While state law generally allows patients to seek evaluation and treatment from a licensed physical therapist without a prescription or referral from a physician, patients are limited in their ability to do so in many states by arbitrary and unnecessary restrictions.

These restrictions are typically in the form of time and visit limits, previous diagnosis requirements, limited patient populations, or requiring a referral for certain types of treatment.

These restrictions do not recognize the professional training and expertise of the licensed physical therapist nor do they serve the needs of those patients who require physical therapy but whose care is unnecessarily interrupted by these restrictions.

See more about Direct Access in Practice and Direct Access Advocacy.