Purpose: WAC 246-915-120 Foreign educated applicants, the board of physical therapy (board) is eliminating 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. 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. 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. The board accepted the petition and initiated a rule making. This rule change permits an applicant to retake any failed category until a passing score is earned.

(1) An applicant whose first professional degree in physical therapy was awarded from a foreign physical therapy program that is not or was not accredited by the CAPTE shall submit:

(a) An application for review by the board;

(b) A credentials evaluation report of professional education and training prepared by a board-approved credentials evaluation agency. The report must be sent directly from the credentialing agency to the board. It is the responsibility of the applicant to pay the expenses associated with the credentials evaluation:

(i) The report must provide evidence and documentation that the applicant completed education outside a state or territory of the United States that is substantially equivalent to the education of a physical therapist who graduated from a physical therapy education program accredited by CAPTE.

(ii) To be approved as a credentialing agency, the agency must use the appropriate course work tool (CWT) adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy to determine substantial equivalency. The appropriate CWT means the CWT in place at the time the foreign educated physical therapist earned their first professional degree in physical therapy.

(i) Verification that English is the native language of the country of origin, and the physical therapy program employs English as the language of training; or

(ii) Verification that the applicant has achieved a score of not less than ((five hundred sixty))560 on the paper Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of not less than ((two hundred twenty))220 on the computer Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a score of not less than ((fifty))50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and a score of not less than four and one-half on the Test of Written English (TWE); or

(iii) Verification that the applicant has achieved an overall score of not less than 89, and the following minimum scores for each category of the internet-based TOEFL (ibTOEFL) examination: Writing, ((twenty-four))24; speaking, ((twenty-six))26; reading, ((twenty-one))21; listening, ((eighteen; with an overall score of not less than eighty-nine. These passing scores must all be earned during the same test sitting))18.

(d) Verification of a valid, unencumbered license or authorization to practice physical therapy in the country in which the physical therapy education was obtained;

(e) Official transcripts from the physical therapy program showing degree date;

(f) Passing scores for the Washington jurisprudence examination;

(g) Passing scores for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE); and

(h) Any additional supporting documentation as requested by the board.

(2) The applicant shall have received a grade of "C" or higher (or equivalent) in all professional education course work;

(3) The applicant may apply for the college-level education program (CLEP) and their scores may be applied toward college credit. The board will consider the conversion of CLEP scores to college credits provided by a board-approved credentialing agency;

(4) The board may allow applicants to correct general education deficiencies by completing board-approved course work. To obtain professional course work preapproval, the applicant shall submit a written request along with the course description/syllabus for the proposed course; and

(5) An applicant whose first professional degree in physical therapy was awarded from a foreign physical therapy program that is or was accredited by the CAPTE shall follow the requirements under WAC 246-915-030 and 246-915-100.