(a) A licensed physical therapist may enter a case for the purpose of consultation, evaluation or treatment of an individual as it relates to the individual’s need for physical therapy services, with or without a referral by a licensed medical or osteopathic physician; provided, however, that a physical therapist shall refer the individual to another health practitioner if symptoms are present for which treatment is outside the scope of the physical therapist’s knowledge. A physical therapist may treat an individual without a referral up to 30 days after which time a physician must be consulted. Physical therapy treatment of any individual shall be administered only by a licensed physical therapist. This chapter shall not prohibit physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery, chiropractic physicians, podiatrists, dentists and nurses licensed under this title from performing any physical or therapeutic modalities within the scope of their respective practices. Treatment by a physical therapist may also occur based on a referral from, or in consultation with, any licensed health practitioner, who has been granted prescriptive authority for a condition within the scope of their respective practices.

(b) Any person licensed under this chapter as an athletic trainer shall not treat any person by athletic training or otherwise, except after a physician’s referral or an evaluation by the supervising physical therapist, first aid excluded. Any person licensed under this chapter as an athletic trainer will require a physician’s referral for treatment and/or rehabilitation of injuries, other than treatment of minor sprains, strains, and contusions, first aid excluded. Treatment by an athletic trainer may occur based on a referral from, or in consultation with, any licensed health practitioner who has been granted prescriptive authority for a condition within the scope of their respective practices. An athletic trainer shall refer an individual to another licensed health practitioner if symptoms are present for which athletic training is contra-indicated or which are indicative of conditions for which treatment is outside the scope of the athletic trainer’s knowledge.

(1) All treatment of athletic injuries requires a physician’s referral, except for minor sprains, strains, and contusions, first aid excluded.

(2) Treatment of nonmusculoskeletal athletic injuries is limited to on-site sanctioned scholastic, collegiate, professional, recreational, or amateur sports settings. An athletic trainer may not treat nonathletic, nonmusculoskeletal injury, unless otherwise set forth in this chapter.

(3) Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries that are not defined as an athletic injury will require direction from a physical therapist as set forth in this chapter and the Board’s rules and regulations. An athletic trainer may not independently initiate, modify, or discontinue a physical therapy plan of care. Nothing in this chapter is to be construed to limit the practice of athletic training by athletic trainers as is currently being practiced or determined by the Board, so long as such practice does not include surgery and the medical diagnosis of disease. Advanced services may require advanced training, as determined by the Board’s rules and regulations, to assure the licensee meets the accepted standard of care.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, a physician referral specific for dry needling is required. If the initial referral is received orally, it must be followed up with a written referral.

(d) No physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or athletic trainer shall advertise or in any other way hold himself or herself out as an acupuncturist, unless that physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, or athletic trainer is a licensed acupuncturist.

64 Del. Laws, c. 192, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 17; 69 Del. Laws, c. 164, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 125, §§ 9, 10; 74 Del. Laws, c. 381, § 6; 79 Del. Laws, c. 406, § 13.