Scope of Practice is a terminology used by state licensing boards for various professions that defines the procedures, actions, and processes that are permitted for the licensed individual. The scope of practice is limited to that which the law allows for specific education and experience, and specific demonstrated competency. Each state has laws, licensing bodies, and regulations that describe requirements for education and training, and define scope of practice.

Health care professions with defined scope of practice laws and regulations include Dietitians,nursing, midwifery, emergency medical services(EMT), pharmacists, social workers, physicians and surgeons, dentists and dental hygienists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, audiologists, athletic training.

Governing, licensing, and law enforcement bodies are generally at the state level. In some cases, federal guidelines / regulations exist. For emergency medical services, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U. S. Department of Transportation has a national Scope of Practice.

(==External links==)

• Emergency Medical Services Division, NHTSA, U.S.A. Department of Transportation.

[edit] Further reading

• Gwen D Sherwood, Gwen D., et al. (1997). "Defining Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice: Expanding Primary Care Services", The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice, 1(20), 1997. (ISSN 1523-6064)
• Scope of Practice, Board of Nursing, State of Colorado
• Final Draft of the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, September 2005.
• AOSW Scope of Practice, Association of Oncology Social Work.