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HD 2025

An Act establishing a physical therapy licensure compact

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sal DiDomenico and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a multistate Physical Therapy Licensure Compact allowing practice across member states under a common “compact privilege” while preserving state regulatory authority.

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Bill Summary · HD 2025

Summary: An Act establishing a physical therapy licensure compact (HD 2025)

Overview

  • Purpose: Establish a multistate Physical Therapy Licensure Compact to facilitate interstate practice while preserving each state's regulatory authority to protect public health and safety.
  • Primary aim: Increase public access to physical therapy services by enabling mutual recognition of licenses and the use of a compact privilege to practice in member states where the patient is located.
  • Key features: Create a national administrative body (the Physical Therapy Compact Commission), adopt standardized data sharing, background checks, examinations, and continuing competence requirements, and provide protections for military families and other practitioners across state lines.

Core Provisions and Changes

  • Compact purpose and scope (Section 1):

    • Physical therapy practice occurs where the patient is located at the encounter.
    • States retain regulatory authority; the Compact enables streamlined cross-state practice.
    • Objectives include boosting access, enhancing public safety through cooperation and information exchange, supporting relocating military spouses, and holding remote-state providers accountable to local standards.

  • Definitions (Section 2):

    • Establishes common terms: active duty military, adverse action, compact privilege, home state, remote state, licensee, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, data system, continuing competence, investigation, and more.
    • Key concept: a “compact privilege” authorizes a licensee from one member state to practice in another member state under that state’s rules.

  • State participation requirements (Section 3):

    • To participate, a state must:
    • Integrate with the Commission’s data system and use its unique identifier.
    • Have processes for licensure, complaint receipt/investigation, and adverse-action reporting.
    • Implement criminal background checks using FBI results.
    • Comply with Commission rules.
    • Require a recognized national examination for licensure.
    • Enforce continuing competence for license renewal.
    • Upon adoption, states may obtain biometric information for FBI background checks as part of licensure decisions.

  • Governance and administration:

    • Creation of the Physical Therapy Compact Commission (the national body) and its rules to govern member states and the compact privilege system.
    • The Commission and member states share information about licensure, investigations, and disciplinary actions.

Who Is Affected

  • Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs): May obtain a compact privilege to practice in other member states without obtaining a full new license in each state.
  • Licensing boards: Must participate in data sharing, use standardized processes, and apply uniform background checks and competence standards.
  • Patients: Potentially greater access to PT services across state lines.
  • Military families and spouses: Specific alignment to support relocation and portable licensure arrangements.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill is framed as creating a new chapter (CHAPTER 112A) in the General Laws to establish the Compact.
  • States must enact companion legislation to participate; Massachusetts would join a national compact framework managed by the Commission.
  • The text specifies a phased implementation via adoption, data system integration, and alignment with FBI background checks and national examinations.

Notes

  • The bill paper indicates prior related legislation in a previous session (2023-2024) and references a similar matter filed in earlier years.
  • Status in the prompt is not provided; the bill text outlines the framework for interstate practice rather than a routine, single-state licensure reform.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with current Massachusetts licensure rules or outline potential implications for a specific stakeholder group (e.g., rural healthcare access, military families, or PT/PTA licensees).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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