Title 5
Businesses and Professions

Chapter 40.2
Rhode Island Physical Therapist Licensure Compact

§ 5-40.2-2. Purpose.

The purpose of the physical therapist licensure compact is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the state where the patient/client is located at the time of the patient/client encounter. The compact preserves the regulatory authority of the state to protect public health and safety through the current system of state licensure. The compact is designed to achieve the following objectives:

(1) Increase public access to physical therapy services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses;

(2) Enhance the states’ ability to protect the public’s health and safety;

(3) Encourage the cooperation of member states in regulating multi-state physical therapy practice;

(4) Support spouses of relocating military members;

(5) Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information between member states; and

(6) Allow a remote state to hold a provider of services with a compact privilege in that state accountable to that state’s practice standards.