{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3473.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3473.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3473.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3473.html"}],"law_id":74858,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74858,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3473","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2000, c. 688; 2001, c. 858.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Physical Therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist” means any person licensed by the Board to engage in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist assistant” means any person licensed by the Board to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Practice of physical therapy” means that branch of the healing arts that is concerned with, upon medical referral and direction, the evaluation, testing, treatment, reeducation and rehabilitation by physical, mechanical or electronic measures and procedures of individuals who, because of trauma, disease or birth defect, present physical and emotional disorders. The practice of physical therapy also includes the administration, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures within the scope of practice of the physical therapist. However, the practice of physical therapy does not include the medical diagnosis of disease or injury, the use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or the use of electricity for shock therapy and surgical purposes including cauterization.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":268966,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Physical Therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist” means any person licensed by the Board to engage in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist assistant” means any person licensed by the Board to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Practice of physical therapy” means that branch of the healing arts that is concerned with, upon medical referral and direction, the evaluation, testing, treatment, reeducation and rehabilitation by physical, mechanical or electronic measures and procedures of individuals who, because of trauma, disease or birth defect, present physical and emotional disorders. The practice of physical therapy also includes the administration, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures within the scope of practice of the physical therapist. However, the practice of physical therapy does not include the medical diagnosis of disease or injury, the use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or the use of electricity for shock therapy and surgical purposes including cauterization.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13029,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13028,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":243755,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13029,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13028,"edition_id":1,"name":"Physical Therapy","identifier":"34.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:09","permalink":{"id":243753,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13028,"identifier":"34.1","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/34.1\/","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":74858,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3473","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3473\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3473","metadata":false},{"id":63892,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3474","catch_line":"Unlawful to practice without license; continuing competency requirements","url":"\/54.1-3474\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3474","metadata":false},{"id":66177,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3475","catch_line":"Board of Physical Therapy; appointment; qualifications; officers; nominations","url":"\/54.1-3475\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3475","metadata":false},{"id":74588,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3476","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-3476\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3476","metadata":false},{"id":64809,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3477","catch_line":"Requirements for licensure as a physical therapist","url":"\/54.1-3477\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3477","metadata":false},{"id":58638,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3478","catch_line":"Requirements for licensure as a physical therapist assistant","url":"\/54.1-3478\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3478","metadata":false},{"id":54167,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3479","catch_line":"Licensure by examination or endorsement; traineeships","url":"\/54.1-3479\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3479","metadata":false},{"id":83068,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3480","catch_line":"Refusal, revocation or suspension","url":"\/54.1-3480\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3480","metadata":false},{"id":71679,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3480.1","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3480.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3480.1","metadata":false},{"id":81083,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3481","catch_line":"Unlawful designation as physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; penalty","url":"\/54.1-3481\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3481","metadata":false},{"id":67450,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3482","catch_line":"Practice of physical therapy; certain experience and referrals required; physical therapist assistants","url":"\/54.1-3482\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3482","metadata":false},{"id":82294,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3482.1","catch_line":"Certain certification required","url":"\/54.1-3482.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3482.1","metadata":false},{"id":85169,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3483","catch_line":"Unprofessional conduct","url":"\/54.1-3483\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3483","metadata":false},{"id":54094,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3484","catch_line":"Criminal history background checks","url":"\/54.1-3484\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3484","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":63892,"structure_id":13029,"section_number":"54.1-3474","catch_line":"Unlawful to practice without license; continuing competency requirements","url":"\/54.1-3474\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3474","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3473\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 688<\/a> 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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2001, chapter 858<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57431,"section_number":"13.1-1102","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-1102\/"},{"id":66461,"section_number":"13.1-543","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-543\/"},{"id":65868,"section_number":"54.1-3486","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3486\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":243757,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74858,"identifier":"54.1-3473","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3473","url":"\/54.1-3473\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3473\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3473","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3473","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> of Physical Therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist” means any person licensed by the Board<\/span> to engage in the practice of physical therapy<\/span>.\n\t\t“Physical therapist assistant<\/span>” means any person licensed by the Board<\/span> to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy<\/span>.\n\t\t“Practice of physical therapy<\/span>” means that branch of the healing arts that is concerned with, upon medical referral and direction, the evaluation, testing, treatment, reeducation and rehabilitation by physical, mechanical or electronic measures and procedures of individuals who, because of trauma, disease or birth defect, present physical and emotional disorders. The practice of physical therapy<\/span> also includes the administration, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures within the scope of practice of the physical therapist. However, the practice of physical therapy<\/span> does not include the medical diagnosis of disease or injury, the use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes or the use of electricity for shock therapy and surgical purposes including cauterization.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3473)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Physical Therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist” means any person licensed by the Board to\nengage in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Physical therapist assistant” means any person licensed by the\nBoard to assist a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy.\n\t\t“Practice of physical therapy” means that branch of the healing\narts that is concerned with, upon medical referral and direction, the\nevaluation, testing, treatment, reeducation and rehabilitation by physical,\nmechanical or electronic measures and procedures of individuals who, because of\ntrauma, disease or birth defect, present physical and emotional disorders. The\npractice of physical therapy also includes the administration, interpretation,\ndocumentation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and\nstructures within the scope of practice of the physical therapist. However, the\npractice of physical therapy does not include the medical diagnosis of disease\nor injury, the use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic or therapeutic\npurposes or the use of electricity for shock therapy and surgical purposes\nincluding cauterization.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 688; 2001, c. 858.","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}}