Physical Therapy Board of California

Consumers Overview

The Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) has the primary responsibility of licensing and regulating the practice of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, as well as unlicensed physical therapy aides. PTBC’s responsibilities come from the Physical Therapy Practice Act, which is composed of California statutes that give PTBC the authority to investigate complaints and take disciplinary action against physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, among other functions. These investigation and disciplinary functions are handled by PTBC's Consumer Protection Services Program (CPS).

PTBC’s CPS Program staff work with health care consumers and health care professionals in identifying those physical therapist, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy aides, who have engaged in any activity which may be unsafe, and which may put the public at risk. PTBC investigates matters to obtain the evidence necessary to meet its burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence to a reasonable degree of certainty that a violation of the Physical Therapy Practice Act occurred.

The CPS Program responsibilities can be divided into four primary categories:

• Intake
• Investigation
• Disciplinary Action
• Probation Monitoring