{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-3474.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-3474.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-3474.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-3474.html"}],"law_id":368805,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368805,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3474","catch_line":"Unlawful to practice without license; continuing competency requirements","history":"2000, c. 688; 2001, c. 858.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to practice physical therapy or as a physical therapist assistant in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license issued by the Board.\n\nB\n\nThe Board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements to ensure continuing competency of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which may include continuing education, testing, or such other requirements as the Board may determine to be necessary.\n\nC\n\nIn promulgating continuing competency requirements, the Board shall consider (i) the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care, (iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v) appropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing health care system.\n\nD\n\nThe Board may approve persons who provide or accredit programs to ensure continuing competency.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1374504,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to practice physical therapy or as a physical therapist assistant in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license issued by the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1374505,"text":"The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements to ensure continuing competency of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, which may include continuing education, testing, or such other requirements as the Board may determine to be necessary.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1374506,"text":"In promulgating continuing competency requirements, the Board shall consider (i) the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care, (iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v) appropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing health care system.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1374507,"text":"The Board may approve persons who provide or accredit programs to ensure continuing competency.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52549,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52548,"metadata":{"child_laws":14,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:00:51","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:13","permalink":{"id":1470757,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52549,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52548,"edition_id":2,"name":"Physical Therapy","identifier":"34.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":15,"parent_id":52479,"metadata":{"child_laws":26,"child_structures":2},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:00:51","date_modified":"2026-08-02 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12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":368804,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3473","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3473\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3473","metadata":false},{"id":368805,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3474","catch_line":"Unlawful to practice without license; continuing competency requirements","url":"\/54.1-3474\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3474","metadata":false},{"id":368806,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3475","catch_line":"Board of Physical Therapy; appointment; qualifications; officers; nominations","url":"\/54.1-3475\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3475","metadata":false},{"id":368807,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3476","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-3476\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3476","metadata":false},{"id":368808,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3477","catch_line":"Requirements for licensure as a physical therapist","url":"\/54.1-3477\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3477","metadata":false},{"id":368809,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3478","catch_line":"Requirements for licensure as a physical therapist assistant","url":"\/54.1-3478\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3478","metadata":false},{"id":368810,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3479","catch_line":"Licensure by examination or endorsement; traineeships","url":"\/54.1-3479\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3479","metadata":false},{"id":368812,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3480","catch_line":"Refusal, revocation or suspension","url":"\/54.1-3480\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3480","metadata":false},{"id":368811,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3480.1","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3480.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3480.1","metadata":false},{"id":368813,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3481","catch_line":"Unlawful designation as physical therapist or physical therapist assistant; penalty","url":"\/54.1-3481\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3481","metadata":false},{"id":368815,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3482","catch_line":"Practice of physical therapy; certain experience and referrals required; physical therapist assistants","url":"\/54.1-3482\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3482","metadata":false},{"id":368814,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3482.1","catch_line":"Certain certification required","url":"\/54.1-3482.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3482.1","metadata":false},{"id":368816,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3483","catch_line":"Unprofessional conduct","url":"\/54.1-3483\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3483","metadata":false},{"id":368817,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3484","catch_line":"Criminal history background checks","url":"\/54.1-3484\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3484","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":368804,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3473","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3473\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3473","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":368806,"structure_id":52549,"section_number":"54.1-3475","catch_line":"Board of Physical Therapy; appointment; qualifications; officers; nominations","url":"\/54.1-3475\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3475","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3474\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 688<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2001, chapter 858<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1470763,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368805,"identifier":"54.1-3474","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3474","url":"\/54.1-3474\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3474\/","token":"54.1\/III\/34.1\/1\/54.1-3474","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful to practice without license; continuing competency requirements","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3474","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to practice physical therapy or as a physical therapist assistant<\/span> in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license issued by the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements to ensure continuing competency of physical therapists<\/span> and physical therapist assistants<\/span>, which may include continuing education, testing, or such other requirements as the Board<\/span> may determine to be necessary. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> In promulgating continuing competency requirements, the Board<\/span> shall consider (i) the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care, (iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v) appropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing health care system. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Board<\/span> may approve persons who provide or accredit programs to ensure continuing competency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL TO PRACTICE WITHOUT LICENSE; CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS (\u00a7\n54.1-3474)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person to practice physical therapy or as a\nphysical therapist assistant in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked\nlicense issued by the Board.\n\nB. The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements to ensure\ncontinuing competency of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants,\nwhich may include continuing education, testing, or such other requirements as\nthe Board may determine to be necessary.\n\nC. In promulgating continuing competency requirements, the Board shall consider\n(i) the need to promote ethical practice, (ii) an appropriate standard of care,\n(iii) patient safety, (iv) application of new medical technology, (v)\nappropriate communication with patients, and (vi) knowledge of the changing\nhealth care system.\n\nD. The Board may approve persons who provide or accredit programs to ensure\ncontinuing competency.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 688; 2001, c. 858.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}