FAQ

This page contains answers to 

Frequently Asked Questions.

Click on the subjects below.

Licensure | Continuing Education | Practice | Reimbursement

Marketing & Recruiting | Career Information

Q - How can I become licensed to practice in Iowa?

A - The procedures for licensure for PTs and PTAs are described in the state administrative rules implementing the practice act.  You can download this information from this site.  Please refer all questions about licensure, the practice act and rules to:

Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy

Iowa Department of Public Health

Lucas State Office Building

Des Moines, IA 50319

515/281-4401

Fax 515/281-3121

Q - How many hours of continuing education do PTs need? How many hours for PTAs?

A - Iowa PTs need 40 hours of con-ed per biennium (two years).  PTAs need 20 hours. Reporting forms and instructions will be mailed to you by the licensure board prior to your birth month.  Make sure your correct address is on file with the licensure board!  The Iowa Physical Therapy Association provides 48 hours of continuing education through spring and fall conferences each year.  Members receive a 50% tuition discount.  

Q - I am presenting a continuing education program. How do I obtain approval so that the Iowa PTs/PTAs who attend will receive con-ed credit?

A - Prior approval from the licensure board is not needed.  However, you must ensure that your course and the attendance certificate meet specific criteria spelled out in the practice admin rules.  Click here to download the admin rules.

Q - I am a PT and I have questions about the supervision rules for PTAs and aides. Who can answer my questions.

A - The practice rules -- available for download from this web site -- are issued by the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy Examiners (the licensure board).  Only the licensure board can interpret the rules. You may contact the board staff at 515/281-4401. In addition, you may need to observe the supervision policies of the patient's health insurance (Medicare, private, etc.). Click here to view an article published in IPTA's newsletter that expands on this aspect plus another article that deals with supervision of aides. Also, please refer to the supervision policies adopted by the APTA House of Delegates.

Q - Can a health care practitioner other than a PT supervise a PT assistant?

A - No.  Iowa PTAs and aides may treat patients only when they are supervised by licensed physical therapists as stipulated in the administrative rules.

Q - Under Medicare, can a physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner certify or recertify a Plan of Care?

A - YES. [Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42, Volume 2, Part 424, Section 424.24(4)]

Q - I have taken the national licensure exam applied for licensure.  Can I practice while waiting for my license?

A - Yes, but only under specific conditions and supervision defined in the admin rules (see Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 645-200.3(1)c). However, if you have failed the exam in any state, territory or country, you may not practice as an applicant. Applicants and their employers are urged to use caution when billing for the applicant's involvement in patient treatment to ensure that state law and insurance company/Medicare/Medicaid rules are observed.

Q - Can Iowa PTs evaluate and treat patients without physician referral?

A - Yes, Iowa is a "direct-access" state in which PTs may evaluate and treat patients without physician referral.

Q - Can health-care practitioners other than medical and osteopathic physicians refer patients to physical therapists for evaluation and treatment?

A - Because Iowa is a "direct-access" state, the condition of referral is irrelevant except as it pertains to practice setting and insurance reimbursement. For example, hospitals may impose referral conditions, and insurance companies, including Medicare/Medicaid, may have their own referral rules. Medicare does not permit referral by chiropractors (Social Security Act, Title 18, Section 1861).

Q - I have heard that a cap has been imposed on outpatient Medicare rehab.  Is that true?

A - Yes, but Congress passed a one-year extension of an appeals process to the cap of $1,740 for Medicare rehab. The average cost for therapy needed to recover from a stroke is $2,788, and recovery from a hip fracture costs about $2,000. Please urge your members of Congress to repeal the arbitrary cap.

Q - I am attempting to hire a physical therapist assistant at my nursing home. How can you help?

A - IPTA offers recruiting assistance in several areas: address list rental for mailings, advertising in our publications, advertising and job posting on this Web site and one-on-one contact with the attendees at our conferences as an exhibitor. Please see our Recruiting page for details.

Q - How can you help me market my products to Iowa physical therapists?

A - IPTA offers marketing assistance in several areas: address list rental for mailings, advertising in our publications and one-on-one contact with the attendees at our conferences as an exhibitor. Please see our Marketing page for details.

Q - I am considering a career in physical therapy as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. Where can I obtain career information?

A - Click here to view, print or download a fact sheet on physical therapy as a career. You may also obtain additional information at the American Physical Therapy Association's web site, www.apta.org.

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