Source: http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/038
Timestamp: 2017-11-21 06:32:26
Document Index: 93321222

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2081', '§ 27', '§ 129', '§ 127', '§ 6', '§ 55', '§ 19', '§ 15', '§ 6', '§ 56', '§ 16', '§ 2084', '§ 6', '§ 2085', '§ 3', '§ 2', '§ 2091', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 49', '§ 57', '§ 2092', '§ 129', '§ 6', '§ 54', '§ 49', '§ 58', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 59', '§ 2102', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 60', '§ 2104', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 61', '§ 18', '§ 2105', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 19', '§ 2106', '§ 65', '§ 2106', '§ 117', '§ 13', '§ 62', '§ 63', '§ 20', '§ 129', '§ 6', '§ 4', '§ 49', '§ 44', '§ 14', '§ 64', '§ 21']

Chapter 038: PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
§ 2081. Repealed. 1997, No. 40, § 27.
(2) "Disciplinary action" or "disciplinary cases" includes any action taken by the administrative law officer appointed under 3 V.S.A. § 129(j) against a licensee or applicant premised upon a finding of wrongdoing or unprofessional conduct by the licensee or applicant. It includes all sanctions of any kind, including obtaining injunctions, suspending or revoking licenses, issuing conditions on practice, warnings, and other similar sanctions.
(3) "Distance consultation" means the rendering of professional or expert opinion or advice to a licensed physical therapist, including the review or transfer of patient records or related information by means of audio, video, or data communications.
(4) "Physical therapist" means a person who has met all the conditions of this chapter and is licensed for the practice of physical therapy in this state.
(5) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person who has met the conditions of this chapter and is licensed to perform selected physical therapy interventions and related tasks that have been assigned by the supervising physical therapist.
(6) "Physical therapy" means the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(7) "Physical therapy aide" means a person, trained under the direction of a physical therapist, who performs designated and supervised routine physical therapy tasks.
(8) "Practice of physical therapy" means:
(1) practice or attempt to practice physical therapy or hold himself or herself out as being able to do so in this state without first having obtained a license; or
(2) use in connection with the person's name or business the words "physical therapy," "physical therapist," "physical therapist assistant," "physiotherapy," "physiotherapist," the initials "PT," "PTA," "DPT," or any letters, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the person is a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant unless the person is licensed in accordance with this chapter; or
(3) practice or attempt to practice physical therapy during license revocation or suspension.
(b) A person violating any of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the penalties provided in 3 V.S.A. § 127(c).
(c) A physical therapist shall use the letters "PT" in connection with the physical therapist's name or place of business to denote licensure, and a physical therapist assistant shall use the letters "PTA." (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2005, No. 27, § 55; 2005, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 19; 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 15.)
(1) students enrolled in accredited physical therapist or physical therapist assistant educational programs, while engaged in completing a clinical requirement for graduation, which must be performed under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist;
(2) physical therapists licensed in other jurisdictions while enrolled in this state in postprofessional educational programs that include the evaluation and treatment of patients as part of their experience required for credit, as long as the student's practice is limited to the scope of the educational program;
(3) physical therapists and physical therapist assistants employed in the United States Armed Services, United States Public Health Service, Veterans Administration, or other federal agency;
(4) physical therapists or physical therapist assistants licensed or regulated in another jurisdiction of the United States or credentialed to practice physical therapy in another country if that person is teaching, demonstrating, or providing physical therapy in connection with teaching or participating in an educational seminar of no more than 60 days in a calendar year;
(5) a physical therapist who is licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States if that person is providing distance consultation to a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter;
(6) a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States or credentialed in another country, if that person by contract or employment is providing physical therapy to individuals affiliated with or employed by an athletic team, an athletic organization, or a performing arts company temporarily practicing, competing, or performing in the state for no more than 60 days in a calendar year. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2005, No. 27, § 56; 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 16.)
§ 2084. Construction
This chapter shall not be construed to limit or restrict in any manner the right of a practitioner of another occupation which is regulated by this state from carrying on in the usual manner any of the functions of his or her profession. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)
§ 2085. Repealed. 2007, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 3(b).
(c) For each of his or her patients on each date of treatment, a physical therapist shall provide all of the therapeutic intervention that requires the expertise of a physical therapist and shall determine the use of physical therapist assistants or physical therapy aides who provide for the delivery of care that is safe, effective, and efficient, provided the assigned acts, tasks, or procedures do not exceed the person's education or training and provided:
(1) A physical therapist assistant shall work under a physical therapist's supervision. A physical therapist assistant may document care pursuant to the existing treatment plan from the supervising physical therapist.
(d) A physical therapist's responsibility for patient care management shall include accurate documentation of and billing for the services provided.
(e) A physical therapist shall be responsible for communicating the status of a patient's progress and other relevant information to the patient's referring health care professional unless the patient declines to authorize release of the patient's physical therapy records. (Added 2007, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2009.)
§ 2091. Director of the office of professional regulation; duties
(1) provide general information to applicants for admission to licensure as physical therapists or physical therapist assistants;
(2) explain appeal procedures to licensees and applicants and complaint procedures to the public;
(3) explain sanctions, including license revocation and suspension, which may be imposed in disciplinary cases, the criteria by which sanctions are selected, and procedures for reinstatement where appropriate;
(4) administer fees as previously established by law;
(5) receive and evaluate applications for licensure, provide for examinations and set passing scores, provide licenses to applicants qualified under this chapter, renew, revoke, and reinstate licenses, or otherwise discipline licensees as ordered by an administrative law officer;
(6) issue to each person licensed a certificate of licensure which shall be prima facie evidence of the right of the person to whom it is issued to practice as a licensed physical therapist or to represent himself or herself as a licensed physical therapist assistant, subject to the conditions and limitations of this chapter; and
(7) adopt rules necessary to perform his or her duties under this chapter. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(d); 1997, No. 40, § 49(a); 2005, No. 27, § 57.)
§ 2092. Advisor appointees
(a) The secretary of state shall appoint two physical therapists to serve as advisors in matters relating to physical therapy. They shall be appointed for staggered five-year terms and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. One of the initial appointments may be for less than a full term. Appointees shall have not less than three years' experience as a physical therapist immediately preceding appointment and shall be actively engaged in the practice of physical therapy in Vermont during incumbency.
(b) The director shall refer complaints and disciplinary matters to an administrative law officer established under 3 V.S.A. § 129(j).
(c) The director shall seek the advice of the physical therapists appointed under this section in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 54; 1997, No. 40, § 49(a); 2005, No. 27, § 58.)
Subchapter 003: LICENSURE
(3) pass an approved English proficiency exam if the applicant's native language is not English.
(1) provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant's education is substantially equivalent to the requirements of physical therapists educated in an accredited education program as determined by the director. For the purpose of this section, "substantially equivalent" means that an applicant for licensure educated outside the United States shall have:
(B) provided written proof that the applicant's school of physical therapy education is recognized by its own ministry or department of education;
(D) completed any additional education as required by the director;
(2) pass an approved English proficiency examination if the applicant's native language is not English; and
(c) An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall:
(3) pass an examination approved by the director. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(d); 2005, No. 27, § 59.)
§ 2102. Application
Unless entitled to licensure under section 2104 of this title, and according to the procedures outlined in the rules of the director of the office of professional regulation, a person who desires to be licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall apply to the director in writing on a form furnished by the director, accompanied by payment of the specified fee. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(d).)
(a) The director of the office of professional regulation shall provide for examinations for licensure as physical therapists or physical therapist assistants at such times and places as he or she may determine.
(b) Examinations administered and procedures followed by the director shall be fair and reasonable and shall be designed and implemented to reasonably ensure that an applicant is at least minimally qualified to practice physical therapy. They shall not be designed or implemented for the purpose of limiting the number of licensees.
(f) The director may require an examination designed to test the knowledge of the applicant regarding Vermont laws relating to physical therapy practice. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(d); 2005, No. 27, § 60.)
§ 2104. Licensure by endorsement
A person who is licensed under the laws of another jurisdiction and who desires licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall apply to the director of the office of professional regulation in writing on a form furnished by the director, accompanied by the specified fee. The director shall license those persons if he or she deems that they have met requirements in the other jurisdiction which are substantially equivalent to those of this state. In all other cases, the director of the office of professional regulation may make such regulations as are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the public to assure that the applicant under this section is professionally qualified. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(d); 2005, No. 27, § 61; 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 18.)
§ 2105. Temporary licensure pending endorsement
The director may issue a temporary license to practice as a physical therapist for a period not to exceed 90 days to a physical therapist currently licensed in another jurisdiction who has applied for licensure by endorsement in accordance with the statutes and rules governing the profession. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 19.)
§§ 2106Repealed. 1997, No. 59, § 65(1), eff. June 30, 1997.
§ 2106a. Repealed. 2005, No. 27, § 117(1).
(d) The director shall establish continuing competence requirements by rule as a condition of licensure renewal. (Added 1999, No. 52, § 13; amended 2005, No. 27, § 62.)
If a physical therapist's license has lapsed for more than five consecutive years, that person may have his or her license reinstated upon payment of all applicable renewal and reinstatement fees, and demonstration of competence to practice the profession by one or more of the following, as determined by the director:
(5) practice with a license in good standing in another jurisdiction. (Added 2005, No. 27, § 63; amended 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 20.)
(a) Unprofessional conduct is the conduct prohibited by this section and by 3 V.S.A. § 129a, whether or not taken by a license holder.
(c) After hearing, an administrative law officer may take disciplinary action against a licensee or applicant found guilty of unprofessional conduct. A finding of unprofessional conduct shall be grounds for:
(3) otherwise disciplining a licensee. (Added 1981, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 1989, No. 250 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1997, No. 40, § 49; 1997, No. 145 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 1999, No. 52, § 14; 2005, No. 27, § 64; 2007, No. 163 (Adj. Sess.), § 21.)