64B17-3.001: Licensure as a Physical Therapist by Examination
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To delete outdated English requirement, to make the rule consistent with Section 486.031(3)(b), F.S., and to update the licensure application.
SUMMARY: The changes delete outdated language, make the rule consistent with statutory licensure requirements, and update the application to accommodate statutory changes to licensure requirements.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: (a) Over a 5-year period, approximately 4,245 physical therapist and physical therapist assistant applications could be received. It is unknown how many applicants would be affected by the new law. (b) The only costs to be incurred are rulemaking costs. (c) through (f) N/A.
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, FL 32399-3255
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 file DOH Form #DH-MQA 1142 Application for Licensure, Revised 08/09 2/09, incorporated by reference, which is available through www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa, and demonstrate to the Board that the applicant:
(1) Is eighteen years old.
(2) Possesses good moral character.
(3) Education
(a) Has received a degree in physical therapy from an institution that has been approved for the training of physical therapists by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), at the time of graduation.;or
(b) Has graduated from a school giving a course in physical therapy in a foreign country and:
1.(4) For foreign graduates, Has has received a determination that the credentials are equivalent to education required for licensure as a physical therapist in the United States. Educational credentials equivalent to those required for the education and preparation of physical therapists in this country shall be determined by the Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) or any other Board approved credentialing agency that meets at least the following criteria:
a.(a) Has a comprehensive, standardized orientation and training program for all reviewers who must be experienced and knowledgeable in the area of physical therapy education.
b.(b) Has an audit and quality assurance or review committee that regularly meets to monitor the evaluation process and to provide random audits of the credentials reviews.
c.(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.(d) Employs full time staff support including an international expert in General Education credential equivalency and analysis.
e.(e) Has an updated, current, and comprehensive resource document library available for reference.
f.(f) Is recognized to perform visa screening by the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the federal government.
g.(g) Uses two independent physical therapists to perform the professional education component of the credentials reviews.
h.(h) Uses original documentation from the institution with institutional seals and signatures and does not permit notarized copies of transcripts or course descriptions for credentials reviews.
i.(i) 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) 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.
2.(k) 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 United States. 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 United States post-secondary equivalent course indicated.
4. All opinions contained in the report shall be substantiated by reference to the source materials which form the basis for the opinion.
Rulemaking 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, 5-11-08, 5-21-09, 8-10-09,_______.