What Can a Physical Therapy Aide Do? The Rules in Every State

A physical therapy aide, or tech, can help with care in most states, but only with the supervising therapist close by and only with routine tasks the therapist sets up. In 43 of the 51 jurisdictions the rules require the PT or PTA to be on site, and 14 of those want them in the same treatment area, in the room or within sight. Where states differ most is how much hands-on care an aide may give, whether a PTA may be the supervisor, and how many aides one therapist can oversee.

This article goes through every state and DC: what aides may do, how close the supervisor has to be, whether a PTA can supervise, and the rule it all comes from, linked to the official source. I'm an occupational therapist, not a PT, so I've stayed with what the rules say. I've written it with home health in mind, where the question usually comes down to whether the agency can send an aide.

This isn't legal advice. I checked every rule on November 9, 2026, on the state's own legislature, code or board site. Your board's current rule is the one that counts.

The Short Answer

• Hands-on help with treatment, under supervision: 37 jurisdictions. The aide carries out routine parts of a plan the PT made. Some list exactly which tasks are allowed (Delaware, Maryland) or which are banned (Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Wyoming).
• Support or a second pair of hands only: 9. Georgia, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Utah keep aides to preparation, transport, set-up and helping a licensee who is treating the same patient. New York's board FAQ says the same.
• No specific aide rule: 5. Connecticut, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri and South Dakota. New York's law is silent too; its board answers the question in an FAQ.
• How close the supervisor must be: in the room or within sight or earshot in 6 (Kentucky, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wyoming); in the treatment area or right next to the aide in 8; somewhere on site in 29; not set in 8.
• Can a PTA supervise? Yes in 28. Only in narrow cases in 6. The law names only the PT in 8, and Nevada bans it outright. The other 8 don't say.
• Ratios: 21 states set a number that counts aides, from one aide on patient tasks in California to six people in Louisiana. Florida, North Carolina and Texas leave it to the PT.
• Home health: no state's rules let an aide give therapy alone in a patient's home. North Carolina, North Dakota and Vermont allow an aide off site only alongside a licensee with a specific patient.
• Medicare: aide services are not therapy and are not billable as therapy. A Medicare home health aide is a different role with its own federal training and supervision rules.

Every State at a Glance

No specific rule means the act and rules have nothing on aides; the row cites the section that bars unlicensed practice. Not stated means the rule doesn't say whether a PTA may supervise. Each citation links to the official source I read.

What Aides Can and Can't Do

States that list banned tasks

Some boards name what an aide may never do. These lists are worth reading even if you practice elsewhere, because they show where boards draw the line.

• Oregon bans 15 treatment tasks, including "Administer mechanized or manual traction," "Perform manual stretching with the goal of increasing range of motion, neuro-facilitation or cardiac therapeutic exercise," "Wound debridement," "Joint mobilization or manipulation" and "Instruct a patient or a patient's caregiver in the application of any treatment." An aide also may not "Initiate or administer a physical therapy intervention the first time that intervention is administered or provided to a patient." Ultrasound and electrotherapy are allowed only if the PT or PTA "has examined the patient in person on the day of treatment and determined the treatment protocols and parameters." (OAR 848-020-0060 (opens in a new tab))
• Wyoming copies much of Oregon's list, and adds that the PT or PTA "shall not delegate the following tasks to an aide unless specific treatment protocol and parameters have been defined by the physical therapist," naming iontophoresis, phonophoresis, electrotherapy and ultrasound. (Wyo. Bd. of PT Rules ch. 7, §6 (opens in a new tab))
• New Jersey goes further. A PT "shall not authorize or permit an unlicensed person to engage in the following activities: 1) Advise, teach, or instruct patients concerning their condition or disability; 2) Carry out testing or evaluation procedures; 3) Make any notations in documents regarding patient care or clinical treatment, which is not permitted by (a) above; 4) Place or remove electrodes of any kind on the skin; 5) Administer, apply, or remove any modalities; 6) Instruct, perform, oversee, or supervise therapeutic exercise(s) and/ or therapeutic activity(s); and 7) Provide therapeutic massage." What's left is cleaning, office work, transport, positioning, and helping patients dress. (N.J.A.C. 13:39A-2.4(b) (opens in a new tab), the board's own rules PDF, revised 9/07/2021, in the web archive; the official code is online only in LexisNexis's viewer)
• Colorado: "Wound care/debridement, dry needling, administration of medications, joint mobilization, and treatment on animals shall not be delegated to a physical therapy aide." (4 CCR 732-1, Rule 1.5(B) (opens in a new tab))
• Texas: an aide may not "perform any evaluative or assessment activities," may not "initiate physical therapy treatment, to include exercise instruction," and may not write or sign documents in the permanent record. (22 TAC §322.2(c)(3) (opens in a new tab))

States with a closed list

Delaware and Maryland list what aides may do, and everything else is out.

• Delaware: "Treatments which may be performed by support personnel under direct supervision are: 6.1.1 Ambulation 6.1.2 Functional activities 6.1.3 Transfers 6.1.4 Routine follow-up of specific exercises 6.1.5 Hot or cold packs 6.1.6 Whirlpool/Hubbard tank 6.1.7 Contrast bath 6.1.8 Infrared 6.1.9 Paraffin bath 6.1.10 Ultra sound." Support personnel may not perform "Treatments other than those listed in subsection 6.1." (24 Del. Admin. Code 2600-6.0 (opens in a new tab))
• Maryland has a similar list of ten, but every item starts with "assist," such as "Assist in the practice of gait and ambulation" and "Assist in the application of hot or cold packs." And: "Treatments other than those listed in Regulation .03 of this chapter may not be performed by aides." (COMAR 10.38.04.03 (opens in a new tab), .04 (opens in a new tab))

Delaware allows ultrasound on its list. Oregon allows it only after the PT or PTA has examined the patient that day, and Wyoming only with protocols the PT has set. That's a good example of why the state matters.

A second pair of hands

Nine states keep the aide beside the licensee, helping, not treating.

• Ohio defines unlicensed personnel as someone who helps "by personally assisting the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, student physical therapist and/or student physical therapist assistant while the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, student physical therapist, and/or student physical therapist assistant is concurrently providing services to the same patient." (Ohio Adm.Code 4755:2-2-02 (opens in a new tab)) The board's Q&A puts it plainly: the rule limits aides to "a second pair of hands on the same patient," and "It is not intended that unlicensed personnel provide a component of physical therapy treatment to patient A while the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant treats patient B or performs other activities (e.g.: documentation)." (OTPTAT Board, PT scope of practice Q&A (opens in a new tab), board statement)
• Georgia: "Supportive activities or patient care tasks do not include the direct provision of any patient intervention, but do include only assisting a patient in preparation for treatment by a licensee, assisting a patient after cessation of treatment by a licensee, or assisting the licensee during treatment provided by that licensee. Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are the only providers of physical therapy." (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 490-8-.03(b) (opens in a new tab))
• Montana limits aides to "preparing a patient for treatment by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant," "providing unskilled aid to a patient after treatment by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant," and "assisting a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant when safety or patient care requires a second person's assistance." (ARM 24.119.1001(2) (opens in a new tab))
• Utah: "A physical therapy aide may not engage in the practice of physical therapy," but may give "routine assistance" while a PT or PTA practices. Routine assistance includes "elementary and direct patient care that the patient and the patient's family members could reasonably be expected to learn and perform." (Utah Code §58-24b-401(3) (opens in a new tab); R156-24b-102(10) (opens in a new tab))
• New York's law doesn't mention aides. The board's FAQ says "Aides may perform non-patient related activities such as secretarial, clerical and housekeeping tasks. Additionally, aides may act as an extra set of hands for the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is actually providing the treatment." (NYSED FAQ, question 4 (opens in a new tab), board FAQ, reading Educ. Law §6732 (opens in a new tab))

Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are in this group too (see the table).

How Close the Supervisor Has to Be

The words differ, but they fall into four levels.

• In the room or within sight: New Hampshire is the strictest. Its rule defines direct personal supervision as "supervision during which the supervisor is physically present in the room and observes, directs, and supervises tasks related to client management continuously throughout the time that the tasks are performed." (Phy 401.08 (opens in a new tab)) Kentucky requires "line of sight direction and supervision the majority of the time per visit for each patient when these tasks are performed," and "Supervision is not provided by electronic communication." (201 KAR 22:001 §1(6) (opens in a new tab)) Rhode Island says a PTA supervising an aide "must be on the premises, in line-of-sight, and immediately available." (216-RICR-40-05-13, §13.5.6(C) (opens in a new tab)) West Virginia's treatment area is "the area within the physical therapist's direct line of sight or within audible distance of the physical therapist." (W. Va. Code R. §16-1-2.8 (opens in a new tab)) Oregon and Wyoming want the supervisor in the same building and "within sight or earshot" for treatment tasks (OAR 848-020-0000(5) (opens in a new tab)).
• In the treatment area or right beside the aide: California requires the PT to be "in the same facility as the aide and in immediate proximity to the location where the aide is performing patient related tasks." (16 CCR §1399(c)(3)(D) (opens in a new tab)) Texas says a PT or PTA must "remain within reasonable proximity during the aide's interaction with the patient." (22 TAC §322.3(c) (opens in a new tab)) Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Ohio are in this group too.
• On site: 29 states put the supervisor on the premises, in the building, or in the department or facility.
• Not set: the 5 states with no aide rule, plus Indiana, New Jersey and New York.

Idaho's rule says on site, but the board's guidance adds: "The physical therapist must be on premises and immediately available to provide support. This level of supervision is often also considered line of sight supervision." (Idaho PT Board, Guidance Document on Supervision (opens in a new tab), board statement, reading IDAPA 24.13.01.200.04 (opens in a new tab))

Video doesn't count in most states that mention it. Texas: "Telehealth is a mode for providing one-on-one physical therapy services to a patient/client and is not a means for supervision of physical therapy aides." (22 TAC §322.5(h) (opens in a new tab)) West Virginia: "Telehealth services cannot be used for supervision of physical therapy aides." (W. Va. Code R. §16-1-13.10 (opens in a new tab)) Colorado is the exception I found. Its direct supervision can mean the PT "is virtually present synchronously through secure telehealth communications during a telehealth visit." (4 CCR 732-1, Rule 1.4(A)(2) (opens in a new tab))

Can a PTA Supervise the Aide?

In most states the answer is yes, and the rule says so in plain words. Tennessee's is typical: services are provided "under the supervision of an on-site physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed and practicing in Tennessee." (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1150-01-.02(2)(b) (opens in a new tab))

The exceptions:

• Nevada bans it. A PTA shall not "Supervise another physical therapist assistant or a physical therapist technician in the performance of a treatment related to physical therapy." (NAC 640.596(1)(d) (opens in a new tab))
• The law names only the PT in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arizona's is clear: an aide works "only under the on-site supervision of a licensed physical therapist." (A.R.S. §32-2043(C) (opens in a new tab))
• Only in narrow cases: West Virginia allows it "only in emergency situations or to assure patient or provider safety" (W. Va. Code R. §16-1-10.5 (opens in a new tab)). Louisiana lets a PTA use a tech "for physical assistance without the physical therapist on premises," but only "To ensure the safety and welfare of a patient during ambulation, transfers, or functional activities" (La. Admin. Code tit. 46, pt. LIV, §335(A)(3) (opens in a new tab)). Maryland lets an aide "Assist a physical therapist assistant when more than one individual is required to ensure the safety and welfare of the patient during ambulation, transfers, or functional activities without direct supervision" (COMAR 10.38.04.02A(2)(c) (opens in a new tab)). Iowa, North Dakota and Vermont are in this group too.
• The PTA's limit can be lower than the PT's. In Montana, "A licensed assistant may not concurrently supervise more than one full-time aide or the equivalent." (MCA 37-11-105(3) (opens in a new tab)) In Wyoming, "A physical therapist assistant may supervise no more than two (2) physical therapy aides." (Wyo. Bd. of PT Rules ch. 7, §7 (opens in a new tab))

How Many Aides One PT Can Supervise

Twenty-one states set a number that counts aides. A few of the limits:

• California, the lowest: "A physical therapist may utilize the services of one aide engaged in patient-related tasks to aid the physical therapist in his or her practice of physical therapy." (Bus. & Prof. Code §2622(c) (opens in a new tab))
• Washington: "at any one time, the physical therapist may supervise up to a total of three assistive personnel," and at three, "no more than one of the assistive personnel may be a physical therapy aide." In nursing homes and public schools the total is two. (RCW 18.74.180(3) (opens in a new tab))
• Two aides at a time: Georgia allows "a maximum of two (2) physical therapy aides" per licensee (490-8-.02(c) (opens in a new tab)), and Tennessee "the equivalent of two (2) full-time assistive personnel or physical therapy aides" (1150-01-.02(2)(c) (opens in a new tab)). Nevada and Oregon also allow two aides at a time.
• Three, combined with others: Alaska, Arizona, DC, Michigan, North Dakota, Utah and Vermont.
• Four, combined: Colorado, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Montana allows four aides, or two PTAs and two aides.
• More: Wyoming allows five personnel with no more than three aides. Louisiana allows six people. New Mexico caps aides at 120 combined hours a week.
• Up to the therapist: Florida, North Carolina and Texas. Florida's rule says the number "shall be determined by the physical therapist dependent upon the individual practice setting, and the individual therapeutic needs of the patients." (Fla. Admin. Code r. 64B17-6.007(8) (opens in a new tab))

Each state's ratio is in the rule linked in its table row.

Aides in Home Health and Other Off-Site Settings

This is the question I hear most from agencies. Most state rules were written for clinics, and they put the supervisor on site, in the building or in the treatment area. A patient's home has no PT on the premises unless one is on the visit. So in nearly every state with a rule, an aide can't make a therapy visit alone.

Three states spell out when an aide may leave the building:

• North Carolina: "A physical therapy aide must work under the supervision of a licensee who is present in the facility. This may extend to an off-site setting only when the physical therapy aide is accompanying and working directly with a licensee with a specific patient." And: "A physical therapy aide must not be independently responsible for a patient caseload." (21 NCAC 48C .0402 (opens in a new tab))
• North Dakota: "A physical therapy aide shall work under the direct supervision of a physical therapist. This supervision may extend to general supervision of the physical therapy aide only when the physical therapy aide is accompanying and working directly with a physical therapist assistant with a specific patient or when performing non-patient-related tasks." (N.D.C.C. §43-26.1-11(4)(b) (opens in a new tab))
• Vermont: "This supervision by the physical therapist may extend to off-site supervision of the aide only when the physical therapy aide is accompanying and working directly with a physical therapist assistant with a specific patient or when performing nonpatient-related tasks." (26 V.S.A. §2086(c)(2) (opens in a new tab))

Louisiana says its rule reaches home health. A practice setting includes "the delivery of home healthcare," and "In all practice settings, during the provision of physical therapy services, the supervising PT shall provide continuous, in-person supervision of the physical therapy technician." (La. Admin. Code tit. 46, pt. LIV, §§123, 335 (opens in a new tab))

Some states separate the PT aide from the aides who already work in home health and long-term care:

• Delaware: "A Physical Therapist may develop a physical therapy home health plan of care and a home health aide plan of care relating to physical therapy; however, the home health care aide or certified nurse's aide must be under the supervision of the nurse employed by the home health agency." (24 Del. Admin. Code 2600-6.4 (opens in a new tab))
• Colorado: the PT gives "General supervision to a certified nurse aide in a home health care setting, as part of a physical therapist plan of care," but "Direct supervision to a physical therapy aide." (4 CCR 732-1, Rule 1.5(A)(3) (opens in a new tab))
• Oregon and Wyoming exclude "Nurses aides, restorative aides or personal care assistants" from the definition of a physical therapist aide. (OAR 848-020-0000(1) (opens in a new tab))
• Alaska's rules say that, under the act, physical therapy "does not include exercise or activities performed by non-licensed personnel in a home or school setting for the benefit of a patient or student." (12 AAC 54.590(b) (opens in a new tab))
• Rhode Island lets supportive personnel carry out programs "designed and supervised by the physical therapist" in long-term care, facilities for the developmentally impaired, and certified school settings, with on-site checks "no less than monthly by the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant for supportive personnel." (216-RICR-40-05-13, §13.4.7(A)(5) (opens in a new tab))
• Ohio's board says "A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may provide administrative oversight of an unlicensed aide who is providing restorative or maintenance care in a nursing home after the termination of a physical therapy plan of care." (OTPTAT Board, PT scope of practice Q&A (opens in a new tab), board statement)

Training and Paperwork

Most states leave training to the PT, but a few spell it out:

• Oregon requires "40 hours of on-the-job training" before an aide does any treatment task, including at least 10 hours on ethics, confidentiality, universal precautions, body mechanics, terminology and safety. The training record stays at the facility for five years. (OAR 848-020-0040 (opens in a new tab))
• California: "Prior to the aide providing patient related care, a physical therapist shall evaluate and document, the aide's competency level for performing the patient related task that the aide will provide in that setting." (16 CCR §1399(b) (opens in a new tab))
• Kentucky: "Scope of training and competency for supportive personnel shall be documented and verified at least annually." (201 KAR 22:053 §4(4)(a) (opens in a new tab))
• Rhode Island: "When supervising supportive personnel, the physical therapist shall provide a written plan(s) for the training and supervision of supportive personnel." (216-RICR-40-05-13, §13.4.7(B) (opens in a new tab))
• Records: several states limit what aides may write. Maine: "Physical therapy aides may only document subjective reports by patients and actual treatment given to the patient." (02-393 C.M.R. ch. 4, §2(D) (opens in a new tab)) DC and Iowa require the PT to co-sign aide documentation.
• Name tags: California, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming require aides to wear identification, and Pennsylvania requires them to tell patients they are supportive personnel.

States With No Aide Rule

Connecticut, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri and South Dakota have nothing specific on aides in the PT act or rules. Connecticut has no PT regulations in force at all. Hawaii's rules use "support or auxiliary personnel," but define it as "a temporary physical therapist licensee or a physical therapy student who performs duties delegated by a supervising physical therapist" (HAR §16-110-1 (opens in a new tab)), which leaves aides out. Mississippi mentions aides only once, in the PTA's list of roles: "To supervise other supportive personnel as charged by the physical therapist." (30 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 3103, R. 8.1 (opens in a new tab))

Two more come close. Indiana defines an aide and bars delegating "any service that requires the skill, knowledge, and judgment of the licensed physical therapist" (842 IAC 1-6-2(g) (opens in a new tab)), but sets no supervision level for aides. New Jersey lists what aides may and may not do but sets no supervision level.

In these states the general rules still apply. Only licensees may practice physical therapy, and the supervising PT is responsible for anything an aide does under their direction.

Medicare: Aide Services Aren't Therapy

State law decides what an aide may do. Medicare decides what it will pay for, and the answer for aides is nothing billed as therapy. This is a payment rule, separate from the state rules above.

For outpatient therapy under Part B, the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, §230.1(C) (opens in a new tab) says:

Services provided by aides, even if under the supervision of a therapist, are not therapy services and are not covered by Medicare. Although an aide may help the therapist by providing unskilled services, those services that are unskilled are not covered by Medicare and shall be denied as not reasonable and necessary if they are billed as therapy services.

The OT and speech sections of the same chapter say the same thing about aides.

A Medicare home health aide is a different job. Under 42 CFR 484.80 (opens in a new tab), the home health condition of participation, a qualified home health aide has completed "A training and competency evaluation program" or one of the other approved routes, and "Classroom and supervised practical training must total at least 75 hours." The aide is assigned to a patient "by a registered nurse or other appropriate skilled professional, with written patient care instructions for a home health aide prepared by that registered nurse or other appropriate skilled professional (that is, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, or occupational therapist)." Their duties include "The performance of simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services" and "Assistance in ambulation or exercises." When the patient also gets skilled services, a nurse or other skilled professional "must complete a supervisory assessment of the aide services being provided no less frequently than every 14 days."

So a PT in home health can write a home health aide's care plan, including exercises, and can make the aide's supervisory visit for a therapy-only patient. But those aide visits are home health aide services, not physical therapy visits. Our guides to home health aide certification by state and supervisory visit requirements cover that side.

If You Staff Home Health Therapy

None of this is legal advice. It is what the rules above have in common, put as steps.

1. Don't send a PT aide on a therapy visit alone. Nearly every state with a rule puts the supervisor on site or within sight, and a home visit has no PT on the premises.
2. If you use an aide on a visit, the licensee goes too. North Carolina, North Dakota and Vermont allow this in so many words, and Louisiana and Maryland allow a PTA to use an aide for physical help with transfers and walking. Elsewhere, read your rule's supervision words before you assume.
3. Check whether your PTAs may supervise. In Nevada a PTA may not, and in eight states the law names only the PT.
4. Don't bill aide time as therapy. Medicare won't pay for it as therapy, whatever state law allows.
5. Use the home health aide rules for home health aides. If your agency's aides are certified home health aides, the PT can write their plan of care, but they follow 42 CFR 484.80 and your state's home health aide rules, not the PT aide rule.
6. Write down the training. Even where the state doesn't require it, a record of what each aide was taught and checked on protects the PT whose license is on the line.
7. When in doubt, ask your board. Our licensure compact tool links each state's PT board.

Key Takeaways

• In 37 jurisdictions, aides may help with treatment, but only routine parts of a plan the PT made.
• Nine keep aides to support or a second pair of hands. Five have no specific aide rule.
• 43 jurisdictions require the supervisor on site, and 14 of them want the PT or PTA in the treatment area, in the room or within sight.
• PTAs may supervise aides in 28 jurisdictions. Nevada bans it, and eight name only the PT.
• No state's rules let an aide give therapy alone in a patient's home. North Carolina, North Dakota and Vermont allow an aide off site only with a licensee and a specific patient.
• Medicare doesn't pay for aide services as therapy, and a Medicare home health aide is a separate role.
• This isn't legal advice. I checked these rules on November 9, 2026, and your board's current rule is the one that counts.

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapy aide work alone in a patient's home?

Not to provide therapy, in any state I checked. Almost every state with an aide rule requires the supervising PT or PTA to be on site, in the building or within sight. Three states say outright when an aide may go off site: North Carolina and Vermont allow it only when the aide is with a licensee and a specific patient, and North Dakota only when the aide is working directly with a PTA and a specific patient. A home health aide is a different job, trained and supervised under Medicare's home health aide rules.

Can a PTA supervise a physical therapy aide?

In most states, yes. The rules in 28 jurisdictions name the PTA as a supervisor, and 6 more allow it in narrow cases, such as an emergency or a second pair of hands. Eight name only the physical therapist, and Nevada bans it outright: a PTA may not supervise a physical therapist technician. The other 8 don't say.

Can Medicare be billed for services a PT aide provides?

No. The Medicare Benefit Policy Manual says services provided by aides, even under a therapist's supervision, are not therapy services and are not covered, and that unskilled services billed as therapy are denied as not reasonable and necessary. State law may let an aide help, but Medicare won't pay for that help as therapy.

How many aides can one physical therapist supervise?

It depends on the state. 21 set a number that counts aides, from one aide on patient-related tasks in California to six people in Louisiana. Washington caps a PT at three assistive personnel, and only one of them may be an aide when the PT is at three. Florida, North Carolina and Texas leave the number to the therapist's judgment, and the rest set no aide ratio.

Is a home health aide the same as a physical therapy aide?

No. A Medicare home health aide finishes a training and competency program of at least 75 hours, is assigned to a patient by a registered nurse or a therapist with written instructions, and gets a supervisory visit at least every 14 days when the patient also gets skilled care. A PT aide is trained on the job and works under the state's PT aide rule, usually with the PT or PTA on site. Oregon and Wyoming say outright that nurses aides and restorative aides are not physical therapy aides.

Sources

Every state's rule is linked in the table, to the state's legislature, its official administrative code publisher or its PT board. All were read on November 9, 2026.

• CMS, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15 (opens in a new tab), §230.1(C) (physical therapy), with the same aide text in §§230.2 and 230.3.
• eCFR, 42 CFR 484.80 (opens in a new tab), Condition of participation: Home health aide services, paragraphs (a), (b), (g) and (h).
• Board statements cited above: the Ohio OTPTAT Board's PT scope of practice Q&A (opens in a new tab), the Idaho PT Board's Guidance Document on Supervision (opens in a new tab) (November 18, 2025), and NYSED's FAQ for Physical Therapy (opens in a new tab).
• Related reading: supervising PT and PTA students, the other supervision question in this series.