(a) “Advisory council” means the Mississippi Council of Advisors in Athletic Training established in this chapter.

(b) “Athletic training” means the treatment of an athlete for risk management and athletic injury prevention, the clinical evaluation and assessment of an athlete for an injury or illness, or both, the immediate care and treatment for an injury or illness, or both, and the rehabilitation and reconditioning of an athlete’s injury or illness, or both, as long as those activities are performed under the direction of a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The practice of athletic training does not include the practice of physical therapy, the practice of medicine, the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery, the practice of nursing or the practice of chiropractic.

(c) “Athletic trainer” means a person licensed by the State Department of Health as an athletic trainer after meeting the requirements of this chapter and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, who, upon the advice, consent and oral or written prescriptions or referrals of a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, carries out the practice of athletic training, and in carrying out these functions the athletic trainer is authorized to use physical modalities, such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity or mechanical devices related to prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, rehabilitation and treatment. An athletic trainer shall practice only in those areas in which the athletic trainer is competent by reason of training or experience that can be substantiated by records or other evidence found acceptable by the board in the exercise of the board’s considered discretion.

(d) “Athletic injury” means any injury sustained by a person as a result of the person’s participation in sports, games or recreational activities requiring physical strength, flexibility, range of motion, speed or stamina, or comparable injury.

(e) “Athlete” means an individual who participates in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed or stamina; or an individual with an athletic injury that a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant deems would benefit from athletic training services.

(f) “Department” means the State Department of Health.

(g) “Clinical setting” means a hospital, department, outpatient facility or clinic whose primary purpose is sports medicine, rehabilitation or wellness.

(h) “Nonclinical setting” means a location where school, professional, recreational or sanctioned amateur athletic activities are being held.

(i) “Board” means the State Board of Health.

(j) “Physician” means a physician licensed by the State Board of Medical Licensure.

(k) “BOC, Inc.,” means the Board of Certification, Incorporated, or its successor agency, the National Credentialing Agency of Athletic Trainers; formerly referred to as the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, Inc.