Section 43-33-3. Definitions

   As used in this chapter, the term:

   (1) "Board" means the State Board of Physical Therapy.

   (2) "License" means a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the board, which shall give the person to whom it is issued authority to engage in the practice prescribed thereon.

   (3) "Licensee" means any person holding a license under this chapter.

   (4) "Person" means a human being only, not a legal entity.

   (5) "Physical therapist" means a person licensed to practice physical therapy as defined in this chapter and whose license is in good standing. A physical therapist shall be designated by the initials "P.T."

   (6) "Physical therapist assistant" or "physical therapy assistant" means a person who is licensed by the board to assist a physical therapist, whose activities are supervised and directed by a physical therapist, and whose license is in good standing. A physical therapist assistant shall be designated by the initials "P.T.A."

   (7) "Physical therapy" means the examination, treatment, and instruction of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate, and limit physical disability, bodily malfunction and pain from injury, disease, and any other bodily and mental conditions and includes the administration, interpretation, documentation, and evaluation of tests and measurements of bodily functions and structures; the planning, administration, evaluation, and modification of treatment and instruction, including the use of physical measures, activities, and devices, for preventative and therapeutic purposes, including but not limited to dry needling; and the provision of consultative, educational, and other advisory services for the purpose of preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of physical disability, bodily malfunction, and pain.

   (8) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who only performs designated and supervised physical therapy tasks. The physical therapy aide must receive direct supervision and must be directed on the premises at all times by a licensee. Physical therapy aides are not licensed under this chapter.

   (9) "Trainee" means an individual who is approved for a traineeship.

   (10) "Traineeship" means a period of activity during which a trainee works under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist who has practiced for not less than one year prior to assuming the supervisory role.

   (11) "Training permit" means a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the board, which gives the person to whom it is issued authority to engage in practice through a traineeship prescribed thereon.

Ga. L. 1951, p. 175, § 1; Ga. L. 1962, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1972, p. 388, § 3; Ga. L. 1980, p. 1053, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 812, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2434, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 715, § 1; Ga. L. 2011, p. 592, § 1/HB 145.