Are you a foreign-trained physical therapist with dreams of practicing physical therapy in the United States? As someone who has personally navigated the process and guided numerous students like you, I understand the unique challenges and uncertainties you may be facing. In this blog post, I will share my expertise and firsthand experience to help you navigate the step-by-step process of obtaining a PT license as a foreign-trained physical therapist in the USA.
I understand that the process of obtaining a license as a foreign-trained physical therapist in the USA can seem overwhelming and confusing at first. With numerous requirements, paperwork, and unfamiliar terminology, you may feel unsure about where to even begin.
You’re not alone in this journey, and I’m here to simplify the process for you. I have been through this and I recognize the need for clear guidance. Consider this blog post as your roadmap, providing step-by-step directions and valuable insights to make the journey less daunting.
To be able to start working as a physical therapist in the USA you will need to work on 2 important things:
(Disclaimer: I help you with the US licensing process, discussed later in this article. I am not an immigration expert/ lawyer. Please consult immigration experts/lawyers for the most updated and accurate information about US Visas.)
The United States Commission on Immigration Services (USCIS) has strict requirements for all foreign-trained healthcare workers, including PTs. You will need HCWC in order to obtain a work visa. It is not needed when you have H4 EAD or when working on OPT extension.
This involves 3 main steps
Let’s break down each step to understand this process better
As a foreign-trained physical therapist in the USA, you need to provide evidence that your education is substantially equivalent to a physical therapist trained in the USA. This process involves submitting your academic documents such as your transcripts, mark sheet syllabus, etc to a credentialing agency.
The credentialing agencies recognized by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) to issue healthcare worker certificates are:
(I completed my credential evaluation through FCCPT. )
Education is evaluated based on the following categories:
After application, FCCPT gives detailed reports citing “deficiencies” in education. The deficiencies can be in one or more categories mentioned above. The candidate must complete the deficiencies to be eligible for the license exam. (Deficiencies are typically completed by taking suggested courses and passing relevant exams).
Once you finish the required coursework, you need to apply again for the review and obtain clearance from the licensing agency.
You will need to submit your credential evaluation to the state board. Along with that, you will be completing other state board requirements. These vary from state to state and often include:
You need to check with the state board to understand the most recent requirements for your state. Make sure you learn about the state requirements prior to starting credential evaluation.
During this process, you will also need to register with FSBPT (The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy). This is the board that conducts the license exam (NPTE). Once all the requirements are met, your state board will notify FSBPT. After jumping through all these hoops and completing all the steps in this process, you will receive an ‘authorization to test’ email from FSBPT to go ahead and schedule the exam.
NPTE is an online MCQ-based examination that consists of 250 questions administered over five and a half hours. (Changes coming in 2024). NPTE scores range from 200 to 800. The passing score is 600 and above. NPTE’s first-attempt passing rate for foreign-trained physical therapists is between 27% – 45%.
Once you have figured out the immigration process, start with the following steps:
Embarking on a career as a foreign-trained physical therapist in the USA requires careful navigation through a series of steps. I understand that the whole process can feel overwhelming. It has multiple steps and it can look different for different people based on individual situations. However, I can ascertain that obtaining a US PT license is totally worth it. If you are confused, reach out to me to set up one on one consultation, and I can help answer your questions about the licensing process. You can get on the waitlist for one on one consultation by hitting the link below!
