§ 54.1-2956.5 Unlawful to practice occupational therapy without license
A. It shall be unlawful for any person not holding a current and valid license from the Board to practice occupational therapy or to claim to be an occupational therapist or to assume the title “Occupational Therapist,” “Occupational Therapist, Licensed,” “Licensed Occupational Therapist,” or any similar term, or to use the designations “O.T.” or “O.T.L.” or any variation thereof. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited educational program in occupational therapy may practice with the title “Occupational Therapist, License Applicant” or “O.T.L.-Applicant” until he has received a failing score on any examination required by the Board or until six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to practice as an occupational therapy assistant as defined in § 54.1-2900 or to hold himself out to be or advertise that he is an occupational therapy assistant or use the designation “O.T.A.” or any variation thereof unless such person holds a current and valid license from the Board to practice as an occupational therapy assistant. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited occupational therapy assistant education program may practice with the title “Occupational Therapy Assistant, License Applicant” or “O.T.A.-Applicant” until he has received a failing score on any examination required by the Board or until six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner.
History
This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 306 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1989 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1998, chapter 593; in 2000, chapter 782; in 2004, chapter 61; in 2008, chapters 64 and 89; in 2014, chapter 252.
1989, c. 306; 1998, c. 593; 2000, c. 782; 2004, c. 61; 2008, cc. 64, 89; 2014, c. 252.