New York Physical Therapy Liability & Malpractice Insurance
New York caps treatment without a referral at 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first, and only PTs with three years of full-time practice can use it. Every direct-access patient also needs a signed coverage notice in the chart. Get an online quote for malpractice and general liability for your New York practice.
New York physical therapy liability and malpractice insurance: the 10-visit/30-day limit, 6-year records rule, fee-sharing limits and online quotes.
New York Practice Limits That Affect Your Malpractice Risk
Education Law § 6731(d) lets a licensed PT treat without a referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife for 10 visits or 30 days, provided the PT has the equivalent of at least three years of full-time practice. You must give each such patient written notice that PT may not be covered by their plan without a referral; the form is signed by both of you, one copy goes to the patient and one stays in the record. Treating past the limit or without the notice is a documentation gap a plaintiff will find.
Get pricing online for a Manhattan group clinic, an upstate solo practice or a home-care therapy team.
Malpractice (professional liability) + General Liability with optional Property & Cyber.
Flexible limits and COIs to satisfy credentialing and lease terms.
New York tip: count visits and calendar days for each direct-access patient, and have the referral in hand before visit 10 or day 30.
How much does Physical Therapy Insurance cost in
New York
$1,822
- 5 Physical Therapists
$2,970
- 10 Physical Therapists
Average Pricing for $1M/$3M Coverage Limits:
(estimates only, quote your clinic in our portal for exact pricing)
$1,098
- 2 Physical Therapists
$2,198
- 5 Physical Therapists
$3,573
- 10 Physical Therapists
Average Pricing for $2M/$4M Coverage Limits:
(estimates only, quote your clinic in our portal for exact pricing)
$1,399
- 2 Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Insurance cost varies depending on:
* Scope of services provided
* Claims-made vs. occurrence form
* Policy limits (standard limits are $1/$3M, but $100k/$300k, $250k/$500k, $500k/$1M and $2M/$4M limits available
* Prior claims history
**Note:** Rates will be underwritten for your exact situation.
New York
Physical Therapy Specific Info
New York is not a Physical Therapy Compact member, so therapists treating patients located in New York need a New York license and current registration. PTA supervision is generally on-site, and outside hospitals one PT may supervise no more than four PTAs (Education Law § 6738).
Last reviewed October 2026. Source and licensing board: NYSED Office of the Professions, Physical Therapy (op.nysed.gov/professions/physical-therapists). PTs and PTAs register every three years and must complete 36 hours of continuing education per triennial registration period from sponsors approved by the State Education Department. Hours cannot be carried into the next period (Education Law § 6742-a).
Without a referral, a New York PT with at least three years of full-time practice may treat for 10 visits or 30 days, whichever occurs first. Written notice about possible lack of insurance coverage is mandatory, and the notice signed by the PT and patient is kept in duplicate, one copy in the record (Education Law § 6731(d)).
New York is one of four states whose law prohibits PTs from performing dry needling, according to APTA's 2025 state map. Leave needling off your New York service menu and check your policy's list of excluded procedures.
New York
Physical Therapy Frequently Asked Questions
Can New York patients see a physical therapist without a referral?
Yes, for up to 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first, if the PT has practiced full time for the equivalent of at least three years. After that, a referral from a physician, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife is required (Education Law § 6731(d)).
Written notice that physical therapy may not be covered by their health plan without a referral. The form is completed in duplicate and signed by you and the patient, with one copy for the patient and one kept in the record.
What notice must I give New York direct-access patients?
How many CE hours do New York physical therapists need?
36 hours of continuing education in each three-year registration period, from sponsors approved by the State Education Department. You are exempt during your first registration period, and hours do not carry over (Education Law § 6742-a).
Can New York PTs perform dry needling?
No. APTA's 2025 map lists New York among the states whose law prohibits PT dry needling. Using needles could put both your license and your coverage at risk.
Can out-of-state PTs treat New York patients on a compact privilege?
No. New York is not a compact state. Treating a patient located in New York, including by telehealth, generally requires a New York license and current triennial registration.
How many PTAs can one New York PT supervise?
Outside hospitals, no more than four PTAs per PT, and supervision is generally on-site. Hospitals are exempt from the ratio (Education Law § 6738).
At least six years. Records of minors must be kept at least six years and until one year after the patient turns 21, whichever is longer. Not keeping an accurate record of each patient's evaluation and treatment is unprofessional conduct (8 NYCRR 29.2).
How long must New York physical therapists keep patient records?
Not safely. Abandoning or neglecting a patient who needs immediate care without reasonable arrangements for continued care, or leaving a clinic, hospital or group practice without reasonable notice in a way that seriously impairs patient care, is unprofessional conduct (8 NYCRR 29.2).
Can a New York PT end care or leave a job abruptly?
Do New York PTs need to wear an ID badge at work?
Yes, when practicing as an employee or operator of a hospital, clinic, group practice or multiprofessional facility, or at a commercial establishment offering health services. The badge must legibly show your name and authorized professional title (8 NYCRR 29.2).
Only if you also name the profession in which you hold the doctorate. Offering services as "Doctor" without indicating the profession is unprofessional conduct (8 NYCRR 29.2).
Can a New York DPT call themselves Doctor in advertising?
Do New York's visit cap, experience requirement and notice form change the coverage I should carry?
Yes. The 10-visit/30-day cap, the three-year experience requirement and the mandatory notice form are all easy to audit after a claim. Keep the signed notice, a visit count and the referral in each chart, and check that your policy includes license defense for professional misconduct proceedings.
What supervision do New York limited permit holders need?
On-site supervision, which means the supervising PT is in the same facility and readily available to the permittee (8 NYCRR 77.3, 77.8).
Can a New York PT limited permit be renewed?
Yes, for extenuating circumstances that kept the permittee from the exam or a demonstrated need for more supervised clinical training, if they keep active exam and license applications on file. Renewal is denied when a professional misconduct proceeding is pending or has a reasonable basis (8 NYCRR 77.3).
What does on-site PTA supervision mean in New York?
PTAs work under the general supervision of a New York-licensed PT. Where the law requires on-site supervision, the PT must be physically present in the same facility and readily available, with a statutory exception for maintenance programs in residential health care facilities (8 NYCRR 77.6).
Generally no. Fee sharing is limited to partners, employees, associates, same-profession subcontractors and supervised trainees, and that bar covers payments for space, facilities, equipment or personnel based on a percentage of practice income (8 NYCRR 29.1).
Can a New York PT practice pay rent as a percentage of revenue?
Is paying for patient referrals allowed in New York?
No. Directly or indirectly offering, giving, soliciting or receiving any fee or other consideration from a third party for a referral is unprofessional conduct (8 NYCRR 29.1).
What advertising rules apply to New York PTs?
Ads may not be false or misleading, guarantee a service, or make claims about services, products, prices or superiority that you can't substantiate; the licensee carries the burden of proof (8 NYCRR 29.1).
When may a New York PT share patient information?
Only with the patient's prior consent, unless the law authorizes or requires disclosure. You must also give patients, on request, copies of documents they prepared and paid for (8 NYCRR 29.1).
Scientifically accepted techniques for your profession, including gloves and hand washing between patients, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and work surfaces, and monitoring all personnel you're responsible for. Failing to follow them is unprofessional conduct (8 NYCRR 29.2).
What infection control rules apply to New York PT clinics?
No. Guaranteeing satisfaction or a cure, or ordering excessive treatment not warranted by the patient's condition, is unprofessional conduct, a point to watch in cash-pay and package pricing (8 NYCRR 29.2).
Can a New York PT promise results or recommend extra visits?
Proudly Covering
New York
Physical Therapy Clinics in:
New York City
Buffalo
Rochester
Yonkers
Syracuse
Albany
New Rochelle
Mount Vernon
Schenectady
Utica
White Plains
Hempstead
Troy
Niagara Falls
Binghamton
PT liability coverage in nearby states: New Jersey physical therapy insurance · Pennsylvania physical therapy insurance · Connecticut physical therapy insurance · Massachusetts physical therapy insurance · Vermont physical therapy insurance
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