Section 10. Definitions  


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  • Part I. General Provisions

    In addition to the words and terms defined in § 54.1-3473 of the Code of Virginia, the following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

    "Active practice" means a minimum of 160 hours of professional practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant within the 24-month period immediately preceding renewal. Active practice may include supervisory, administrative, educational or consultative activities or responsibilities for the delivery of such services.

    "Approved program" means an educational program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

    "CLEP" means the College Level Examination Program.

    "Contact hour" means 60 minutes of time spent in continuing learning activity exclusive of breaks, meals or vendor exhibits.

    "Direct supervision" means a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant is physically present and immediately available and is fully responsible for the physical therapy tasks or activities being performed.

    "Discharge" means the discontinuation of interventions in an episode of care that have been provided in an unbroken sequence in a single practice setting and related to the physical therapy interventions for a given condition or problem.

    "Evaluation" means a process in which the physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data gathered during an examination or screening in order to plan and implement a treatment intervention, provide preventive care, reduce risks of injury and impairment, or provide for consultation.

    "FCCPT" means the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy.

    "FSBPT" means the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

    "General supervision" means a physical therapist shall be available for consultation.

    "National examination" means the examinations developed and administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and approved by the board for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

    "PRT" means the Practice Review Tool for competency assessment developed and administered by FSBPT.

    "Reevaluation" means a process in which the physical therapist makes clinical judgments based on data gathered during an examination or screening in order to determine a patient's response to the treatment plan and care provided.

    "Support personnel" means a person who is performing designated routine tasks related to physical therapy under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant within the scope of this chapter.

    "TOEFL" means the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

    "Trainee" means a person seeking licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is undergoing a traineeship.

    "Traineeship" means a period of active clinical practice during which an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant works under the direct supervision of a physical therapist approved by the board.

    "TSE" means the Test of Spoken English.

    "Type 1" means continuing learning activities offered by an approved organization as specified in 18VAC112-20-131.

    "Type 2" means continuing learning activities which may or may not be offered by an approved organization but shall be activities considered by the learner to be beneficial to practice or to continuing learning.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 16, Issue 25, eff. September 27, 2000; amended, Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 25, eff. September 12, 2001; Volume 19, Issue 01, eff. October 23, 2002; Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; Volume 25, Issue 26, eff. September 30, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 21, eff. July 17, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3474 of the Code of Virginia.