Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-915-120 Foreign educated applicants, the board of physical therapy (board) is considering changes to the requirement that passing scores for the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (ibTOEFL) all be earned during the same test sitting.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board received a petition on July 26, 2020, requesting that applicants be allowed to take the ibTOEFL and receive passing scores during multiple test sittings. This would permit an applicant to retake any failed category until a passing score is earned. Currently, WAC 246-915-120 (1)(c)(iii) requires applicants to achieve minimum scores for each category of the ibTOEFL examination during the same sitting. The petitioner stated multiple sittings for the ibTOEFL would help reduce barriers for foreign educated applicants trying to earn a license in Washington while still providing evidence of proficiency. On October 5, 2020, the board decided to accept the petition and initiate rule making consistent with RCW 34.05.330 (1)(b).

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kris Waidely, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4847, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email kris.waidely@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested persons can participate in the rule process through open public meetings and by submitting written comments, and are encouraged to sign up for the interested parties list (GovDelivery) at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. Rule-making notices will be emailed via GovDelivery.