Who Must Register
Who Must Register
Types of facilities that must register include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- An outpatient clinic where a PT or OT operates a private practice.
- The office of a physician, chiropractor or other practitioner where occupational or physical therapy services take place.
- A child or adult day care center or other facility that does not hold a license under Subtitle B, Title 4, Health and Safety Code. A license under another section of state law does not exempt a facility from registration.
- A hospital outpatient facility that offers offsite outpatient PT or OT services (Reference: Sections of DSHS rules regarding what is covered in a hospital license).
- A nursing facility or assisted living facility that offers PT or OT services to non-residents.
- Any other practice setting that does not meet one of the requirements for exemption.
What Type of Facility is Exempt?
The following types of facilities are exempt from the registration requirement:
- Home health settings - where services are provided in the home of the patient, whether through a home health agency, or otherwise.
- Educational institutions - schools, colleges, universities, and ECI
- Facilities licensed under Subtitle B, Title 4, of the Health and Safety Code. The facility must possess a license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to be exempt under this provision. Medicare or Medicaid certification is not the equivalent of licensure. Types of exempt facilities include:
- hospitals, convalescent and nursing homes, acute care facilities and skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, birthing centers, abortion, continuing care, personal care, and special care facilities (DSHS licensure)
- assisted living facilities, hospices, daycare facilities, and home health agencies (DADS licensure)
"Exempt" Facilities That Must Register under Certain Conditions
- Hospital Outpatient Facilities - If a hospital owns an offsite (off-premise) outpatient-only facility that offers physical therapy or occupational therapy, that facility must be registered. Licensure by the DSHS does not include offsite or off-premise facilities providing outpatient PT or OT services. See the DSHS Health Facility home page for more information.
- NLFs/ALFs - If a Nursing Facility or Assisted Living Facility provides outpatient PT or OT services, it must register with the Board. DADS licenses and regulates facilities with respect to the care and treatment of permanent residents only, and does not regulate care provided to outpatients. If services are provided to residents only, the facility does not need to register with the OT or PT Board. See DADS Provider Letter PL 2008-17 at the DADS provider resources page.
FAQs
A nursing facility (or assisted living facility) wants to contract with me for services; do I need to register the facility?
If you are providing services to residents of a nursing home or assisted living facility, you do not need to register that facility. However, if the nursing home or assisted living facility also provides treatment to outpatients, you must register the nursing home or assisted living facility with the Board.
Do I need to register the public pool where I provide aquatic therapy?
Yes, if physical and/or occupational therapy services take place at that physical site on a regular basis. During the hours of aquatic therapy, you must display the facility registration and the public complaint notice.
What about a CORF?
A Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF), Community Mental Health Facility, or other facility that is not licensed under Subtitle B, Title 4, Health and Safety Code. Medicare certification or other approval by a federal funding source does not exempt a facility from registration.
