Wisconsin — 448.56 Practice requirements.

448.56 Practice requirements.

(1)Written referral. Except as provided in this subsection and s. 448.52 , a person may practice physical therapy only upon the written referral of a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse. Written referral is not required if a physical therapist provides services in schools to children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76

(5), pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of public instruction; provides services as part of a home health care agency; provides services to a patient in a nursing home pursuant to the patient’s plan of care; provides services related to athletic activities, conditioning, or injury prevention; or provides services to an individual for a previously diagnosed medical condition after informing the individual’s physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse who made the diagnosis. The examining board may promulgate rules establishing additional services that are excepted from the written referral requirements of this subsection.

Effective date note NOTE: Sub.

(1)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:

Effective date text

(1)Written referral. Except as provided in this subsection and s. 448.52, a person may practice physical therapy only upon the written referral of a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2). Written referral is not required if a physical therapist provides services in schools to children with disabilities, as defined in s. 115.76 (5), pursuant to rules promulgated by the department of public instruction; provides services as part of a home health care agency; provides services to a patient in a nursing home pursuant to the patient’s plan of care; provides services related to athletic activities, conditioning, or injury prevention; or provides services to an individual for a previously diagnosed medical condition after informing the individual’s physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16

(2)who made the diagnosis. The examining board may promulgate rules establishing additional services that are excepted from the written referral requirements of this subsection.

(1m)Duty to refer.

(a)A physical therapist shall refer a patient to an appropriate health care practitioner if the physical therapist has reasonable cause to believe that symptoms or conditions are present that require services beyond the scope of the practice of physical therapy.

(b)The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements that a physical therapist must satisfy if a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice registered nurse makes a written referral under sub.

(1). The purpose of the rules shall be to ensure continuity of care between the physical therapist and the health care practitioner.

Effective date note NOTE: Par.

(b)is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17 . Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:

Effective date text

(b)The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements that a physical therapist must satisfy if a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber makes a written referral under sub. (1). The purpose of the rules shall be to ensure continuity of care between the physical therapist and the health care practitioner.