Chapter 448

448.9545(2)(a) (a) A course that has been approved for continuing education credit by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, Inc., or its successor agency.

448.9545(2)(b) (b) Any course that satisfies all of the following:

448.9545(2)(b)1. 1. The course is directly related to the practice of athletic training or sports medicine and lasts at least one hour.

448.9545(2)(b)2. 2. Each member of the course faculty has expertise in the subject area of the course because he or she has received a degree from an accredited college or university relating to the subject area, has experience or special training in the subject area covered by the course or has previously taught the subject area covered by the course.

448.9545(2)(b)3. 3. The course has specific written objectives describing the goals of the course for the participants.

448.9545(2)(b)4. 4. The sponsor of the course keeps attendance records for the course and retains copies of those records for at least 4 years after the date of the course.

448.9545 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 162.

448.9545 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. AT 3, Wis. adm. code.

448.955 448.955 Issuance of license; expiration and renewal.

448.955(1) (1) The renewal dates for licenses granted under this subchapter are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).

448.955(2) (2) Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided, subject to sub. (3), by the department and shall include the renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a) and evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the licensee has all of the following:

448.955(2)(a) (a) Completed, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a), the continuing education requirements specified in s. 448.9545.

448.955(2)(b) (b) Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

448.955(2)(c) (c) Liability insurance or a surety bond in at least the minimum amount required by the rules promulgated under s. 448.9525 (1) (d).

448.955(2)(d) (d) Current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator achieved through instruction provided by an individual, organization, or institution of higher education approved under s. 46.03 (38) to provide such instruction.

448.955(3) (3) A renewal application form for renewal of a license issued under this subchapter shall include all of the following:

448.955(3)(a) (a) A place for the licensee to describe his or her work history, including the average number of hours worked each week, for the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a).

448.955(3)(c) (c) A statement signed by the licensee indicating that a current copy of the protocol required under s. 448.956 (1) is on file at the place of employment of the athletic trainer.

448.955 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2007 a. 20, 104; 2009 a. 162; 2021 a. 71.

448.955 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. AT 2, Wis. adm. code.

448.956 448.956 Practice requirements.

448.956(1) (1) 

448.956(1)(a) (a) A licensee may engage in athletic training only in accordance with an evaluation and treatment protocol that is established by the athletic trainer in accordance with the rules promulgated under s. 448.9525 (2) and recorded on a protocol form prescribed by the affiliated credentialing board under s. 448.9525 (1) (c).

448.956(1)(b) (b) A licensee shall have a copy of the protocol established under par. (a) at his or her place of employment at all times.

448.956(1)(c) (c) A protocol established under par. (a) shall be updated no later than 30 days before the date specified in s. 440.08 (2) (a) 14f.

448.956(1m) (1m) Subject to sub. (1) (a), a licensee may provide athletic training to an individual without a referral, except that a licensee may not provide athletic training as described under s. 448.95 (5) (d) or (e) in an outpatient rehabilitation setting unless the licensee has obtained a written referral for the individual from a practitioner licensed or certified under subch. II, III, IV, V, or VII of this chapter; under ch. 446; or under s. 441.16 (2) or from a practitioner who holds a compact privilege under subch. XI or XII of ch. 448.

448.956 Note NOTE: Sub. (1m) is shown as affected by 2021 Wis. Acts 23 and 251 and as merged by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (2) (i). The cross-reference to subch. XI of ch. 448 was changed from subch. X of ch. 448 and the cross-reference to subch. XII of ch. 448 was changed from subch. XI of ch. 448 by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. to reflect the renumbering under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. of subchs. X and XI of ch. 448.

448.956(2) (2) In addition to engaging in athletic training under a protocol established under sub. (1), a licensee may do any of the following:

448.956(2)(a) (a) Monitor the general behavior and general physical response of a person to treatment and rehabilitation, including monitoring whether the person’s behavior or response show abnormal characteristics and monitoring whether the person exhibits abnormal signs or symptoms.

448.956(2)(b) (b) Suggest modifications in treatment or rehabilitation of an injured person to the health care practitioner who referred the person to the athletic trainer or to any other health care provider who is providing treatment to the person.

448.956(2)(c) (c) Develop and administer an athletic training program for a person. An athletic training program under this paragraph may include providing education and counseling to a person.

448.956(3) (3) When working on behalf of his or her employer, a licensee may, in accordance with a protocol established under sub. (1) (a), do all of the following:

448.956(3)(a) (a) Treat and rehabilitate an injury or illness using cold, heat, light, sound, electricity, exercise, chemicals, or mechanical devices.

448.956(3)(b) (b) Evaluate and treat a person for an injury or illness that has not previously been diagnosed.

448.956(3)(c) (c) Treat or rehabilitate an employee with an injury or illness that has resulted from an employment activity as directed, supervised, and inspected by a physician, as defined in s. 448.01 (5), or by a person licensed under s. 446.02, who has the power to direct, decide, and oversee the implementation of the treatment or rehabilitation.

448.956(4) (4) If a licensee determines that a patient’s medical condition is beyond the scope of practice of the licensee, the licensee shall, in accordance with the protocol established under sub. (1) (a), refer the patient to a health care practitioner who is licensed under ch. 446 or 447 or subch. II, III or IV of ch. 448; or who holds a compact privilege under subch. II of ch. 447 or subch. XI of ch. 448 and who can provide appropriate treatment to the patient.

448.956 Note NOTE: The cross-reference to subch. XI of ch. 448 was changed from subch. X of ch. 448 by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. to reflect the renumbering under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2. of subch. X of ch. 448.

448.956(5) (5) A licensee shall modify or terminate treatment of a patient that is not beneficial to a patient or that the patient cannot tolerate.

448.956 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 162; 2019 a. 100; 2021 a. 23 s. 71; 2021 a. 71, 123, 240, 251; 2023 a. 88; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.; s. 13.92 (2) (i).

448.956 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. AT 4, Wis. adm. code.

448.957 448.957 Disciplinary proceedings and actions.

448.957(1) (1) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the affiliated credentialing board may make investigations and conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter has occurred.

448.957(2) (2) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the affiliated credentialing board may reprimand a licensee or may deny, limit, suspend or revoke a license granted under this subchapter if it finds that the applicant or licensee has done any of the following:

448.957(2)(a) (a) Made a material misstatement in an application for a license or for renewal of a license.

448.957(2)(b) (b) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, been convicted of an offense the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of athletic training.

448.957(2)(c) (c) Advertised in a manner that is false, deceptive or misleading.

448.957(2)(d) (d) Advertised, practiced or attempted to practice under another’s name.

448.957(2)(e) (e) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.34, practiced athletic training while the applicant’s or licensee’s ability to practice was impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

448.957(2)(f) (f) Engaged in unprofessional or unethical conduct.

448.957(2)(g) (g) Engaged in conduct while practicing athletic training that evidences a lack of knowledge or ability to apply professional principles or skills.

448.957(2)(h) (h) Failed to cooperate with the affiliated credentialing board in an investigation under this section.

448.957(2)(i) (i) Aided another person in violating this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter.

448.957(2)(j) (j) Violated this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter.

448.957(3) (3) In addition to or in lieu of the penalties provided under sub. (2), the affiliated credentialing board may assess against an applicant or licensee a forfeiture of not more than $10,000 for each violation specified under sub. (2).

448.957 History History: 1999 a. 9.

448.957 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. AT 5, Wis. adm. code.

448.958 448.958 Injunctive relief. If the affiliated credentialing board has reason to believe that any person is violating this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter, the affiliated credentialing board, the department, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county may investigate and may, in addition to any other remedies, bring an action in the name and on behalf of this state to enjoin the person from the violation.

448.958 History History: 1999 a. 9.

448.959 448.959 Penalties. Any person who violates this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

448.959 History History: 1999 a. 9.

subch. VII of ch. 448 SUBCHAPTER VII

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AFFILIATED
CREDENTIALING BOARD

Subch. VII of ch. 448 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also OT, Wis. adm. code.

448.96 448.96 Definitions. In this subchapter:

448.96(1) (1) “Affiliated credentialing board” means the occupational therapists affiliated credentialing board.

448.96(1n) (1n) “Compact” means the occupational therapy licensure compact under s. 448.987.

448.96(1o) (1o) “Compact privilege” means a compact privilege, as defined in s. 448.987 (2) (d), that is granted under the compact to an individual to practice in this state.

448.96(2) (2) “Licensee” means an individual granted a license under this subchapter.

448.96(3) (3) “Occupation” means intentional, action-oriented behavior that is personally meaningful to an individual and that is determined by the individual’s characteristics, culture and environment.

448.96(4) (4) “Occupational therapist” means an individual who is licensed by the affiliated credentialing board to practice occupational therapy or who holds an occupational therapist compact privilege.

448.96(5) (5) “Occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful occupations to evaluate and treat individuals of all ages who have a disease, disorder, impairment, activity limitation or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles and environments and to promote health and wellness.

448.96(6) (6) “Occupational therapy assistant” means an individual who is licensed by the affiliated credentialing board to assist in the practice of occupational therapy under the supervision of an occupational therapist or who holds an occupational therapy assistant compact privilege.

448.96 History History: 1999 a. 180 ss. 20, 22, 56; 2021 a. 123.

448.961 448.961 License required.

448.961(1) (1) Except as provided in s. 448.962 (1), no person may practice occupational therapy, designate himself or herself as an occupational therapist, claim to render occupational therapy services, or use the abbreviation “O.T.” or “O.T.R.” after the person’s name unless the person is licensed as an occupational therapist or holds a valid occupational therapist compact privilege.

448.961(2) (2) Except as provided in s. 448.962 (2), no person may assist in the practice of occupational therapy, describe himself or herself as an occupational therapy assistant, claim to render occupational therapy services as an occupational therapy assistant, or use the abbreviation “O.T.A.” or “C.O.T.A.” after the person’s name unless the person is licensed as an occupational therapy assistant or holds a valid occupational therapy assistant compact privilege.

448.961 History History: 1999 a. 180 ss. 24, 28, 56; 2021 a. 123.

448.961 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. OT 4, Wis. adm. code.

448.962 448.962 Applicability. This subchapter does not do any of the following:

448.962(1) (1) Require any of the following to be licensed as an occupational therapist:

448.962(1)(a) (a) Any person employed as an occupational therapist by a federal agency, as defined under s. 59.57 (2) (c) 1., if the person provides occupational therapy solely under the direction or control of the federal agency by which he or she is employed.

448.962(1)(b) (b) Any person pursuing a supervised course of study, including internship, leading to a degree or certificate in occupational therapy under an accredited or approved educational program, if the person is designated by a title which clearly indicates his or her status as a student or trainee.

448.962(1)(c) (c) Any person performing occupational therapy services in this state under a limited permit, as provided under s. 448.963 (4), if at least one of the following applies:

448.962(1)(c)1. 1. The person is licensed or certified as an occupational therapist under the law of another state which has licensure or certification requirements that are determined by the board to be at least as stringent as the requirements of this subchapter.

448.962(1)(c)2. 2. The person meets the requirements for initial certification as an occupational therapist, registered, established by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

448.962(1)(d) (d) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.

448.962(1)(e) (e) Any person assisting an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in practice under the direct, immediate and on-premises supervision of the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.

448.962(2) (2) Require any of the following to be licensed as an occupational therapy assistant:

448.962(2)(a) (a) Any person employed as an occupational therapy assistant by a federal agency, as defined under s. 59.57 (2) (c) 1., if the person provides occupational therapy solely under the direction or control of the federal agency by which he or she is employed.