Virginia legal term
Practitioner in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Practitioner” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Virginia criminal code.
What does “Practitioner” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Practitioner" means a physician, dentist, licensed advanced practice registered nurse pursuant to § 54.1-2957.01 , licensed physician assistant pursuant to § 54.1-2952.1 , pharmacist pursuant to § 54.1-3300 , TPA-certified optometrist pursuant to Article 5 (§ 54.1-3222 et seq.) of Chapter 32, veterinarian, scientific investigator, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, prescribe and administer, or conduct research with respect to a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in the Commonwealth. (Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-3401)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.