West Virginia Code 30-20-17 – Exemptions from licensure
(a) The following persons are exempt from licensing requirements under the provisions of this article:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 30-20-17
- Board: means the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy. See West Virginia Code 30-20-3
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- On-site supervision: means the supervising physical therapist is continuously on-site and present in the building where services are provided, is immediately available to the person being supervised, and maintains continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session. See West Virginia Code 30-20-3
- Physical therapist: means a person engaging in the practice of physical therapy who holds a license or permit issued under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 30-20-3
- Physical therapist assistant: means a person holding a license or permit issued under the provisions of this article who assists in the practice of physical therapy by performing patient related activities delegated to him or her by a physical therapist and performs under the supervision of a physical therapist and which patient related activities commensurate with his or her education and training, including physical therapy procedures, but not the performance of evaluative procedures or determination and modification of the patient plan of care. See West Virginia Code 30-20-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(1) A person who practices physical therapy pursuant to a course of study at an institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, activities conducted at the institution of higher learning and activities conducted outside the institution if under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist;
(2) A person who practices physical therapy in the United States Armed Services, United States Public Health Service or Veterans Administration pursuant to federal regulations for state licensure of health care providers;
(3) A physical therapist who is licensed 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 services in connection with teaching or participating in an educational seminar of no more than sixty calendar days in a calendar year;
(4) A physical therapist who is licensed in another state if that person is consulting;
(5) A physical therapist who is licensed in another jurisdiction, if that person by contract or employment is providing physical therapy to individuals affiliated with or employed by established athletic teams, athletic organizations or performing arts companies temporarily practicing, competing or performing in the state for no more than sixty calendar days in a calendar year;
(6) A physical therapist who is licensed in another jurisdiction who enters this state to provide physical therapy during a declared local, state or national disaster or emergency. This exemption applies for no longer than sixty calendar days in a calendar year following the declaration of the emergency. The physical therapist shall notify the board of their intent to practice;
(7) A physical therapist licensed in another jurisdiction who is forced to leave his or her residence or place of employment due to a declared local, state or national disaster or emergency and due to the displacement seeks to practice physical therapy. This exemption applies for no longer than sixty calendar days in a calendar year following the declaration of the emergency. The physical therapist shall notify the board of their intent to practice;
(8) A person administering simple massages and the operation of health clubs so long as not intended to constitute or represent the practice of physical therapy;
(9) A physical therapist assistant assisting an exempt physical therapist; and
(10) Nothing contained in this article prohibits a person from practicing within his or her scope of practice as authorized by law.