CurrentPT, Physical therapist
Topical and administered medications
Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.
At a glance
- DC, ChiropractorChiropractorNot typicalChiropractic laws generally exclude prescribing, dispensing and administering drugs.
- PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapistVaries by stateSome states let physical therapists apply prescribed topical medications, including by iontophoresis or phonophoresis, under a prescription or standing order; others do not address it, so it depends on the state.
- PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistantNot yet covered
- OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapistVaries by stateSome states let occupational therapists purchase, store and administer prescribed topical medications, including by iontophoresis, but never controlled substances; elsewhere the law is silent.
- OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistantNot yet covered
- AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainerVaries by stateAthletic trainers administer medications only under physician direction or specific state laws, such as Rhode Island's requirement that they carry an epinephrine auto-injector; the details differ by state.
- LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapistNot typicalMassage laws exclude dispensing, applying or prescribing pharmaceutical agents.
- CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialistNot yet covered
- CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainerNot yet covered
What it is
Some clinicians can apply a medication a doctor has prescribed, such as an anti-inflammatory gel or a steroid delivered through the skin with a small electrical current, or give emergency medicine like an epinephrine auto-injector. This is different from prescribing, which these professions generally cannot do.
Names across professions
| Profession | Term in practice acts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist | Iontophoresis; phonophoresis | Delivering topical medication with electrical current or ultrasound |
| Occupational therapist | Topical and transdermal medications | The term in Washington's occupational therapy law |
| Athletic trainer | Epinephrine auto-injector | Required for athletic trainers in Rhode Island |
What the bodies say
Check your state
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Get licensed links to the board for each profession in each state, so you can read its rules or ask it directly.
Go to Get licensedState-by-state detail
This topic varies enough between states to warrant a state table, with the statute and board for each cell.