SB 31: Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/25/2026 16:02:990 → Amended 3/3/2026 19:03:217 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This amendment to Utah SB 31 reorganizes advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license classifications into more specific categories, expands physical therapist assistant scope of practice to include limited joint mobilization, and narrows the types of medications physical therapists may administer. The changes also update cross-references throughout the bill to match the new APRN classification structure.

Scope change

The bill's scope for physical therapy practice was expanded to allow PT assistants to perform limited joint mobilization while simultaneously tightening the medication administration rules for physical therapists. The nursing licensure framework was restructured to create more granular APRN license types, particularly distinguishing CRNAs with prescriptive authority from other APRNs.

SCOPE

APRN license classifications were reorganized from a single 'advanced practice registered nurse' category into three distinct types: a general APRN license, an APRN-certified registered nurse anesthetist with prescriptive authority, and an APRN without prescriptive practice license. This creates clearer regulatory boundaries for CRNAs specifically.

Physical therapist assistants are now permitted to perform the joint mobilization component of manual therapy, with the exception of high-velocity thrust joint mobilization which remains prohibited. Previously all joint mobilization was off-limits to PT assistants.

A new prohibition was added preventing physical therapy aides from performing or assisting in any joint mobilization component of manual therapy, with exceptions only for simple joint distraction techniques, stretching, and stretches or mobilizations that are part of a home exercise program.

REQUIREMENT

The types of prescription medications a physical therapist may purchase, store, and administer were narrowed: topical medications are now limited to wound care and musculoskeletal treatment using iontophoresis or phonophoresis, and aerosol medications are limited to pulmonary hygiene in institutional settings where a licensed respiratory therapist is not available within 10 miles.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'registered nursing clinical practice experience' was removed from Section 58-31b-102, which previously defined it as providing nursing care to patients as a registered nurse or as a student in an approved nursing education program.

TECHNICAL

Multiple cross-references throughout the bill were updated to reflect the renumbered APRN license classifications, including changes in Sections 26B-2-801, 26B-8-201, and 58-31b-301.

Substitute #3 → Substitute #4 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's health professions laws to expand the scope of practice for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants, while adding a new apprentice license for respiratory care practitioners. It also clarifies collaboration requirements for athletic trainers and adjusts licensure rules for nurses and nurse anesthetists.

Scope change

The bill expands professional authority for several health professions, including allowing physical therapists and occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment, and permitting physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform minor surgical procedures.

SCOPE

Physical therapists and occupational therapists are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices.

Physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses are permitted to perform minor surgical procedures.

A new 'respiratory care apprentice' license is created to allow students to work under supervision before full licensure.

REQUIREMENT

Requirements for athletic trainer licensure were adjusted to change the relationship between athletic trainers and physicians from 'directing' to 'collaborating'.

Advanced practice registered nurses are now required to have a minimum level of registered nursing experience before licensure.

The number of hours a physician assistant must work without a collaborative agreement was reduced.

TIMELINE

The authority for physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform minor surgical procedures is set to expire on July 1, 2028.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for terms such as 'APRN', 'Capacity', and 'Life sustaining care' to clarify legal standards.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's health professions laws to expand the scope of practice for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants while adding a new license for respiratory care apprentices. It also raises the experience requirement for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and adjusts the sunset date for physician assistant minor surgical procedures from 2027 to 2028.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for several health professions, including allowing physical therapists and occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment and physician assistants to perform minor surgeries. It also introduces a new license category for respiratory care apprentices.

SCOPE

Physical therapists and occupational therapists are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices.

Physician assistants are permitted to perform minor surgical procedures.

TIMELINE

The sunset date for physician assistant minor surgical procedures was extended from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2028.

REQUIREMENT

A new license category for 'respiratory care apprentice' was created to allow students to work while completing their education.

The experience requirement for APRN licensure was increased to require a minimum of 2,000 hours of registered nursing clinical practice experience.

ELIGIBILITY

The experience requirement for APRN licensure now includes an exception for CRNAs and those applying before July 1, 2028.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'APRN' was updated to clarify that it includes independent practitioners acting within their scope of practice.

TECHNICAL

Various technical corrections were made to section numbering and cross-references within the Utah Code.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 11 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly expands the scope of practice for various health professionals, including allowing physical therapists and occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment and perform dry needling, and permitting advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures. It also introduces a new respiratory care apprentice license, clarifies collaboration requirements for athletic trainers, and updates definitions and qualifications for nursing and acupuncture licenses.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of practice for multiple healthcare professions, allowing them to perform tasks previously restricted to physicians or requiring additional training and oversight.

SCOPE

Physical therapists and occupational therapists are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices.

Physical therapist assistants are permitted to perform limited joint mobilization.

Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants are granted authority to perform minor surgical procedures.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists gain prescriptive authority immediately before and after procedures in additional settings like private offices and dental offices.

Occupational therapists are allowed to apply dry needling after completing specific training and registering with the division.

Acupuncturists can delegate low-risk tasks to unlicensed aides and have expanded authority to inject additional substances determined by division rules.

ELIGIBILITY

A new license classification for 'respiratory care apprentice' is created to allow students to work under supervision.

REQUIREMENT

Requirements for athletic trainer licensure and collaboration with physicians were clarified and updated.

Licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses now include a minimum level of registered nursing experience.

DEFINITION

Several statutory definitions were updated to reflect new scopes of practice and clarify terms like 'health care professional' and 'practice of nursing'.

TIMELINE

The authority for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures is set to be repealed on July 1, 2027.

Amended 3/6/2026 16:03:220 → Substitute #1 · 12 edits

MAJOR

This bill significantly expands the scope of practice for several health professions in Utah, allowing physical therapists and occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment and perform dry needling, and enabling physical therapist assistants to perform limited joint mobilization. It also grants Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) prescriptive authority immediately before and after procedures, creates a new respiratory care apprentice license, and clarifies collaboration requirements for athletic trainers. The bill includes technical corrections and renumbering of existing sections to align with these new provisions.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of practice for multiple healthcare providers, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants, CRNAs, and athletic trainers, while introducing a new license category for respiratory care apprentices.

SCOPE

Physical therapists are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment and order expanded medical imaging, including plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging.

Occupational therapists are granted the ability to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices, and the division is given rulemaking authority for this practice.

Physical therapist assistants are permitted to perform limited joint mobilization, specifically simple joint distraction techniques or stretching.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are granted prescriptive authority for up to a five-day supply of prescription drugs immediately before and after procedures they participate in.

A new license category for 'respiratory care apprentice' is created to allow students to work while completing their education.

Acupuncturists are allowed to delegate low-risk tasks to unlicensed aides under specified conditions and have rulemaking authority to determine additional substances they may inject.

Occupational therapists and physical therapists are aligned regarding dry needling requirements, with specific training and registration requirements for practitioners.

REQUIREMENT

Athletic trainers now have clarified collaboration requirements with a 'collaborating physician' who must oversee their practice and be responsible for their services.

Requirements for athletic trainer licensure were adjusted to allow documentation of emergency cardiac care certification as an alternative to specific CPR components.

The experience requirement for registered nurse apprentices was extended, and a minimum level of registered nursing experience is now required before licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'APRN' was updated to include independent practitioners acting within their scope, and the definition of 'Health care professional' in the medical examiner section was modified to include advanced practice registered nurses.

TIMELINE

The authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures is repealed on July 1, 2028, reversing a previous expansion.

Amended 3/3/2026 19:03:217 → Amended 3/6/2026 16:03:220 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This amendment updates several healthcare licensing sections to clarify qualifications for non-approved nursing graduates, restricts ketamine prescribing for nurse anesthetists, and reorganizes the definitions and board composition for athletic trainers and respiratory care practitioners. The changes aim to standardize licensure requirements, enhance patient safety by limiting specific drug prescriptions, and ensure proper regulatory oversight.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on Utah healthcare licensing, but specific eligibility criteria for nurses and the scope of practice for nurse anesthetists and athletic trainers have been narrowed or clarified.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated qualifications for practical and registered nurses from non-approved programs to require proof of program equivalence or passing the CGFNS examination.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific prohibition for certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe ketamine, even when performing procedures.

Changed the Athletic Trainers Licensing Board composition to include one representative of collaborating physicians instead of directing physicians.

Added requirements for nurse midwives to disclose criminal history and meet specific standards related to background checks.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and clarified definitions for 'athletic trainer', 'collaborating physician', and 'practice of athletic training' to include chiropractic and naturopathic physicians.

Renumbered and restructured the definitions section for respiratory care practitioners to clearly define the scope of practice and equipment included.

Amended Excerpts 3/6/2026 16:03:220 → Amended 2/25/2026 16:02:990 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands the scope of practice for various health professions in Utah, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers, by allowing them to prescribe durable medical equipment, order imaging, and perform limited surgical or needling procedures. It also modifies nursing licensure requirements, such as extending the time for registered nurse apprentices and clarifying prescriptive authority for nurse anesthetists, while adding new definitions and rulemaking authorities for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

Scope change

The bill broadens the legal authority of multiple healthcare providers to perform tasks previously restricted to physicians or nurses, such as prescribing equipment and performing minor procedures, and introduces new licensing categories like a registered nurse apprentice license.

SCOPE

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and athletic trainers are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment, adaptive devices, and order specific medical imaging.

Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants are permitted to perform minor surgical procedures, though this authority is repealed for APRNs and PAs on July 1, 2028.

ELIGIBILITY

The time a student may work as a registered nurse apprentice is extended, and new experience requirements are set for advanced practice registered nurse licensure.

REQUIREMENT

Certified registered nurse anesthetists are granted prescriptive authority for medications immediately before and after procedures they perform.

Occupational therapists and physical therapists must complete specific training hours and register with the division to perform dry needling.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for terms like 'trigger point dry needling,' 'hormonal transgender treatment,' and 'respiratory related durable medical equipment.'

TIMELINE

Certain exemptions regarding clinical practice experience requirements for nurse anesthetists apply until July 1, 2028, with potential extensions to 2030.

Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 19:03:217 → Amended Excerpts 3/6/2026 16:03:220 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill title was updated to reflect 'Senate 3rd Reading Amendments' instead of 'Senate Floor Amendments,' indicating the bill has progressed to a later legislative stage. Additionally, a specific instruction to insert new text creating a Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture was removed, suggesting this specific provision was not included in the final version of the bill at this stage.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the creation of a new Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture was reduced as the specific text establishing the board was deleted.

REQUIREMENT

Deletion of instructions to add a new section creating the Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture and defining its members.

TECHNICAL

Updated the header title from 'Senate Floor Amendments' to 'Senate 3rd Reading Amendments' to reflect the current legislative status.

Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 16:02:990 → Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 19:03:217 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions for nursing practice, introduce exemptions for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists regarding clinical experience requirements, and establish a timeline for new licensure rules. Specific changes include adding 'Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist' to the definition of nursing clinical practice experience, creating a grandfather clause for CRNAs and Physician Assistants regarding minor surgical procedures, and setting a July 1, 2028 deadline for certain applicants to meet new experience standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the definition of nursing clinical practice experience and to grant them immediate prescriptive authority without the usual experience hurdles.

DEFINITION

Added 'Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist' to the definition of 'Registered nursing clinical practice experience' to clarify that their work counts toward licensure requirements.

Added new definitions for 'Routine medication', 'Unlawful conduct', 'Unlicensed assistive personnel', and 'Unprofessional conduct' to standardize regulatory language.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility criteria to exempt Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists seeking prescriptive authority from specific clinical practice hour requirements.

TIMELINE

Established a July 1, 2028 deadline for applicants to meet new clinical experience requirements, with a potential extension to July 1, 2030 for rulemaking exceptions.

REQUIREMENT

Modified requirements for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to allow them to perform minor surgical procedures, while repealing previous authority over this specific area.

Modified the Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture composition to remove the requirement for licensed acupuncturists to be defined by a specific section, simplifying the appointment criteria.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 16:02:990 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's health professions laws to expand the scope of practice for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants, allowing them to prescribe durable medical equipment, order certain imaging, and perform minor surgical procedures. It also grants prescriptive authority to certified registered nurse anesthetists immediately before and after procedures, creates a new respiratory care apprentice license, and clarifies collaboration requirements for athletic trainers. Additionally, the bill repeals the authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgeries on July 1, 2028, and makes technical corrections to various licensing sections.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for multiple health professions including physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists, while simultaneously setting a future date to repeal minor surgical authority for APRNs and PAs.

SCOPE

Physical therapists can now prescribe durable medical equipment and order plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging.

Occupational therapists can prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices and apply dry needling with specific training.

Physician assistants are explicitly authorized to perform minor surgical procedures.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists can prescribe medication immediately before and after procedures they perform.

ELIGIBILITY

A new 'respiratory care apprentice' license is created for students in their final year of an accredited program.

TIMELINE

Authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures is set to be repealed on July 1, 2028.

REQUIREMENT

Athletic trainers must now collaborate with a physician for injuries beyond their scope, suspected head injuries, or unresponsive conditions.

DEFINITION

Definitions for 'health care provider' and 'physician' were updated in the Nurse Practice Act to include specific categories of practitioners.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

This bill expands the scope of practice for several health professions, including allowing physical therapists and occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices, and permitting advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures. It also replaces the certification requirement for medication aides with a license requirement and creates a new respiratory care apprentice license. Conversely, the bill repeals the authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures on July 1, 2028, and clarifies that this authority does not apply to nurse anesthetists. The bill includes technical corrections to section numbering and definitions across multiple chapters.

Scope change

The bill significantly broadens the scope of practice for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants while simultaneously removing future authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgery. It also shifts the regulatory framework for medication aides from certification to licensure and introduces a new apprentice license for respiratory care.

SCOPE

Physical therapists and occupational therapists are now authorized to prescribe durable medical equipment and adaptive devices.

Advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants are permitted to perform minor surgical procedures.

The authority for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform minor surgical procedures is repealed effective July 1, 2028.

A new license classification for 'respiratory care apprentice' is created to allow students to work while training.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for medication aides to be certified is replaced with a requirement to be licensed.

DEFINITION

Several definitions were updated or clarified, including those for 'health care professional' and 'practice of nursing'.

TECHNICAL

Section numbers were renumbered and corrected throughout the bill to align with the official code structure.

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