This course provides Wisconsin physical therapists and physical therapist assistants with a comprehensive review of the laws and regulations governing PT practice in the state, including the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Practice Act, key federal laws such as HIPAA and the ADA, licensure requirements, supervision rules, and the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. The course also examines professional ethics using the 2026 APTA Code of Ethics as its foundation, exploring the nine Ethical Commitments, foundational ethical principles and theories, and real-world case studies using the RIPS Model, including emerging issues in moral distress, social media, artificial intelligence, and the care of aging and pediatric populations.
On Demand
Course Type: Text/Transcript
CEUs/Hours Offered: AK/4.0; AL/4.0; AR/4.0; AZ/4.0; CA/4.0; CO/4.0; CT/4.0; DC/4.0; DE/4.0; FL/4.0; GA/4.0; HI/4.0; IA/4.0; IACET/0.4; ID/4.0; IL/4.0; IN/4.0; KS/4.0; KY/4.0; MA/4.0; MD/4.0; ME/4.0; MI/4.0; MO/4.0; MS/4.0; MT/4.0; NC/4.0; ND/4.0; NE/4.0; NH/4.0; NY/4.0; OK/4.0; OR/4.0; PA/4.0; RI/4.0; SC/4.0; SD/4.0; TX/4.0; UT/4.0; VA/4.0; VT/4.0; WA/4.0; WI/4.0; WY/4.0
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to define ethics and distinguish it from law and professional standards, and identify core ethical principles and theories relevant to physical therapy practice.
- After this course, participants will be able to describe the nine ethical commitments, six foundational ethical principles, and enforceable standards of conduct outlined in the new APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession (effective January 1, 2026).
- After this course, participants will be able to recognize and describe both established and emerging ethical and legal issues in physical therapy practice, including HIPAA, malpractice, licensure, supervision, disciplinary action, fraud and abuse, social media, artificial intelligence, moral distress, and care of aging and pediatric populations.
- After this course, participants will be able to apply the RIPS Model of Ethical Decision-Making to analyze clinical ethical dilemmas using case studies.
- After this course, participants will be able to identify proactive strategies and key resources to avoid ethical violations in practice.
- After this course, participants will be able to identify 3-4 sources of rules and laws governing physical therapy practice in Wisconsin.
- After this course, participants will be able to explain how to access the most recent Wisconsin Physical Therapy Practice Act and apply the clinical scope of practice in Wisconsin.
- After this course, participants will be able to list the key supervision requirements for physical therapist assistants and physical therapy aides.
- After this course, participants will be able to examine the Wisconsin Practice Act to determine requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to maintain and renew their licenses, including continuing competence requirements.
Course created on May 1, 2026
Agenda
| 0-5 Minutes | Learning Outcomes and Introduction to Jurisprudence |
| 5-40 Minutes | Physical Therapy and the Law: Overview and Federal Laws (HIPAA, HITECH, Medicare, ADA, IDEA, Stark Law, and Anti-Kickback Statute) |
| 40-120 Minutes | Wisconsin Sources of Law, Rules, and Regulations Affecting PT Practice |
| 120-130 Minutes | What Is Ethics? Defining Ethics and Morality; Ethics vs. Law and Professional Standards; Why Ethics Matters; Scope of Ethical Responsibility |
| 130-145 Minutes | Foundational Ethical Principles in Physical Therapy Practice and Ethical Theories: Frameworks for Moral Reasoning |
| 145-175 Minutes | The APTA Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession |
| 175-205 Minutes | Common Ethical and Legal Issues in Physical Therapy Practice and Emerging Ethical Issues in Physical Therapy Practice |
| 205-230 Minutes | RIPS Model of Ethical Decision Making and Case Studies |
| 230-240 Minutes | Proactive Strategies, Resources, and Conclusion |
Presented By
Calista Kelly
PT, DPT, ACEEAA, Cert. MDT
Senior Strategic Content Developer
Calista holds a master’s degree in physical therapy from St. Ambrose University and a doctorate degree (DPT) from the University of Mississippi. She obtained a credentialing certificate from the McKenzie Institute in 2011 and the CEEAA credential in 2014 from the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy, an affiliate of the American Physical Therapy Association. In 2019, she completed the requirements for the Advanced Credentialed Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (ACEEAA) through the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy. Calista has been licensed as a physical therapist since 2001 and has worked as a clinician in a variety of settings, including ICU, outpatient orthopedics/sports medicine, neuro, SNF/LTC, LTACH, wound care, home health, and pediatrics. Her practice interests are spine care, jurisprudence, orthopedics, acute care, wound care, and temporomandibular disorders.
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Financial: Calista Kelly is employed by Continued.com.
Non-Financial: Calista Kelly has no non-financial disclosures.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by PhysicalTherapy.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
To ensure you are ready to participate, please complete our short Test Drive to prepare your computer to view the course.
NOTE: Full attendance for all courses is mandatory. For self-study courses, this includes reading the full text, listening to the full audio recording, or watching the complete video, as appropriate for the format of the course.
Passing an online exam and completing a course evaluation will be required to earn continuing education credit.
Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.
On-demand courses include texts, video and audio recordings of live webinars, and multimedia formats. The exam and course evaluation for on-demand courses must be completed within 30 days of course registration.
To participate in the course, complete the exam and course evaluation, and earn continuing education credit, you must be a PhysicalTherapy.com member. Participants must complete the entire course; partial credit is not allowed.
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Visit our Contact us page or give us a call if you have questions.
California
PhysicalTherapy.com is a recognized continuing competency approval agency for the Physical Therapy Board of California. This course is offered for 4.00 hours of continuing competency.
CE Broker
PhysicalTherapy.com is approved to report to CE Broker for PTs and PTAs licensed in the states of AR, AZ, FL, GA, KS, MI, MS, ND, NV, OK, SC and TN, and ATs licensed in the states of AZ, KS, LA, MI, TN, and WI. CE Provider #: 50-14089. If you are a PT/PTA or AT in one of these states, CE Broker may be of interest to you.
Washington D.C.
The District of Columbia Board of Physical Therapy (Board) has established that PhysicalTherapy.com is an approved continuing education provider for DC physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Licensees must adhere to all other continuing education regulations of the Board, including those related to online courses and content.
International Association for Continuing Education and Training
continued, LLC, DBA PhysicalTherapy.com, is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). continued complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, continued is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. continued, LLC, is authorized by IACET to offer 0.40 CEUs for this program.
IL Physical Therapy Continuing Education Sponsor
PhysicalTherapy.com is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation as a sponsor of continuing education for PTs/PTAs (Sponsor License #216000252). This course is offered for 4.00 hours (Intermediate level).
New York
PhysicalTherapy.com is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Physical Therapy as an approved provider of physical therapy and physical therapist assistant continuing education.
Oklahoma
PhysicalTherapy.com is an Approved Provider by the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision for Physical Therapists, PT CE Provider BAP202310006. This course is offered for 4.00 hours of continuing education for Oklahoma PTs/PTAs.
Texas Physical Therapy Association
This course is offered for 4.00 hours (Intermediate level) by the Texas Physical Therapy Association. The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE. The Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) administers the CCAP on behalf of the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (Provider #2706033TX).
We recognize that state CE requirements are constantly changing. If you have any questions regarding our courses and your state requirements, please contact us at 866-782-6258 or contact Customer Service.