PRINTER'S NO. 1454
No. 1232 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, HELFRICK, DeVERTER AND CIMINI,
JUNE 6, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 6, 1977
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383, No.110), entitled
2 "An act relating to the practice of physical therapy,"
3 providing an exemption from certain educational and testing
4 requirements of the act for certain athletic trainers.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 2, act of October 10, 1975 (P.L.383,
8 No.110), known as the "Physical Therapy Practice Act," is
9 amended to read:
10 Section 2. Definitions.--The following definitions shall
11 apply, when used in this act, unless otherwise expressed
12 therein:
13 "Athletic trainer" shall mean a person who upon the advice
14 and consent of a licensed physician carries out the practice of
15 prevention or physical rehabilitation of injuries incurred by
16 athletes of educational institutions, professional athletic
17 organizations, or other bona fide athletic organizations through
18 modalities such as mechanical stimulation, heat, cold, light,
19 air, water, electricity, sound and massage.
1 "Board" means the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
2 established in accordance with the act of April 9, 1929
3 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."
4 "Healing arts" shall mean the science and skill of diagnosis
5 and treatment in any manner whatsoever of disease or any ailment
6 of the human body.
7 "Physical therapist" shall mean a person including an
8 athletic trainer who practices physical therapy in some or all
9 respects as defined in "physical therapy", subject to section 9
10 and has met all requirements as stated in this act.
11 "Physical therapy" means the evaluation and treatment of any
12 person by the utilization of the effective properties of
13 physical measures such as mechanical stimulation, heat, cold,
14 light, air, water, electricity, sound, massage, mobilization and
15 the use of therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures
16 including training in functional activities, with or without
17 assistive devices, for the purpose of limiting or preventing
18 disability and alleviating or correcting any physical or mental
19 conditions, and the performance of tests and measurements as an
20 aid in diagnosis or evaluation of function.
21 "Physician" means a person who has received formal and
22 recognized training in the art and science of medicine and is
23 qualified to seek or has acquired an unlimited license to
24 practice medicine and surgery as provided by law.
25 Section 2. Section 6 of the act is amended by amending the
26 section heading and adding a subsection to read:
27 Section 6. Qualifications for License; Examinations; Failure
28 of Examinations; Licensure Without Examination; Licensure
29 Without Educational Requirements and Examination; Issuing of
30 License; Foreign Applicants for Licensure; Temporary License;
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1 Perjury.--* * *
2 (d.1) On payment to the board of a fee of $15 and on
3 submission of a written application on forms provided by the
4 board, the board shall issue a license without the educational
5 requirements prescribed in subsection (a) and without the
6 examination prescribed in subsection (b) to any athletic trainer
7 as defined in section 2 who has been engaged in the activities
8 therein described for a period of at least one year prior to the
9 effective date of this act. In order to qualify for licensing
10 under this subsection, the applicant must apply within two years
11 of the effective date of this act. Any person licensed under
12 this subsection shall be authorized to perform only those
13 activities enumerated in the definition of athletic trainer in
14 section 2.
15 * * *
16 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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