instructional, consultative, educational, and other advisory services. (8) “Physical therapy aide” means a person who only performs designated and supervised physical therapy tasks. The physical therapy aide must receive direct supervision and must be directed on the premises at all times by a licensee. Physical therapy aides are not licensed under this article. (9) “Trainee” means an individual who is approved for a traineeship. (10) “Traineeship” means a period of activity during which a trainee works under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist who has practiced for not less than one year prior to assuming the supervisory role. (11) “Training permit” means a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the board which gives the person to whom it is issued authority to engage in practice through a traineeship prescribed thereon. § 43-33-5. Appointment of board members; terms; vacancies; removal The board shall consist of eight members, as provided in Code Section 43-33-6, each of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for a term of three years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by the Governor's appointment of a successor to serve out the unexpired term. The Governor, after notice and opportunity for hearing, may remove any member of the board for neglect of duty, incompetence, revocation or suspension of license of those licensee members, or other dishonorable conduct. No person shall serve consecutively more To be eligible for appointment to the board, a person must be a resident of this state. Six members of the board shall be licensed as physical therapists under this article who have practiced or taught physical therapy for at least three years. At least one member shall be licensed and practicing as a physical therapist assistant for at least three years. The eighth member shall be appointed from the public at large and shall have no business connection whatsoever with the practice or profession of physical therapy. § 43-33-10. General powers and duties of board In carrying out the provisions of this article, the board shall, in addition to the other powers conferred upon it under this article, have the power to: (1) Prepare or approve all examinations or applicants for licenses; (2) Determine the qualifications of and authorize the issuance of licenses to qualified physical therapists and physical therapist assistants; (3) Determine the qualifications for and approve educational than two full terms as a member of the board. § 43-33-6. Qualifications of board members programs that prepare physical therapists and physical therapist assistants for the purpose of determining qualifications of applicants for licensure; (4) Initiate investigations of alleged or suspected violations of the provisions of this article or other laws of this state pertaining to physical therapy and any rules and regulations adopted by the board. For this purpose, any board member or authorized agent of the board shall have the power and right to enter and make reasonable inspection of any place where physical therapy is practiced; (5) Conduct all hearings in contested cases according to Chapter 13 of Title 50, known as the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act”; (6) Discipline any person licensed under this article, or refuse to grant, renew, or restore a license to any person upon any ground specified in this article; (7) Adopt a seal, the imprint of which together with the authorized signature of either the division director or other member authorized by the board shall be effective to evidence its official acts;
(8) Establish licensing fees and maintain in the office of the division director a register of all persons holding a license and a record of all inspections made; (9) Adopt and publish in print or electronically a code of ethics; (10) Issue training permits; (11) Adopt such rules and regulations as shall be reasonably necessary for the enforcement and implementation of the provisions and purposes of this article and other laws of this state insofar as they relate to physical therapy; (12) Administer the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact contained in Article 2 of this chapter; and (13) Conduct criminal history records checks as determined by the board through the Georgia Crime Information Center and Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of issuing licenses; provided, however, that reports from such record checks shall not be shared with entities outside of this state. § 43-33-11. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to clearly inform public of credentials; license required; use of titles; limitation on scope of code section (a) A physical therapist shall clearly inform the public of his or her professional credential as a physical therapist. A physical therapist shall use the appropriate regulatory designator as identified by the board. (b) A physical therapist assistant shall use the letters “PTA” immediately following his or her name to designate licensure under this article. A person shall not use the title “physical therapist assistant,” the letters “PTA,” or any other words, abbreviations, or insignia in connection with that person's name to indicate or imply, directly or indirectly, that the person is a physical therapist assistant unless that person is licensed as a physical therapist assistant pursuant to this article. (c) A person or business entity and its employees, agents, or representatives shall not use in connection with that person's name or the name or activity of the business entity the words “physical therapy,” “physical therapist,” “physiotherapist,” or “doctor of physical therapy,” the letters “PT,” “CPT,” “DPT,” “LPT,” “RPT,” or “MPT,” or any other words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying, directly or indirectly, that physical therapy is provided or supplied, unless such services are provided by or under the direction of a physical therapist licensed pursuant to this article. A person or business entity shall not advertise or otherwise promote another person as being a physical therapist or physiotherapist unless the individual so advertised or promoted is licensed as a physical therapist under this article. A person or business entity that offers, provides, or bills any other person for services shall not characterize those services as physical therapy unless the individual directing and supervising those services is a person licensed under this article. (d) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services, or activities of: (1) Any person licensed under any other law of this state who is engaged in the professional or trade practices properly conducted under the authority of such other licensing laws; (2) Any person pursuing a course of study leading to a degree or certificate as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant in an entry level educational program approved by the board, if such person is designated by a title indicating student status, is fulfilling work experiences required for the attainment of the degree or certificate, and is under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist; (3) Any person enrolled in a course of study designed to develop advanced physical therapy skills when the physical therapy activities are required as part of an educational program sponsored by an educational institution approved by the board and are conducted
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