
practitioner licensed under Chapter 458, 459, 460, 461, or 466, F.S., and engaged in active
practice. An APRN may provide a plan of treatment for a patient, but is not among the
practitioners eligible to serve as the practitioner of record.
10. A patient self-refers to a physical therapist for low back pain that has never been
assessed by a practitioner of record. Physical therapy will be required beyond 30 days. The
PT must:
A. Discharge the patient at day 30 without exception
B. Continue treatment indefinitely under the PT-developed plan
C. Have a practitioner of record review and sign the plan of treatment
D. Obtain approval from the Board of Physical Therapy Practice
