V.I. Code tit. 27, § 165 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 27 - Professions and Occupations|Chapter 1 - Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and Nurse-Midwifery|Subchapter VIII - Physical Therapy|§ 165. Definitions

 (a) “Physical therapy” means treatment of a human being by the use of exercise, massage, heat or cold, air, light, water, electricity, or sound, for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical or mental condition or preventing the development of any physical or mental disability, or the performance of tests as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition, provided, however, that physical therapy shall not include radiology or electro-surgery. (b) “Physical therapist” means a person who is licensed pursuant to this subchapter to practice physical therapy. (c) “Board” means the Virgin Islands Board of Physical Therapy established as provided for in section 415(b)(6) of Title 3. (d) “Practice of physical therapy” means: (1) Examining, evaluating and testing individuals with mechanical, physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities or other health and movement-related conditions in order to determine a physical therapy evaluation and plan of treatment intervention, and to assess the ongoing effects of intervention. (2) Alleviating impairments, functional limitations and disabilities by designing, implementing and modifying treatment interventions that may include, but are not limited to, therapeutic exercise, functional training in self-care and in home, community or work integration or reintegration, manual therapy including soft tissue and the first four stages of joint mobilization only, therapeutic massage, prescription, application and, as appropriate, fabrication of assistive, adaptive, orthotic, prosthetic, protective and supportive devices and equipment, airway clearance techniques, integumentary protection and repair techniques, debridement and wound care, physical agents or modalities, mechanical and electrotherapeutic modalities, and patient-related instruction. (3) Reducing the risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation and disability, including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health and wellness in populations of all ages. (4) Engaging in administration, consultation, education and research. (5) The term “practice of physical therapy” as defined in this subsection does not preclude other health care providers’ providing service similar to that which is defined for persons licensed pursuant to this subchapter from performing various forms of modalities allowed in their specific practice act or Board regulations. (e) “Physical therapist assistant” means a person who is licensed pursuant to this subchapter and who assists the physical therapist in selected components of the physical therapy treatment intervention. (f) “Physical therapy aide” means a person trained under the direction of a physical therapist who performs designated and supervised routine tasks related to physical therapy services. (g) “Restricted license” for a physical therapist means a license on which the Board places restrictions or conditions, or both restrictions and conditions, as to scope of practice, place of practice, supervision of practice, duration of licensed status, or type or condition of patient or client to whom the licensee may provide services. “Restricted license” for a physical therapist assistant means a license on which the Board has placed any restrictions. (h) “Supervision” means the supervising physical therapist needs to be available at all times to the physical therapy assistant. (i) “Testing” means standard methods and techniques used to gather data about the patient. (j) “Consultation by means of telecommunication” means that a physical therapist seeks professional or expert opinion or advice from, or renders professional or expert opinion or advice to another licensed physical therapist or health care provider via telecommunications or computer technology from a distant location. It includes the review or transfer of patient records or related information by means of audio, video or data communications. (k) “Jurisdiction of the United States” means any state, the District of Columbia, or any American territory. (l) “Examination” means the national examination approved by the Board for the licensure of a physical therapist or the licensure of a physical therapist assistant.