{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2956.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2956.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2956.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2956.5.html"}],"law_id":69194,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69194,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2956.5","catch_line":"Unlawful to practice occupational therapy without license","history":"1989, c. 306; 1998, c. 593; 2000, c. 782; 2004, c. 61; 2008, cc. 64, 89; 2014, c. 252.","full_text":"A\n\nIt 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\n\nIt 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":250340,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":250341,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14243,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure and Certification of Other Practitioners of the Healing Arts","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12759,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:26","permalink":{"id":242191,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14243,"identifier":"4","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4","url":"\/54.1\/III\/29\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12759,"edition_id":1,"name":"Medicine and Other Healing Arts","identifier":"29","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12759,"identifier":"29","token":"54.1\/III\/29","url":"\/54.1\/III\/29\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83532,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2942","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-2942\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2942","metadata":false},{"id":78472,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2949","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-2949\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2949","metadata":false},{"id":81411,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2950","catch_line":"Requisite training and educational achievements of assistants","url":"\/54.1-2950\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2950","metadata":false},{"id":64376,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2950.1","catch_line":"Advisory Board on Physician Assistants; membership; qualifications","url":"\/54.1-2950.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2950.1","metadata":false},{"id":81540,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2951","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-2951\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2951","metadata":false},{"id":56449,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2951.1","catch_line":"Requirements for licensure and practice as a physician assistant; licensure by endorsement","url":"\/54.1-2951.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2951.1","metadata":false},{"id":85870,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2951.2","catch_line":"Issuance of a license","url":"\/54.1-2951.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2951.2","metadata":false},{"id":65581,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2951.3","catch_line":"Restricted volunteer license for certain physician assistants","url":"\/54.1-2951.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2951.3","metadata":false},{"id":70303,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2951.4","catch_line":"Exception to physician assistant license requirement; physician assistant student","url":"\/54.1-2951.4\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2951.4","metadata":false},{"id":77494,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2952","catch_line":"Role of patient care team physician or patient care team podiatrist on patient care teams; services that may be performed by physician assistants; responsibility of licensee; employment of physician assistants","url":"\/54.1-2952\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2952","metadata":false},{"id":70057,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2952.1","catch_line":"Prescription of certain controlled substances and devices by licensed physician assistants","url":"\/54.1-2952.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2952.1","metadata":false},{"id":74655,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2952.2","catch_line":"When physician assistant signature accepted","url":"\/54.1-2952.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2952.2","metadata":false},{"id":78179,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2953","catch_line":"Renewal, revocation, suspension, and refusal","url":"\/54.1-2953\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2953","metadata":false},{"id":72731,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2953.1","catch_line":"PA Licensure Compact","url":"\/54.1-2953.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2953.1","metadata":false},{"id":62429,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2954","catch_line":"Respiratory therapist; 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requisite training and educational requirements; powers of the Board concerning athletic training","url":"\/54.1-2957.4\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.4","metadata":false},{"id":74771,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2957.5","catch_line":"Advisory Board on Athletic Training established; duties; composition; appointment; terms","url":"\/54.1-2957.5\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.5","metadata":false},{"id":74486,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2957.6","catch_line":"Exceptions to athletic trainer licensure","url":"\/54.1-2957.6\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.6","metadata":false},{"id":58401,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2957.7","catch_line":"Licensed midwife and practice of midwifery; definitions","url":"\/54.1-2957.7\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.7","metadata":false},{"id":56270,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2957.8","catch_line":"Licensure of midwives; requisite training and educational requirements; fees","url":"\/54.1-2957.8\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.8","metadata":false},{"id":65541,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2957.9","catch_line":"Regulation of the practice of midwifery","url":"\/54.1-2957.9\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2957.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84383,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2956.4","catch_line":"Advisory Board of Occupational Therapy; powers","url":"\/54.1-2956.4\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2956.4","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74911,"structure_id":14243,"section_number":"54.1-2956.6","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-2956.6\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2956.6","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2956.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 306 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1998, chapter 593<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 782<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 61<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 64<\/a> and 89<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 252<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":63078,"section_number":"54.1-2900","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2900\/"}],"permalink":{"id":242305,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69194,"identifier":"54.1-2956.5","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2956.5","url":"\/54.1-2956.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2956.5\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/4\/54.1-2956.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful to practice occupational therapy without license","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2956.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person not holding a current and valid license from the Board<\/span> 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<\/span> or until six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to practice as an occupational therapy assistant<\/span> as defined in § 54.1-2900<\/a> or to hold himself out to be or advertise that he is an occupational therapy assistant<\/span> or use the designation “O.T.A.” or any variation thereof unless such person holds a current and valid license from the Board<\/span> to practice as an occupational therapy assistant<\/span>. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited occupational therapy assistant<\/span> education program may practice with the title “Occupational Therapy Assistant<\/span>, License Applicant” or “O.T.A.-Applicant” until he has received a failing score on any examination required by the Board<\/span> or until six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL TO PRACTICE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WITHOUT LICENSE (\u00a7 54.1-2956.5)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person not holding a current and valid license\nfrom the Board to practice occupational therapy or to claim to be an\noccupational therapist or to assume the title “Occupational\nTherapist,” “Occupational Therapist, Licensed,”\n“Licensed Occupational Therapist,” or any similar term, or to use\nthe designations “O.T.” or “O.T.L.” or any variation\nthereof. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited educational\nprogram in occupational therapy may practice with the title “Occupational\nTherapist, License Applicant” or “O.T.L.-Applicant” until he\nhas received a failing score on any examination required by the Board or until\nsix months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner.\n\nB. It shall be unlawful for any person to practice as an occupational therapy\nassistant as defined in § 54.1-2900 or to hold himself out to be or\nadvertise that he is an occupational therapy assistant or use the designation\n“O.T.A.” or any variation thereof unless such person holds a current\nand valid license from the Board to practice as an occupational therapy\nassistant. However, a person who has graduated from a duly accredited\noccupational therapy assistant education program may practice with the title\n“Occupational Therapy Assistant, License Applicant” or\n“O.T.A.-Applicant” until he has received a failing score on any\nexamination required by the Board or until six months from the date of\ngraduation, whichever occurs sooner.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 306; 1998, c. 593; 2000, c. 782; 2004, c. 61; 2008, cc. 64,\n89; 2014, c. 252.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}