Ala. Code § 34-24-191 (2026)
Definitions.
(a) For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) BOARD. The Board of Physical Therapy established by Section 34-24-192.
(2) COMMISSION. The Physical Therapy Compact Commission, the national administrative body whose membership consists of all states that have enacted the interstate compact.
(3) COMPACT PRIVILEGE. The authorization granted by a remote state to allow a licensee from another state to practice as a physical therapist or work as a physical therapist assistant in the remote state under its laws and rules. The practice of physical therapy occurs in the state where the patient or client is located at the time of the patient or client encounter.
(4) COMPACT PRIVILEGE HOLDER. An individual licensed as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in a compact state who has been granted a compact privilege by the commission.
(5) FOREIGN EDUCATED PHYSICAL THERAPIST. A person trained or educated in the practice of physical therapy outside of the United States or any of its territorial possessions.
(6) IMPAIRED. The inability of a physical therapy licensee to practice physical therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, alcohol, chemicals, or other substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition.
(7) PHYSICAL THERAPIST. A person who practices physical therapy.
(8) PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT. A person who assists in the practice of physical therapy and whose activities require an understanding of physical therapy but do not require professional or advanced training in the anatomical, biological, and physical sciences involved in the practice of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant shall practice only under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.
(9) PHYSICAL THERAPY. The treatment of a human being by the use of exercise, massage, heat, cold, water, radiant energy, electricity, or sound for the purpose of correcting or alleviating any physical or mental condition or preventing the development of any physical or mental disability, or the performance of neuromuscular-skeletal tests and measurements to determine the existence and extent of body malfunction, as well as any other means or methods taught in schools or colleges which are recognized by the Alabama Board of Physical Therapy, so long as they do not conflict with any other provision of this article. Physical therapy does not include radiology or electrosurgery.
(10) PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE. A person trained under the direction of a physical therapist who performs designated and supervised routine tasks related to physical therapy services.
(11) PHYSICAL THERAPY LICENSEE. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is licensed under this article.
(12) PHYSICAL THERAPY REFERRER. A physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a licensed chiropractor, a licensed assistant to a physician acting pursuant to a valid supervisory agreement, or a licensed certified registered nurse practitioner in a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed physician.
(13) PHYSIOTHERAPIST. Synonymous with the term “physical therapist,” and the term shall be used to identify only those persons licensed under this article. The physical therapist may use the letters “P.T.” in connection with his or her name or place of business to denote his or her registration hereunder.
(14) RESTRICTED LICENSE.
a. For a physical therapist, a license on which the board has placed restrictions or conditions, or both, as to the scope of practice, place of practice, supervision of practice, duration of licensed status, or type or condition of patient to whom the physical therapist may provide services.
b. For a physical therapist assistant, a license on which the board has placed any restriction.
(b) Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine.
(Acts 1965, No. 476, p. 686, §2; Acts 1969, No. 622, p. 1128, §1; Acts 1982, No. 82-189, p. 218, §4; Act 2012-260, p. 502, §1; Act 2012-387, p. 1036, §1; Act 2023-480, §1; Act 2024-385, §1.)