Oklahoma § 59-887.17 - Referrals by physicians, surgeons, or assistants

§ 59-887.17. Referrals by physicians, surgeons, or assistants

thereof - Exceptions.

A. 1. Except for workers’ compensation claims, any person

licensed under the Physical Therapy Practice Act as a physical

therapist including, but not limited to, a licensed physical

therapist operating under a direct-to-employer contract, may

evaluate and treat human ailments by physical therapy on a patient

without a referral from a licensed health care practitioner for a

period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Treatment may be provided by

a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical

therapist. Any treatment provided beyond the thirty-day period

shall be only under the referral of a person licensed as a physician

or surgeon with unlimited license, or the physician assistant of the

person so licensed, and doctors of dentistry, chiropractic, and

podiatry and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, with those

referrals being limited to their respective areas of training and

practice.

2. A physical therapist may provide services within the scope

of physical therapy practice without a physician referral to

children who receive physical therapy services pursuant to the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as

may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as may be amended. Provided further, a plan of care developed by a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

person authorized to provide services within the scope of the

Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be deemed to be a prescription

for purposes of providing services pursuant to the provisions of the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, as

may be amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as may be amended.

3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a

physical therapist from performing screening and educational

procedures within the scope of physical therapy practice without a

physician referral.

4. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall prevent a

physical therapist from performing services that are provided for

the purpose of fitness, wellness, or prevention that is not related

to the treatment of an injury or ailment.

5. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall be

construed as authorization for a physical therapist or physical

therapist assistant to practice any branch of the healing art.

6. Any person violating the provisions of the Physical Therapy

Practice Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as per Section 887.16

of this title.

B. 1. The provisions of the Physical Therapy Practice Act are

not intended to limit the activities of persons legitimately engaged

in the nontherapeutic administration of baths, massage, and normal

exercise.

2. The Physical Therapy Practice Act shall not prohibit

students who are enrolled in schools of physical therapy approved by

the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision from performing

such work as is incidental to their course of study; nor shall it

prevent any student in any recognized school of the healing art in

carrying out prescribed courses of study, provided such school is a

recognized institution by the Oklahoma Statutes, and its

practitioners are duly licensed as prescribed by law.

3. Nothing in the Physical Therapy Practice Act shall apply to

any person employed by an agency, bureau, or division of the federal

government while in the discharge of official duties; however, if

such individual engages in the practice of physical therapy outside

the line of official duty, the individual must be licensed as herein

provided.

Added by Laws 1965, c. 153, § 17, emerg. eff. May 26, 1965. Amended

by Laws 1969, c. 345, § 11; Laws 1987, c. 13, § 16, eff. July 1,

1987; Laws 1987, c. 236, § 196, emerg. eff. July 20, 1987; Laws

2003, c. 135, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 543, § 6, eff.

July 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 84, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2008,

c. 26, § 2, emerg. eff. April 11, 2008; Laws 2012, c. 29, § 2, eff.

Nov. 1, 2012; Laws 2014, c. 324, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2019,

c. 224, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019 and Laws 2019, c. 475, § 46, eff.

Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2025, c. 8, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

NOTE: Laws 2019, c. 224, § 1 and Laws 2019, c. 475, § 46 made

identical amendments to this section.