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The Florida Statutes

The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Chapter 486
PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE
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F.S. 486.135
486.135 False representation of licensure, or willful misrepresentation or fraudulent representation to obtain license, unlawful.
(1)(a) It is unlawful for any person who is not licensed under this chapter as a physical therapist, or whose license has been suspended or revoked, to use in connection with her or his name or place of business the words “physical therapist,” “physiotherapist,” “physical therapy,” “physiotherapy,” “registered physical therapist,” or “licensed physical therapist”; the letters “P.T.”; or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that she or he is a physical therapist or to represent herself or himself as a physical therapist in any other way, orally, in writing, in print, or by sign, directly or by implication, unless physical therapy services are provided or supplied by a physical therapist licensed in accordance with this chapter.
(b) It is unlawful for a person who is not licensed under this chapter as a physical therapist and who does not hold a doctoral degree in physical therapy to use the letters “D.P.T.” in connection with his or her name or place of business.
(c) It is unlawful for any person who is not licensed under this chapter as a physical therapist assistant, or whose license has been suspended or revoked, to use in connection with her or his name the words “physical therapist assistant,” the letters “P.T.A.,” or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that she or he is a physical therapist assistant or to represent herself or himself as a physical therapist assistant in any other way, orally, in writing, in print, or by sign, directly or by implication.
(2) An unlawful act under this section is a violation of s. 486.151.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to obtain or attempt to obtain a license under this chapter by any willful misrepresentation or any fraudulent representation.
History.s. 10, ch. 57-67; s. 9, ch. 67-537; s. 2, ch. 79-116; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 24, ch. 83-86; ss. 17, 18, ch. 86-31; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 471, ch. 97-103; s. 3, ch. 2016-70.
Note.Former s. 486.101.