Performance Audit and Sunset Review: Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy

Created in 1952, the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy regulates the practice of physical therapy by licensing physical therapists and certifying physical therapist assistants, registering certain physical therapy businesses, investigating complaints, and imposing discipline for violations of board statutes and rules. The Board should continue to improve its complaint resolution timeliness. Although the Board resolved the majority of the complaints it received between fiscal years 2009 and 2011 within the 180-day standard for health regulatory boards, 43 percent of the complaints took between 181 days to 18 months to be resolved. Factors contributing to lengthy complaint resolution included lengthy investigations and delays in holding formal and informal hearings. The Board has taken steps to improve complaint resolution timeliness, which it should continue to monitor.