“Board”- The Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy.

“CAPTE”- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

“Credential”- The license or certificate issued by the board authorizing a person to practice physical therapy.

“Credential Holder”- A licensed physical therapist or certified physical therapist assistant who has met all requirements for credentialing and has been credentialed by the board.

“Credentialing”- The process of licensing or certifying an applicant by the board.

“Direct Supervision”:

• The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant:
• • Is immediately available to direct and supervise tasks that are related to direct patient care; and
  • Provides line of sight direction and supervision the majority of the time per visit for each patient when these tasks are performed; and
• Supervision is not provided by electronic communication.

“Electronic Communication”:

• Any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, information, or intelligence of any nature transmitted by computer or via the internet in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo-electronic, or photo-optical system; and
• The science and technology of the exchanging of information over any distance by electronic transmission of impulses including activities that involve using electronic communications to store, organize, send, retrieve, or convey information.

“Endorsement”- A method of application which is utilized by an applicant credentialed by another jurisdiction.

“Examination”- A board-approved examination that an applicant successfully passes as a requirement for credentialing.

“Full-Time”- Employment for forty (40) hours a week.

“Inactive Status”- A credential that is inactive and the credential holder is not engaged in the practice of physical therapy.

“Jurisdiction”- A licensing authority in a state or territory of the U.S.

“NPTE”- The National Physical Therapy Examination for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

“On-Site Supervision”- Immediate physical accessibility within the same building.

“Patient”- Any person for whom physical therapy is provided.

“Physical Therapy” - The use of selected knowledge and skills in planning, organizing, and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury, encompassing preventive measures, screening, tests in aid of diagnosis by a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, chiropractic, or podiatry and evaluation and invasive or noninvasive procedures with emphasis on the skeletal system, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary function, as it relates to physical therapy.

“Physical Therapist” - A professional person who has met the educational requirements of this chapter and who is licensed to practice physical therapy in Kentucky.

“Physical Therapist Assistant”- A skilled health care worker certified by the board who performs physical therapy and related duties as assigned by the supervising physical therapist.

“Physical Therapy Student Services” - Services provided by a physical therapist student or physical therapist assistant student, as part of the student’s educational program, and are considered as provided by the supervising physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

“Referral” - The procedure by which a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, chiropractic, or podiatry designates the initiation of physical therapy treatment by a licensed physical therapist; and

“Reinstatement of a Credential”- A renewal of a license that has lapsed.

“Supervising Physical Therapist”- The physical therapist who is supervising the care of a patient who is being treated by a physical therapist assistant or supportive personnel.

“Supportive Personnel”- A person assisting in the provision of direct physical therapy patient care who is not credentialed by the board and is not a physical therapist student or physical therapist assistant student.

“Temporary Permit” - A permit granted to an individual who has met all requirements in Kentucky for license application by examination and has made application for examination but who has not yet successfully completed the board approved examination in this or another state.

“Telephysical Therapy” - Physical therapy between the credential holder and the patient who are not at the same physical location using interactive, secure, synchronous audio, and synchronous videoconferencing technology.

“Verification” - The process of verifying a lawful credential.