When you see a physical therapist, you trust them with your health. The physical therapy code of ethics defines what that trust requires. It sets the ethical rules every licensed PT in the United States must follow.
Keith Chan, a New York State licensed physical therapist at ITNYCPT in New York City, works within this framework with every patient he treats.
Key Takeaways
- The APTA establishes the physical therapy ethical code and is binding on every licensed physical therapist in the United States, whether or not they are APTA members.
- As of January 1, 2026, a single unified code replaced two separate documents, bringing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants under the same ethical framework for the first time.
- The code is organized around eight principles that cover patient dignity, informed consent, clinical accountability, professional integrity, legal compliance, ongoing learning, ethical business conduct, and community responsibility.
- PT ethics is grounded in the same five principles used across all health care professions: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity.
- Patients who believe their physical therapist has violated the code can file a complaint with their state physical therapy licensing board or find contact information through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy at fsbpt.org.
What Is the Physical Therapy Code of Ethics?
The PT ethical code is a formal code of conduct for all licensed physical therapists. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) created it through its House of Delegates to reflect the values of the physical therapy profession as a whole. It applies to every licensed PT in the country, including those who are not APTA members.
Understanding the purpose of physical therapy helps put the code in context: the code exists for five core reasons:
- It defines ethical principles for PT practice.
- It sets standards for accountability.
- It guides therapists when they face difficult ethical decisions.
- It tells the public what to expect from a PT.
- It sets criteria for deciding when a PT has acted unethically.
The APTA Ethical Code: Origin, Updates, and Who It Covers
The American Physical Therapy Association’s code of ethics was built by its House of Delegates. A state license is what creates the ethical obligation, not APTA membership.
What Changed with the APTA Code of Ethics in 2026
In 2025, the APTA House of Delegates adopted a new document: the ethical code for the Physical Therapy Profession. It replaced two older documents, one for PTs and one for PTAs. The new unified code took effect on January 1, 2026.
The 7 APTA Core Values Behind the Code
The code’s principles are built on core values. These are: accountability, altruism, compassion and caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility. The 2026 code adds collaboration as an eighth. These values explain why each principle exists.
Physical Therapy Ethical Code Principles: All 8 Explained
The code has eight principles. Each one covers a specific ethical duty.
- Principle 1: Respect for the Dignity of Every Patient. PTs must treat every person with respect, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or health status. They must also examine their own biases and keep them out of clinical decisions.
- Principle 2: Compassion and Patient-Centered Decision Making. PTs must put each patient’s needs first. They must give honest information, support informed decisions, and protect patient confidentiality.
- Principle 3: Accountability and Sound Clinical Judgment. PTs are responsible for every clinical decision. They must stay within their scope, refer out when needed, and avoid conflicts of interest.
- Principle 4: Integrity in All Professional Relationships. PTs must be honest with patients, families, colleagues, employers, and payers. They cannot make false claims about their credentials or services.
- Principle 5: Legal and Professional Obligations. PTs must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. They must keep their license current, report unethical conduct when required, and cooperate with any investigation.
- Principle 6: Lifelong Learning and Professional Development. PTs must keep their knowledge current—the evidence base in physical therapy is constantly evolving. Using outdated methods is not just a training gap – it is an ethical one.
- Principle 7: Ethical Organizational and Business Conduct. PTs must support business practices that serve patients. They must not engage in billing fraud or allow financial pressure to override clinical judgment.
- Principle 8: Commitment to Broader Community Health. PTs have duties beyond their clinic. The code asks them to support access to care, reduce health gaps, and contribute to public health efforts.
How the Code of Ethics Compares to Broader Healthcare Ethics
Ethics for the physical therapy profession connects to broader health care ethics. The five core principles used across all health care fields are:
- Autonomy – patients have the right to make their own decisions
- Beneficence – act in the patient’s best interest
- Non-maleficence – avoid harm
- Justice – provide fair access to care
- Fidelity – be honest and keep commitments
The APTA code reflects all five. The PT ethical code applies to the specific work of physical therapy.
What the Code of Ethics Means in Practice
If you are new to PT and want a broader picture of what physical therapy involves, that context can help you understand why these ethical standards matter in practice.
Keith Chan describes the code as something that shows up in everyday clinical work. Getting informed consent, being honest about outcomes, documenting accurately, and knowing when to refer out are all expressions of the code.
You have the right to honest information, to be involved in your care decisions, and to confidentiality. If those expectations are not being met, you can ask questions and expect clear answers.
