Illinois § 1

§ 1.

Definitions. As used in this Act: (1) "Physical therapy" means all of the following: (A) Examining, evaluating, and testing individuals who may have mechanical, physiological, or developmental impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or other health and movement-related conditions, classifying these disorders, determining a rehabilitation prognosis and plan of therapeutic intervention, and assessing the ongoing effects of the interventions. (B) Alleviating impairments, functional limitations, or disabilities by designing, implementing, and modifying therapeutic interventions that may include, but are not limited to, the evaluation or treatment of a person through the use of the effective properties of physical measures and heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity, sound, and air and use of therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise, mobilization, dry needling, and rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices, for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental impairment, functional limitation, or disability. (C) Reducing the risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation, or disability, including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health, and wellness. (D) Engaging in administration, consultation, education, and research. "Physical therapy" includes, but is not limited to: (a) performance of specialized tests and measurements, (b) administration of specialized treatment procedures, (c) interpretation of referrals from physicians, dentists, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and podiatric physicians, (d) establishment, and modification of physical therapy treatment programs, (e) administration of topical medication used in generally accepted physical therapy procedures when such medication is either prescribed by the patient's physician, licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, the patient's physician licensed to practice podiatric medicine, the patient's advanced practice registered nurse, the patient's physician assistant, or the patient's dentist or used following the physician's orders or written instructions, (f) supervision or teaching of physical therapy, and (g) dry needling in accordance with Section 1.5. "Physical therapy" does not include radiology, electrosurgery, acupuncture, chiropractic technique or determination of a differential diagnosis; provided, however, the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist licensed under this Act from performing an evaluation and establishing a physical therapy treatment plan pursuant to such license. Nothing in this Section shall limit a physical therapist from employing appropriate physical therapy techniques that he or she is educated and licensed to perform. (2) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical therapy and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act. (3) "Department" means the Department of Professional Regulation. (4) "Director" means the Director of Professional Regulation. (5) "Board" means the Physical Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board approved by the Director. (6) "Referral" means a written or oral authorization for physical therapy services for a patient by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician who maintains medical supervision of the patient and makes a diagnosis or verifies that the patient's condition is such that it may be treated by a physical therapist. (7) (Blank). (8) "State" includes: (a) the states of the United States of America; (b) the District of Columbia; and (c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (9) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed to assist a physical therapist and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act and who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to assist in implementing the physical therapy treatment program as established by the licensed physical therapist. The patient care activities provided by the physical therapist assistant shall not include the interpretation of referrals, evaluation procedures, or the planning or major modification of patient programs. (10) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who has received on the job training, specific to the facility in which he is employed. (11) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means a person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under the Nurse Practice Act. (12) "Physician assistant" means a person licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. (13) "Health care professional" means a physician, dentist, podiatric physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant. (Source: P.A. 102-307, eff. 1-1-22.) (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-154) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2031) Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act: (1) "Physical therapy" means all of the following: (A) Examining, evaluating, and testing individuals who may have mechanical, physiological, or developmental impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or other health and movement-related conditions, classifying these disorders, determining a rehabilitation prognosis and plan of therapeutic intervention, and assessing the ongoing effects of the interventions. (B) Alleviating impairments, functional limitations, or disabilities by designing, implementing, and modifying therapeutic interventions that may include, but are not limited to, the evaluation or treatment of a patient through the use of the effective properties of physical measures and heat, cold, light, water, radiant energy, electricity, sound, and air and use of therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise, mobilization, dry needling, and rehabilitative procedures, with or without assistive devices and equipment, for the purposes of preventing, correcting, or alleviating a physical or mental impairment, functional limitation, or disability. (C) Reducing the risk of injury, impairment, functional limitation, or disability, including the promotion and maintenance of fitness, health, and wellness. (D) Engaging in administration, consultation, education, and research. "Physical therapy" includes, but is not limited to: (a) performance of specialized tests and measurements, (b) administration of specialized treatment procedures, (c) interpretation of referrals from physicians, dentists, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and podiatric physicians, (d) establishment, and modification of physical therapy treatment programs, (e) administration of topical medication used in generally accepted physical therapy procedures when such medication is either prescribed by the patient's physician, licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, the patient's physician licensed to practice podiatric medicine, the patient's advanced practice registered nurse, the patient's physician assistant, or the patient's dentist or used following the physician's orders or written instructions, (f) supervision or teaching of physical therapy, and (g) dry needling in accordance with Section 1.5. "Physical therapy" does not include practicing radiology, electrosurgery, acupuncture, chiropractic technique or providing a determination of a differential diagnosis; provided, however, the limitation on determining a differential diagnosis shall not in any manner limit a physical therapist licensed under this Act from performing an evaluation and establishing a physical therapy treatment plan pursuant to such license. Nothing in this Section shall limit a physical therapist from employing appropriate physical therapy techniques that the physical therapist is educated and licensed to perform. (2) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical therapy and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act. (3) "Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. (4) "Director" means the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with the duties as designated by the Secretary. (5) "Board" means the Physical Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board approved by the Secretary. (6) "Referral" means a written or oral authorization for physical therapy services for a patient by a physician, dentist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or podiatric physician who maintains medical supervision of the patient and makes a diagnosis or verifies that the patient's condition is such that it may be treated by a physical therapist. (7) (Blank). (8) "State" includes: (a) the states of the United States of America; (b) the District of Columbia; and (c) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (9) "Physical therapist assistant" means a person licensed to assist a physical therapist and who has met all requirements as provided in this Act and who works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to assist in implementing the physical therapy treatment program as established by the licensed physical therapist. The patient care activities provided by the physical therapist assistant shall not include the interpretation of referrals, evaluation procedures, or the planning or major modification of patient programs. (10) "Physical therapy aide" means a person who has received on the job training, specific to the facility in which he is employed. (11) (Blank). (12) (Blank). (13) "Health care professional" means a physician, dentist, podiatric physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant. (14) "Address of record" means a designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit. (15) "Email address of record" means a designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit. (16) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. (Source: P.A. 104-154, eff. 1-1-26.)