For the purposes of this chapter:
"Advertisement" means any communication or statement, whether printed, electronic or oral, that names the health care practitioner in relation to his or her practice, profession, or institution in which the individual is employed, volunteers or otherwise provides health care services. This includes business cards, letterhead, patient brochures, email, Internet, audio and video, and any other communication or statement used in the course of business or any other definition provided by regulations of the licensing board of proper jurisdiction.
"Deceptive" or "misleading" includes, but is not limited to, any advertisement or affirmative communication or representation that misstates, falsely describes, holds out or falsely details the health care practitioner's profession, skills, training, expertise, education, board certification or licensure as determined by each respective licensing board.
"Health care practitioner" means any person who engages in acts that are the subject of licensure or regulation. Categories of health care practitioner include:
Practitioners of allopathic medicine, signified by the letters "M.D." or the words surgeon, medical doctor, or doctor of medicine by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery.
Practitioners of osteopathic medicine, signified by the letters "D.O." or the words surgeon, osteopathic surgeon, osteopath, doctor of osteopathy, or doctor of osteopathic medicine.
Practitioners of nursing, signified by the letters "D.N.P.," "N.P.," "R.N.," "L.P.N.," "C.R.N.A.," or any other commonly used signifier to denote a doctorate of nursing practice, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or certified registered nurse anesthetist, respectively, as appropriate to signify the appropriate degree of licensure and degree earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the appropriate field of learning.
Practitioners of podiatry, signified by the letters "D.P.M." or the words podiatrist, doctor of podiatry, podiatric surgeon, or doctor of podiatric medicine.
Practitioners of chiropractic, signified by the letters "D.C." or the words chiropractor, doctor of chiropractic or chiropractic physician.
Practitioners of dentistry, signified by the letters "D.D.S." or "D.M.D.," as appropriate, or the words dentist, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine, as appropriate.
Practitioners of optometry, signified by the letters "O.D." or the words optometrist or doctor of optometry.
Practitioners of pharmacy, signified by the letters "BSc.Pharm" or "Pharm.D." or the words pharmacists or doctor of pharmacy.
Physician assistants, signified by the letters "P.A." or the words physician assistant.
Medical assistants, signified by the letters "M.A." or the words medical assistant.
Practitioners of audiology, signified by the letters "Au.D.," "Sc.D." or "Ph.D.," or the words audiologist or doctor of audiology.
Psychologists, therapists, speech-language pathologists, counselors, or any other health care practitioner not covered under this section, including, but not limited to, those signified by the letters "Ph.D.," "Ed.D.," "P.T.," "M.P.T." or "Psy.D.," or "Sc.D.," as appropriate to signify the appropriate degree of licensure and degree earned from a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the appropriate field of learning.
"Licensee" means a health care practitioner who holds an active license with the licensing board governing his or her practice in this state.