64B17-3.001: Licensure as a Physical Therapist by Examination
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment in order to clarify requirements for licensure and to reflect the appropriate evaluation tool.
SUMMARY: The rule amendment will clarify requirements for licensure by examination and will reflect the appropriate evaluation tool.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 486.025(1), 486.031(3) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.017, 486.031, 486.051 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy Practice, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
64B17-3.001 Licensure as a Physical Therapist by Examination.
Every physical therapist who applies for licensure by examination shall satisfy and demonstrate to the Board that the applicant:
(1) through (4)(b) No change.
(c) Uses the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) coursework evaluation tool, that reflects the educational criteria in place at the time of graduation.
(d) through (h) No change.
(5) Has attained and submitted to the Board the following:
(a) A minimum of 75 professional education credits with no deficiencies in the required content sections or areas as delineated in the FSBPT coursework evaluation tool.
(b) A minimum of 60 general education credits with no deficiencies in the required content sections or areas as delineated in the FSBPT coursework evaluation tool.
(i)(c) Until and including December 31, 2006, evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination if English was not the language of instruction as evidenced by a minimum score of 220 on the computer based test or 560 on the paper test version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and 4.5 on the test of written English (TWE) and 50 on the test of spoken English (TSE).
(j)(d) Effective January 1, 2007, evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination if English was not the language of instruction as evidenced by a minimum total score of 89 on the TOEFL as well as accompanying minimum scores in the test’s four components of: 24 in writing; 26 in speaking; 21 in reading comprehension; and 18 in listening comprehension.
(k)(e) A report from the credentialing agency, in which the educational expert or physical therapist evaluator is not affiliated with the institutions or individuals under review, interpreting the foreign credentials in terms of educational equivalency in the
(f) At a minimum, the report shall contain the following information:
1. A clear and definitive statement as to whether the education is equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy educational program.
2. Whether the institution is accredited by any governmental agency and, if so, which agency.
3. A list of courses in general education and professional education with the
4. All opinions contained in the report shall be substantiated by reference to the source materials which form the basis for the opinion.
Specific Authority 486.025(1), 486.031(3) FS. Law Implemented 456.017, 486.031, 486.051 FS. History–New 8-6-84, Amended 6-2-85, Formerly 21M-7.20, Amended 5-18-86, Formerly 21M-7.020, 21MM-3.001, Amended 3-1-94, Formerly 61F11-3.001, Amended 12-22-94, 4-10-96, Formerly 59Y-3.001, Amended 12-30-98, 1-23-03, 4-9-06, 9-19-06, 3-13-07,________.