Florida Jurisprudence Examination
(Physical Therapy) - – Florida
Department of Health / Relevant
Licensing Board – 2026/2027 Academic
Year – Verified Questions and Answers
for Licensed Healthcare Professionals
SECTION 1: LEGISLATIVE INTENT & DEFINITIONS
1. What is the sole legislative purpose of Chapter 486, Florida Statutes?
A) To increase the number of physical therapists in Florida
B) To ensure every physical therapist and physical therapist assistant meets minimum
requirements for safe practice
C) To establish fee schedules for physical therapy services
D) To promote physical therapy as a primary care profession
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The legislative intent is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public
by ensuring only qualified individuals practice physical therapy. If a PT or PTA falls below
minimum competency or presents a danger to the public, they shall be prohibited from
practicing .
,2. Under what authority does the state regulate the practice of physical therapy?
A) Federal commerce clause
B) Police powers of the state
C) Executive order of the Governor
D) American Physical Therapy Association guidelines
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the public falls under
the police powers of the state. The practice of physical therapy can harm or endanger
the public if unregulated .
3. When is regulation of a profession appropriate?
A) When the profession requests it
B) When unregulated practice may cause harm to the public and that potential
outweighs the impact of regulation
C) Whenever a new profession emerges
D) When the federal government mandates it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professions should be regulated only when necessary for the preservation of
health, safety, and welfare. The potential for harm must outweigh the impact of
regulation, and less restrictive means must not be available .
4. What restrictions apply to the Department and the Board regarding regulation?
,A) They may create economic conditions that favor certain practitioners
B) They may restrict competition to protect existing practitioners
C) They cannot create unreasonable restrictions on competition, job creation, or
employment
D) They may set arbitrary fees for licensure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Board and Department must ensure expenditures are cost-effective,
maximize competition, and minimize licensure costs. They cannot unreasonably restrict
qualified individuals from practicing .
5. How are "physical therapy" and "physiotherapy" defined in Florida law?
A) They are distinct specialties
B) Physical therapy requires a doctoral degree; physiotherapy does not
C) They are deemed identical and interchangeable
D) Physiotherapy is limited to sports medicine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Florida law, "physical therapy" and "physiotherapy" are deemed
identical and interchangeable with each other, meaning a health care profession .
6. Which of the following is NOT considered the practice of physical therapy?
A) Therapeutic exercise
B) Electrical stimulation
, C) Dispensing over-the-counter medication as part of treatment
D) Gait training
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dispensing medication, even OTC, is not within the physical therapy scope of
practice unless specifically authorized by other laws .
7. Physical therapy treatment may include:
A) Surgery
B) Diagnostic imaging interpretation
C) Manual therapy techniques
D) Prescribing antibiotics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Manual therapy techniques are within the scope. Surgery, imaging
interpretation, and prescribing are outside the PT scope .
8. The practice of physical therapy is considered:
A) A primary care profession
B) A health care profession requiring licensure
C) An allied health profession without regulation
D) A nursing specialty
Correct Answer: B
(Physical Therapy) - – Florida
Department of Health / Relevant
Licensing Board – 2026/2027 Academic
Year – Verified Questions and Answers
for Licensed Healthcare Professionals
SECTION 1: LEGISLATIVE INTENT & DEFINITIONS
1. What is the sole legislative purpose of Chapter 486, Florida Statutes?
A) To increase the number of physical therapists in Florida
B) To ensure every physical therapist and physical therapist assistant meets minimum
requirements for safe practice
C) To establish fee schedules for physical therapy services
D) To promote physical therapy as a primary care profession
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The legislative intent is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public
by ensuring only qualified individuals practice physical therapy. If a PT or PTA falls below
minimum competency or presents a danger to the public, they shall be prohibited from
practicing .
,2. Under what authority does the state regulate the practice of physical therapy?
A) Federal commerce clause
B) Police powers of the state
C) Executive order of the Governor
D) American Physical Therapy Association guidelines
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the public falls under
the police powers of the state. The practice of physical therapy can harm or endanger
the public if unregulated .
3. When is regulation of a profession appropriate?
A) When the profession requests it
B) When unregulated practice may cause harm to the public and that potential
outweighs the impact of regulation
C) Whenever a new profession emerges
D) When the federal government mandates it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professions should be regulated only when necessary for the preservation of
health, safety, and welfare. The potential for harm must outweigh the impact of
regulation, and less restrictive means must not be available .
4. What restrictions apply to the Department and the Board regarding regulation?
,A) They may create economic conditions that favor certain practitioners
B) They may restrict competition to protect existing practitioners
C) They cannot create unreasonable restrictions on competition, job creation, or
employment
D) They may set arbitrary fees for licensure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Board and Department must ensure expenditures are cost-effective,
maximize competition, and minimize licensure costs. They cannot unreasonably restrict
qualified individuals from practicing .
5. How are "physical therapy" and "physiotherapy" defined in Florida law?
A) They are distinct specialties
B) Physical therapy requires a doctoral degree; physiotherapy does not
C) They are deemed identical and interchangeable
D) Physiotherapy is limited to sports medicine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Under Florida law, "physical therapy" and "physiotherapy" are deemed
identical and interchangeable with each other, meaning a health care profession .
6. Which of the following is NOT considered the practice of physical therapy?
A) Therapeutic exercise
B) Electrical stimulation
, C) Dispensing over-the-counter medication as part of treatment
D) Gait training
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dispensing medication, even OTC, is not within the physical therapy scope of
practice unless specifically authorized by other laws .
7. Physical therapy treatment may include:
A) Surgery
B) Diagnostic imaging interpretation
C) Manual therapy techniques
D) Prescribing antibiotics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Manual therapy techniques are within the scope. Surgery, imaging
interpretation, and prescribing are outside the PT scope .
8. The practice of physical therapy is considered:
A) A primary care profession
B) A health care profession requiring licensure
C) An allied health profession without regulation
D) A nursing specialty
Correct Answer: B
