Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1150 - TN Boards of Occupational and Physical Therapy
Chapter 1150-02 - General Rules Governing the Practice of Occupational Therapy
Section 1150-02-.01 - DEFINITIONS

(1) The Act - The Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice Act of 1984.

(2) Advertising - Includes, but is not limited to, business solicitations, with or without limiting qualifications, in a card, sign, or device issued to a person; in a sign or marking in or on any building; or in any newspaper, magazine, directory, or other printed matter. Advertising also includes business solicitations communicated by individual(s), radio, video, or television broadcasting or any other means designed to secure public attention.

(3) American Occupational Therapy Association - When the acronym AOTA appears in these rules, it is intended to mean American Occupational Therapy Association.

(4) Applicant - Any individual seeking licensure by the Board who has submitted an official application and paid the application fee.

(5) Board - The Board of Occupational Therapy.

(6) Board's administrative office - The office of the administrator assigned to the board located at 227 French Landing, Suite 300, Heritage Place, MetroCenter, Nashville, TN 37243.

(7) Board Designee - Any person who has received a written delegation of authority from the board to perform board functions subject to review and ratification by the full board where provided by these rules.

(8) Closed File - An administrative action which renders an incomplete or denied file inactive.

(9) Continued Competence - A dynamic, multidimensional process in which an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant develops and maintains the knowledge, performance skills, interpersonal abilities, critical reasoning skills, and ethical reasoning skills necessary to perform his or her professional responsibilities.

(10) Department - Tennessee Department of Health.

(11) Direct contact - Observed treatment interventions, in-person review and/or discussion of caseload and treatment planning.

(12) Division - The Division of Health Related Boards, Department of Health, from which the board receives administrative support.

(13) Electrical Stimulation Certification - An authorization issued by the Board when a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant has successfully completed requirements to use a device, for which a federally required prescription is necessary, that employs transcutaneous electrical current (direct, alternating, or pulsatile) for the purpose of eliciting muscle contraction, alleviating pain, reducing edema, or drug delivery.

(14) Examination Service - The testing service whose written examination has been adopted by the board.

(15) Fee - Money, gifts, services, or anything of value offered or received as compensation in return for rendering services; also the fees required in Rule .06.

(16) Good Moral Character - The quality of being well regarded in personal behavior and professional ethics.

(17) He/she Him/her - When "he" appears in the text of these rules, the word represents both the feminine and masculine genders.

(18) HRB - When the acronym HRB appears in the text of these rules, HRB represents Health Related Boards.

(19) License - Document issued to an applicant who successfully completes the licensure process. The certificate takes the form of an "artistically designed" license as well as other versions bearing an expiration date.

(20) Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) - Any person who has met the qualifications for licensed occupational therapist and holds a current, unsuspended or unrevoked license which has been lawfully issued by the Board.

(21) Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) - Any person who has met the qualifications for licensed occupational therapy assistant and holds a current, unsuspended or unrevoked, license which has been lawfully issued by the Board. Such person assists and works under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.

(22) Occupations - Everyday life activities, named, organized, and given value and meaning by individual and their culture. The term includes everything that people do to occupy their time, including caring for their needs, enjoying life, and contributing to the social and economic fabric of their communities.

(23) Person - Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.

(24) Recognized educational program - an educational program in occupational therapy approved by the Board of Occupational Therapy and accredited by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association; or alternatively, as the case may be, an educational program for occupational therapy assistants approved by the Board of Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

(25) Registrant - Any person who has been lawfully issued a license.

(26) Relative - a parent, foster parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse, brother, foster brother, sister, foster sister, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or other family member who resides in the same household.

(27) Supervision is defined as the following:

(28) Thermal Agents Certification - An authorization issued by the Board when a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant has successfully completed requirements to use thermal agents, for which a federally required prescription is necessary, that include superficial heating agents (e.g., hot packs, paraffin), cryotherapy, and deep heating agents (e.g., ultrasound).

(29) Unlicensed person - A person who performs specific supportive tasks related to occupational therapy practice under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant and whose activities do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical, biological, psychological and social sciences involved in the provision of occupational therapy services. Such persons are often referred to as aides, technicians, transporters or support staff.

(30) Use of a title or description - To hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, business cards, or other means of professional identification.

(31) Written evidence - Includes, but is not limited to, written verification from supervisors or other professional colleagues familiar with the applicant's work.