Section 61.5-06-01-01 - Terms and titlesA physical therapist shall use the letters "PT" in connection with the physical therapist's name or place of business to denote licensure under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-26.1. Other letter designations such as "RPT", "LPT", or academic and professional degrees should not be substituted for the regulatory designation of "PT".
1. "PTA" is the preferred regulatory designation of a physical therapist assistant. A physical therapist assistant shall use the letters "PTA" in connection with that person's name to denote licensure under this chapter. A person shall not use the title "physical therapist assistant", the letters "PTA", or any other words, abbreviations, or insignia in connection with that person's name to indicate or imply, directly or indirectly, that the person is a physical therapist assistant unless that person is licensed under this chapter.2. Except as otherwise provided by law, a person or business entity, and its employees, agents, or representatives, shall not use in connection with that person's or entity's name or activity the words "physical therapy", "physical therapist", "physiotherapist", "registered physical therapist", the letters "PT", "MPT", "DPT", "LPT", "RPT", or any other words, abbreviation, or insignia indicating or implying directly or indirectly that physical therapy is provided or supplied, unless such services are provided by or under the direction of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter. A person or business entity shall not advertise or otherwise promote another person as being a "physical therapist" or "physiotherapist" unless the individual so advertised or promoted is licensed as a physical therapist under this chapter. A person or business entity that offers, provides, or bills any other person for services shall not characterize those services as "physical therapy" unless the individual performing that service is licensed as a physical therapist under this chapter.3. The designations "SPT" and "SPTA" should be used for physical therapist students and physical therapist assistant students, respectively, up to the time of graduation.4. In order to promote consistent communication of the presentation of credentials and letter designations, the preferred order of credentials should be:b. Highest earned physical therapy-related degree.c. Other earned academic degrees.d. Specialist certification credentials in alphabetical order (specific to the American board of physical therapy specialties).e. Physical therapists who have graduated from a DPT program may use the title "doctor of physical therapy". A physical therapist holding a DPT degree or another doctoral degree may not use the title "doctor" without clearly informing the public of the physical therapist's profession as a physical therapist.N.D. Admin Code 61.5-06-01-01
Amended by Administrative Rules Supplement 376, April 2020, effective 4/1/2020.General Authority: NDCC 43-26.1-03(5)
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-26.1-15(5)