Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 725.2
Right to Use Word "Doctor" or Abbreviation Thereof
Effective Jul 1, 2004Laws 1947, HB 159, c. 16, § 2, emerg. eff. March 13, 1947; Amended by Laws 1991, SB 461, c. 265, § 20, eff. October 1, 1991; Amended by Laws 1993, SB 139, c. 168, § 1, eff. September 1, 1993; Amended by Laws 2000, HB 2090, c. 52, § 1, emerg. eff. April 14, 2000 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2004, SB 1280, c. 543, § 5, emerg. eff. July 1, 2004 (superseded document available).
A. The following nine classes of persons may use the word "Doctor", or an abbreviation thereof, and shall have the right to use, whether or not in conjunction with the word "Doctor", or any abbreviation thereof, the following designations:
- 1. The letters "D.P.M." by a person licensed to practice podiatry under Chapter 4 of this title;
- 2. The letters "D.C." by a person licensed to practice chiropractic under Chapter 5 of this title;
- 3. The letters "D.D.S." by a person licensed to practice dentistry under Chapter 7 of this title;
- 4. The letters "M.D." by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under Chapter 11 of this title;
- 5. The letters "O.D." by a person licensed to practice optometry under Chapter 13 of this title;
- 6. The letters "D.O." by a person licensed to practice osteopathy under Chapter 14 of this title;
- 7. The letters "Ph.D.", "Ed.D." or "Psy.D." by a person licensed as a health service psychologist pursuant to the Psychologists Licensing Act;
- 8. The letters "Ph.D.", "Ed.D." or other letters representing a doctoral degree by a person licensed as a speech and language pathologist pursuant to the Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act and who has earned a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the field of speech and language pathology; and
- 9. The letters "Ph.D.", "Ed.D." or other letters representing a doctoral degree by a person licensed as an audiologist pursuant to the Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Act and who has earned a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning in the field of audiology.
- B. Unless otherwise specifically provided in a particular section or chapter of the Oklahoma Statutes, the word "doctor" or "doctors" shall mean and include each of the nine classes of persons listed in subsection A of this section.
- C. Unless otherwise specifically provided in a particular section or chapter of the Oklahoma Statutes, the word "physician" or "physicians" shall mean and include each of the classes of persons listed in paragraphs 1 through 6 of subsection A of this section. The term "physician" shall not include any person specified in paragraphs 7 through 9 of subsection A of this section unless such person is otherwise authorized to use such designation pursuant to this section.
- D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person licensed in this state to perform speech pathology or audiology services is hereby designated to be a practitioner of the healing art for purposes of making a referral for speech pathology or audiology services pursuant to the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Amendment of 1997, Public Law 105-17, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Laws 1947, HB 159, c. 16, § 2, emerg. eff. March 13, 1947; Amended by Laws 1991, SB 461, c. 265, § 20, eff. October 1, 1991; Amended by Laws 1993, SB 139, c. 168, § 1, eff. September 1, 1993; Amended by Laws 2000, HB 2090, c. 52, § 1, emerg. eff. April 14, 2000 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2004, SB 1280, c. 543, § 5, emerg. eff. July 1, 2004 (superseded document available).