Physical therapists.

Entire Section 2620.4 removed, which had required the board to request the Office of Professional Examination Services to review and validate Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy occupational analyses, assess alignment with accreditation standards by January 1, 2029, and promulgate regulations based on that assessment.

Section 2620.5 rewritten to simply state that the practice of physical therapy includes use of electrode needles for tissue penetration to evaluate and interpret neuromusculoskeletal performance. Removed: requirement for physician authorization, board certification, prohibition on diagnostic or prognostic interpretations, sunset clause tied to regulations, and reference to solid filiform needles.

Reference to 'solid filiform needles' removed from the tissue penetration provision. Only electrode needles remain authorized.

Section 2620(a)(1) adds the phrase 'using clinically appropriate methods' to the examination and evaluation provision.

Section 2601(f)(2) now says physical therapy is provided 'to assess and facilitate motion, force, energy, and motor control' instead of just 'to facilitate,' adding an assessment component to the definition.

Section 2620(b) changed from 'Physical therapy interventions may include' to 'Physical therapy interventions techniques and procedures may include,' and added 'training in self-care' as a listed technique.

Section 2633(b)(1) now allows licensed physical therapists with doctoral degrees to use the initials 'DSc' following their name, in addition to DPT, PhD, and EdD.

New Section 2620.4 requires the board to request the Office of Professional Examination Services to review and validate Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy occupational analyses, assess alignment of CAPTE accreditation competencies with the National Physical Therapy Examination by January 1, 2029, and then promulgate regulations defining which expanded services are within aligned competencies and what additional training is needed.

New Section 2620.1 explicitly states that no referral or prior authorization is required for a patient to directly access physical therapist services, and requires a physical therapist to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed provider when the patient's condition is beyond the scope of the PT's education and training.

Section 2620.5 was changed from a permanent authorization for tissue penetration (electrode needles and solid filiform needles) to a transitional provision that requires specified physician authorization, board certification, and prohibits diagnostic or prognostic interpretations. It sunsets when regulations under the new Section 2620.4(c) take effect.

The tissue penetration authorization (electrode needles and solid filiform needles) was moved to a new Section 2620.6 with an operative date tied to the completion of the regulatory assessment process under Section 2620.4(c), meaning it will not take effect until after the board completes its competency alignment work and rulemaking.

The definition of 'physical therapy' in Section 2601(f) was restructured to reference services specified in Section 2620 and to explicitly include the use of physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, movement, and active, passive, and resistive exercise.

The Legislative Counsel's Digest was reorganized into numbered paragraphs (1) through (4), with a new paragraph (2) describing the examination validation requirements under the Department of Consumer Affairs framework.

The bill text was reformatted from a traditional legislative document layout (with line numbers, page headers like 'AB 2497 -2-', and two-column formatting) into a web-based presentation format with website navigation elements (skip to content, home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login, quick search fields, version dropdowns, and share links).

Website UI elements were added including navigation menus, a bill search interface, version history list, and action buttons (Add To My Favorites, Track Bill, Share This).

The bill's scope expanded from a single nonsubstantive change to State Bar fee provisions (Section 6140.14) to a full overhaul of the Physical Therapy Practice Act, adding and amending multiple sections governing physical therapist licensing and practice.

Completely replaces the definition of physical therapy (Section 2620) with a broader one covering prevention, habilitation, rehabilitation, and promotion of health and well-being. Explicitly states that no referral or prior authorization is required for a patient to directly access physical therapist services.

Section 2620.3 is amended to allow physical therapists to 'prescribe, store, and administer' topical medications (previously only 'apply'), and the prohibition on prescribing medications is narrowed to only prohibit prescribing opioids.

New Section 2620.4 authorizes physical therapists to prescribe nonopioid analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, subject to regulations adopted after conferring with the Medical Board of California and the State Board of Pharmacy. Opioid prescribing remains prohibited.

Section 2620.5 is replaced: the old version required physician authorization and board certification to perform tissue penetration and prohibited diagnostic or prognostic interpretation. The new version simply includes tissue penetration within the practice of physical therapy for evaluating, interpreting, and treating the neuromuscular system, with no physician authorization or certification requirement.

New Section 2620.6 authorizes physical therapists to perform and interpret musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging and to order or refer patients for imaging studies performed by other licensed professionals.

Section 2633 is amended to allow any licensed physical therapist to use the title 'doctor of physical therapy' or the letters 'D.P.T.' (previously tied to holding a doctoral degree). Also permits use of 'Doctor' or 'Dr.' in spoken communication while practicing PT and in written communication if followed by the unabbreviated degree name.

Redefines 'physical therapist' as a 'health care professional,' makes 'physiotherapist' synonymous with 'physical therapist,' makes 'physiotherapy' synonymous with 'physical therapy,' and clarifies that 'physical therapist assistant' and 'physical therapy assistant' are interchangeable terms.

Repeals Section 2620.1 entirely, which had imposed conditions on direct access including a 45-day/12-visit limit before requiring physician approval of the plan of care, mandatory written notice to the patient in 14-point type, notification of the patient's physician, and financial interest disclosure.

Section 2622 increases the maximum number of physical therapist assistants a single physical therapist may supervise at one time from 2 to 3.

Section 2689 is repealed, removing the fee structure (up to $200 application/renewal and $500 examination fee) for board certification in electromyographical testing, which was tied to the now-eliminated tissue penetration certification requirement.

Section 2620.3 (authorizing physical therapists to prescribe, store, and administer topical medications) is entirely removed from the bill.

New Section 2620.4 (authorizing physical therapists to prescribe nonopioid analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, with board regulations after conferring with the Medical Board and Pharmacy Board) is entirely removed from the bill.

The definition of 'physical therapist' in Section 2601 is shortened, removing the detailed description about facilitating motion, force, energy, and motor control. The term 'physiotherapist' as a synonym is removed from that definition, and the separate definition making 'physiotherapy' synonymous with 'physical therapy' is also removed.

In Section 2633(a), use of the letters 'D.P.T.' is now explicitly made subject to subdivision (b) doctoral degree requirements, rather than being listed alongside the title 'doctor of physical therapy' without that condition.

Section 2633(d) is reworded from a directive ('The board shall define, by regulation...') to a declarative statement ('the doctoral degrees that are in a related health science shall be those specified by the board in regulation'), with no substantive change in meaning.

In Section 2620(c), references to 'prescription and application of clearance' (related to removed medication authority) are deleted, and minor wording trims are made to 'airway clearance techniques' and 'integumentary protection and active repair techniques.'

All provisions amending Section 6140.14 (State Bar disciplinary diversion program fees and reporting requirements) were removed from the bill. The bill no longer touches attorney regulation.

Section 2620.5 now specifies that tissue penetration is performed using 'electrode needles and solid filiform needles' rather than just 'tissue penetration' generally. The target system was expanded from 'neuromuscular system' to 'neuromusculoskeletal system.'

New subdivision (b) added to Section 2620.5 explicitly stating that the tissue penetration authority does not authorize the practice of acupuncture as described in Section 4926 and as taught under Section 4927.5.

Section 2620(b)(1) changed 'determine diagnosis' to 'determine diagnosis of conditions of the movement system,' narrowing the diagnostic authority to movement system conditions specifically.

New subdivision (b)(3) added to Section 2620 authorizing physical therapists to furnish, order, fabricate, and apply assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic, protective, and supportive devices and equipment, cross-referencing specific Business and Professions Code sections.

Added a new defined term 'Movement system' in Section 2601. Added 'physiotherapist' as synonymous with 'physical therapist' within the same definition. Added 'physician therapy assistant' as an alternative term for 'physical therapist assistant.' Moved the definition of 'Physical therapy' into Section 2601 as a defined term.

Section 2620.3 changed from allowing physical therapists to 'apply' topical medications to allowing them to 'prescribe, store, and administer' topical medications. The prohibition was narrowed from all medications to specifically opioids only.

Fiscal note changed from 'State-mandated local program: no' to 'yes,' with added explanation that the bill imposes a state-mandated local program because it expands the scope of a crime. Added a new section stating no reimbursement is required under Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.

Various pronoun changes from 'he or she' to 'they' throughout, and renumbering of sections due to removal of the State Bar provisions.