License Requirements for Therapy Techniques Involving Physical Agent Modalities

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Professions and Businesses
  4. Occupational Therapists
  5. License Requirements for Therapy Techniques Involving Physical Agent Modalities

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  1. No person shall utilize occupational therapy techniques involving physical agent modalities unless such person:
    1. Is licensed according to this chapter; and
    2. Has successfully completed a minimum of 90 hours of instruction or training approved by the board which covers the following subjects:
      1. Principles of physics related to specific properties of light, water, temperature, sound, or electricity, as indicated by selected modality;
      2. Physiological, neurophysiological, and electrophysiological, as indicated, changes which occur as a result of the application of the selected modality;
      3. The response of normal and abnormal tissue to the application of the modality;
      4. Indications and contraindications related to the selection and application of the modality;
      5. Guidelines for treatment or administration of the modality within the philosophical framework of occupational therapy;
      6. Appropriate selection and practical application of physical agent modalities, including determining treatment parameters based on existing pathology, impairments, functional limitations, and expected outcomes;
      7. Guidelines for educating the patient, including instructing the patient as to the process and possible outcomes of treatment, including risks and benefits;
      8. Safety rules and precautions related to the selected modality;
      9. Methods for documenting the effectiveness of immediate and long-term effects of treatment; and
      10. Characteristics of the equipment, including safe operation, adjustment, and care of the equipment.
  2. The board shall promulgate rules and regulations specifically pertaining to the use of physical agent modalities by a person licensed under this chapter.

(Code 1981, §43-28-8.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 379, § 4; Ga. L. 1994, p. 97, § 43; Code 1981, §43-28-8, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2019, p. 745, § 1/HB 253.)

The 2019 amendment, effective July 1, 2019, redesignated former Code Section 43-28-8.1 as this Code section; deleted former paragraph (a)(2), which read: "Has utilized such modalities before July 1, 1991, furnishes to the board prior to July 1, 1992, sufficient proof of such prior use, and demonstrates to the board competence in the use of such modalities determined by the board to have been so used prior to July 1, 1991; or"; redesignated former paragraph (a)(3) as present paragraph (a)(2); added subparagraph (a)(2)(F); redesignated former subparagraphs (a)(2)(F) through (a)(2)(I) as subparagraphs (a)(2)(G) through (a)(2)(J), respectively; inserted a comma following "patient" in subparagraph (a)(2)(G) and inserted a comma following "equipment" in subparagraph (a)(2)(J).


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