Conquer the California Pharmacy Jurisprudence 2025 – Ace the CPJE Challenge!

For a Physical Therapist to initiate treatment under Direct Access in California, an in-person evaluation is required. This means that the patient must have a face-to-face appointment with the therapist before any treatment can be started. During this evaluation, the therapist assesses the patient's physical condition, which helps determine the appropriate course of treatment based on the findings.

Direct Access laws in California allow patients to receive physical therapy services without a prior referral from a physician. However, to ensure safety and efficacy, the law mandates that a thorough evaluation must be conducted in person. This is important because the therapist needs to gather pertinent information about the patient's medical history, physical impairments, and functional limitations to develop an individualized treatment plan.

While other factors such as a diagnosis, license renewal, and insurance authorization may play important roles in the overall treatment process, they do not specifically meet the requirement for initiating treatment under Direct Access. The emphasis is placed on the necessity for an in-person evaluation to ensure appropriate assessment and care.