FAQs

Physical therapy  is a healthcare profession that helps people improve movement, reduce pain, restore function, and maintain independence. Licensed physical therapists evaluate and treat individuals of all ages who are recovering from injury or surgery, managing chronic conditions, or experiencing problems with movement, balance, strength, or mobility.

Treatment is based on a thorough evaluation and is tailored to each patient’s condition and goals. A physical therapist may use therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, balance training, gait training, pain management techniques, patient education, and home exercise programs to support recovery and improve function.

A physical therapist, or PT, is a licensed healthcare professional who evaluates movement problems, identifies the cause of pain or functional limitations, and develops a plan of care. Physical therapists make clinical decisions, establish treatment goals, and adjust treatment based on a patient’s progress. 

Physical therapists complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program and must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination before becoming licensed in Nevada.

 

A physical therapist assistant, or PTA, is a licensed healthcare professional who works as part of the physical therapy team. PTAs carry out treatment interventions planned by the physical therapist, assist patients with therapeutic exercise, monitor progress, and report changes to the supervising physical therapist.

In Nevada, PTAs practice under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants complete an accredited PTA education program and must pass the examination required for licensure.

 

The physical therapist evaluates the patient, creates the plan of care, and makes clinical decisions. The physical therapist assistant helps carry out the treatment plan under supervision. Both PTs and PTAs are important members of the care team, but their roles are not the same.

 

The mission of the Nevada Physical Therapy Board is to protect the safety and well-being of the public consumer of physical therapy.

The Nevada Physical Therapy Board licenses physical therapist (PT’s) and physical therapist assistants (PTA’s).

A physical therapist is a licensed health care professional who evaluates a patient's physical status, establishes a plan of care and goals, then administers treatments to promote optimal health. Physical therapists seek to relieve pain, improve the body's movement and function, maintain cardiopulmonary function, and limit disabilities resulting from injury or disease.

A physical therapist assistant is licensed and assists in the practice of physical therapy under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

A physical therapy technician is an unlicensed person who performs certain treatments related to physical therapy at the direction of a physical therapist.

Nevada Physical Therapy Board
3291 N. Buffalo Dr., Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89129

The hours of operation for the Nevada Physical Therapy Board are Monday – Friday; 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

APTA: American Physical Therapy Association

APTANV: American Physical Therapy Association, Nevada

CAPTE: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

CEU: Continuing Education Unit

DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy

FCCPT: Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy

FSBPT: Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy

HRRI: Healthcare Regulatory Research Institute

NPTE: National Physical Therapy Examination

NVPTB: Nevada Physical Therapy Board

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language

Continuing competence of health care professionals is of the utmost importance to a diverse range of stakeholders including the public, health care providers, regulatory bodies, employers, insurers, and professional associations.  The Nevada Physical Therapy Board requires licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to complete a program of continuing education as a requirement for the renewal of licenses.

The ACCC is responsible for the evaluation and approval of courses of study, training and materials for continuing competency (education) based on criteria approved by the Board.

Anyone can submit a course for review by the ACCC.

All course submissions are now done through Propelus ce broker. For Submit Course for Review Instructions.

Courses that haven’t been approved by the ACCC may be taken. However, there is no guarantee the course will be approved by the Committee.  In this scenario the PT/PTA would assume the risk of not receiving credit if the course is denied by the ACCC.

An Exam Candidate is a person who is has not taken the national exam and who has completed or is in the midst of completing their PT/PTA education.

An Endorsement Candidate is a person who is licensed in another state already and it looking to get a Nevada license.

Applications can be submitted online here:New Applicants

The licensing process takes 5-7 business days once a full application is received and completed with all requirements.

The NPTE may be taken once the Nevada Physical Therapy Board authorizes you. Applicants must have the completed application and all required documents.

Foreign trained PTs may get licensed in Nevada.  However, they must follow and complete the foreign trained application

No.

Foreign trained PTs practicing in the U.S. seeking a license in the State of Nevada must still apply as foreign trained.

Foreign trained applicants need to get credentialed through FCCPT.

If you cannot resolve a problem and you believe that the issue of concern is a violation of the Nevada Physical Therapy Board Practice Act, you may File a Complaint  with the Board.  

The complaint must allege one or more of the grounds listed in NRS 640.160 and must contain a statement of facts showing that a provision of this chapter of the Board’s regulations have been violated.

The Board reviews each complaint. If a complaint shows a substantial violation, the Executive Director will designate an investigator to conduct an investigation of the complaint.   

Complaints must be in writing and may be filed anonymously.  If a complaint is filed anonymously, the Board may accept the complaint but may refuse to consider the complaint if anonymity of the complainant makes processing the complaint impossible or unfair to the person who is the subject of the complaint.

No. The Nevada Physical Therapy Board (NVPTB) does not have the authority to award financial compensation to a consumer as part of its disciplinary process. The Board conducts administrative hearings under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 640 and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 640, which focus on determining disciplinary actions for violations of professional standards. These are not civil proceedings, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over financial settlements or damages. If you are seeking compensation for damages, you must pursue a civil case independently of the NVPTB’s disciplinary process. The NVPTB’s role is to ensure that licensees adhere to professional standards and protect public safety, with findings made publicly available for consumer awareness.