Physical Therapy Board of California

Physical Therapist License Defense

Each year, the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) receives hundreds of complaints on physical therapist and physical therapy assistant licensees and license applicants. Most complaints come from consumers, other license holders or professionals, and other governmental agencies. Criminal convictions are by far the greatest reason for these complaints, according to the board’s most recent report. Other reasons for complaints that result in disciplinary actions include:

Sexual misconduct
Gross negligence
Repeated negligent acts
Incompetence
Aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of physical therapy
Billing fraud or dishonesty
Convictions reported to the PTBC from Department of Justice and/or other agencies

If you’re a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant facing an investigation or disciplinary proceeding before the board, our attorneys have the experience and resources to provide expert representation.

Investigation and discipline process

When the PTBC receives a complaint that warrants a formal investigation, the state’s Consumer Protection Services (CPS) program determines if the complaint falls within the PTBC’s jurisdiction and, if so, the PTBC initiates an investigation. If PTBC finds a violation, the board forwards the matter to the Office of the Attorney General Office. The attorney general may file an accusation or, in the case of an applicant, a statement of issues, which initiates a formal hearing process under the California Administrative Procedures Act.

Due to the varied and often complex nature of complaints, the board cannot specify how long an investigation will take. If you have received notice from the PTBC that a complaint was filed against you, you should anticipate that it will take several months to investigate the complaint and determine if a violation of the Physical Therapy Practice Act exists.

If the PTBC determines that a license-holder has violated the Physical Therapy Practice Act, the license-holder may be subject to a variety of disciplinary actions that include a citation and fine, probation, license suspension, and/or license revocation.

How we can help

Responding to the PTBC can be a difficult task. While each situation is unique, it is generally wise to engage counsel before submitting a response.

Even when the PTBC believes that you have violated the Physical Therapy Practice Act, our attorneys may be able to assist you in resolving matters without an accusation being filed against you. We have the experience to help physical therapists and physical therapy assistants respond to complaints and requests for information. Having a knowledgeable attorney on your side helps you provide mitigating evidence that can lead to resolution of a board investigation with the least amount of harm to your professional license and career. If an accusation or statement of issues is filed, we can help evaluate whether a reasonable settlement can be reached. If a settlement is not possible, we can aggressively defend you at a PTBC hearing.