As used in these rules, the terms and acronyms shall have the following meanings ascribed to them.

1. (1) The Act - The Occupational and Physical Therapy Practice Act of 1984.
2. (2) Advertising - Includes, but is not limited to, business solicitations, with or without limiting qualifications, in a card, sign, or device issued to a person; in a sign or marking in or on any building; or in any newspaper, magazine, directory, or other printed matter. Advertising also includes business solicitations communicated by individual(s), radio, video, or television broadcasting or any other means designed to secure public attention.
3. (3) Applicant - Any individual seeking licensure by the Board who has submitted an official application and paid the application fee.
4. (4) Board - The Board of Occupational Therapy.
5. (5) Board’s Administrative Office - The office of the administrator assigned to the Board located at 665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37243.
6. (6) Board Designee - Any person who has received a written delegation of authority from the Board to perform Board functions subject to review and ratification by the full Board where provided by these rules.
7. (7) Closed File - An administrative action which renders an incomplete or denied file inactive.
8. (8) Continued Competence - The process by which an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant develops and maintains the knowledge, critical reasoning skills, interpersonal skills, performance skills, and ethical reasoning skills necessary to perform their occupational therapy responsibilities.
9. (9) Department - Tennessee Department of Health.
10. (10) Direct Contact - Observed treatment interventions, in-person review, video-teleconferencing, and/or discussion of caseload and treatment planning. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
11. (11) Division - The Division of Health Related Boards, Department of Health, from which the Board receives administrative support.
12. (12) Dry Needling - Is defined as set forth in T.C.A § 63-13-103.
13. (13) Electrical Stimulation Certification - An authorization issued by the Board when a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant has successfully completed requirements to use a device, for which a federally required prescription is necessary, that employs transcutaneous electrical current (direct, alternating, or pulsatile) for the purpose of eliciting muscle contraction, alleviating pain, reducing edema, or drug delivery.
14. (14) Experiential Component (EC) - The experiential component is an integral part of an entry- level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program and includes an in-depth experience in one or more of the following: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. Students successfully complete all coursework and Level II fieldwork prior to the commencement of the doctoral experiential component.
15. (15) Examination Service - The testing service whose written examination has been adopted by the Board.
16. (16) Fee - Money, gifts, services, or anything of value offered or received as compensation in return for rendering services; also the fees required in Rule .06.
17. (17) Good Moral Character - The quality of being well regarded in personal behavior and professional ethics.
18. (18) He/She Him/Her - When “he” appears in the text of these rules, the word represents both the feminine and masculine genders.
19. (19) Health Related Board (HRB) - Tennessee Department of Health, Health Related Boards.
20. (20) Healthcare Provider - An individual acting within the scope of a valid license issued pursuant to Title 63.
21. (21) License - Document issued to an applicant who successfully completes the licensure process. The certificate takes the form of an “artistically designed” license as well as other versions bearing an expiration date.
22. (22) Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) - Any person who has met the qualifications for licensed occupational therapist and holds a current, unsuspended or unrevoked license which has been lawfully issued by the Board. The Occupational Therapist is responsible for and directs the evaluation process, develops the intervention plan, and provides occupational therapy services.
23. (23) Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) - Any person who has met the qualifications for licensed occupational therapy assistant and holds a current, unsuspended or unrevoked, license which has been lawfully issued by the Board. Such person works under the supervision of and in partnership with a licensed occupational therapist.
24. (24) Occupations - Everyday life activities, named, organized, and given value and meaning by individuals and their culture. The term includes everything that people do to occupy their time, including caring for their needs, enjoying life, and contributing to the social and economic fabric of their communities. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
25. (25) Person - Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.
26. (26) Recognized Educational Program - An educational program in occupational therapy approved by the Board of Occupational Therapy and accredited by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) in collaboration with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); or alternatively, as the case may be, an educational program for occupational therapy assistants approved by the Board of Occupational Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
27. (27) Registrant - Any person who has been lawfully issued a license.
28. (28) Relative - A parent, foster parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse, brother, foster brother, sister, foster sister, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in- law, or other family member who resides in the same household.

29. (29) Supervision - A collaborative process for responsible, periodic review and inspection of all aspects of occupational therapy services. The Occupational Therapist is accountable for occupational therapy services provided by the Occupational Therapy Assistant and the aide. In addition, the Occupational Therapy Assistant is accountable for occupational therapy services they provide. Within the scope of occupational therapy practice, supervision is aimed at ensuring the safe and effective delivery of occupational therapy services and fostering professional competence and development. Supervision is defined as the following:

    1. (a) Continuous: Within sight of the individual being supervised.
    2. (b) Close: Daily direct contact at the site of treatment.
    3. (c) Routine: Direct contact at least every two (2) weeks at the site of treatment, with interim supervision occurring by other methods such as telephone or written communication.
    4. (d) General: At least monthly direct contact with supervision available as needed by other methods.

    5. (e) Minimal:

       1. 1. For supervision of occupational therapists, minimal supervision may be provided on an as-needed basis and may be less than monthly.
       2. 2. For supervision of occupational therapy assistants, minimal supervision is not appropriate.
30. (30) Telehealth, Telemedicine, or Provider-Based Telemedicine - As authorized by T.C.A. § 63-1- 155, and notwithstanding any restriction imposed by T.C.A. §§ 56-7-1002 and 56-7-1003, “telehealth,” “telemedicine,” and “provider-based telemedicine” mean the use of real time audio, video, or other electronic media and telecommunication technology that enables interaction between a healthcare provider and a patient, or also store-and-forward telemedicine services as defined in T.C.A. § 56-7-1002, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of a patient at a distant site where there may be no in-person exchange between a healthcare provider and a patient.
31. (31) Thermal Agents Certification - An authorization issued by the Board when a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant has successfully completed requirements to use thermal agents, for which a federally required prescription is necessary, that include superficial heating agents (e.g., hot packs, paraffin), cryotherapy, and deep heating agents (e.g., ultrasound). OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
32. (32) Upper Limb - “Upper limb” is defined as set forth in T.C.A. § 63-13-103. (33 Use of a Title or Description - To hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationery, announcements, business cards, or other means of professional identification.
33. (34) Written Evidence - Includes, but is not limited to, written verification from supervisors or other professional colleagues familiar with the applicant’s work.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-1-155, 63-13-103, 63-13-204, 63-13-206, 63-13-207, and 63-13-216. Administrative History: Original rule filed November 22, 1978; effective January 8, 1979. Repeal and new rule filed March 15, 1996; effective May 29, 1996. Amendment filed September 11, 1998; effective November 25, 1998. Amendment filed July 31, 2000; effective October 14, 2000. Amendment filed July 29, 2002; effective October 12, 2002. Amendment filed March 10, 2005; effective May 24, 2005. Amendment filed March 24, 2005; effective June 7, 2005. Amendments filed October 11, 2005; effective December 25, 2005. Amendment filed April 17, 2007; effective July 1, 2007. References to Board of Occupational and Physical Therapy Examiners have been changed by the Secretary of State to the applicable entity: Board of Occupational Therapy and/or Board of Physical Therapy pursuant to Public Chapter 115 of the 2007 Session of the Tennessee General Assembly. Amendments filed October 21, 2009; effective January 19, 2010. Amendments filed March 23, 2026; effective June 21, 2026.