Section 329.5 - Licensing Procedures for Foreign-Trained ApplicantsA foreign-trained applicant must complete the license application process as set out in § 329.1 of this title (relating to General Licensure Requirements and Procedures). In addition, the applicant must submit the following:
(1) An evaluation of professional education and training prepared by a board approved credentialing entity. The board will maintain a list of approved credentialing entities on the agency website. (A) The evaluation must: (i) be based on the Course Work Tool (CWT) adopted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, specifically the version of the tool appropriate to the year the applicant graduated from the foreign physical therapy program; and(ii) provide evidence and documentation that the applicant's education is substantially equivalent to the education of a physical therapist who graduated from a physical therapy education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE); and(iii) establish that the institution at which the applicant received his physical therapy education is recognized by the Ministry of Education or the equivalent agency in that country.(B) If the credentialing entity determines that the physical therapy education is substantially equivalent, but no evidence is found of specific required courses or content areas, the applicant is responsible for remedying those deficiencies. The applicant may use college credit obtained through applicable College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) or other college advanced placement exams to remedy any deficiencies in general education.(C) An evaluation prepared by board-approved credentialer reflects only the findings and conclusions of the credentialer, and shall not be binding on the board. In the event that the board determines that the applicant's education is not substantially equivalent to an entry-level physical therapy program accredited by CAPTE, the board will notify the applicant in writing stating the reasons why the applicant's education is not substantially equivalent.(D) If the applicant received an entry-level physical therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program located outside the U.S., the program is considered equivalent to a domestic CAPTE-accredited physical therapy program, and the applicant is exempt from meeting the requirements of the CWT.(2) Proof of English language proficiency. A foreign-trained applicant must demonstrate the ability to communicate in English by making the minimum score accepted by the board on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). (A) This requirement is waived for graduates of entry-level physical therapy programs in Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.(B) Minimum acceptable TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) scores are as follows: Reading = 22, Writing = 22, Speaking = 24, and Listening = 21.(C) The board may grant an exception to the English language proficiency requirements under the following conditions: (i) the applicant holds a current license in physical therapy in another state and has been licensed in another state in the U.S. for 10 years prior to application; or(ii) the applicant submits satisfactory proof that he/she is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. or a current U.S. H-1B visa holder, and has attended four or more years of secondary or post-secondary education in the U.S.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 329.5
The provisions of this §329.5 adopted to be effective November 11, 1993, 18 TexReg 7546; amended to be effective October 26, 1994, 19 TexReg 8112; amended to be effective January 3, 1995, 19 TexReg 10099; amended to be effective April 12, 1995, 20 TexReg 2385; amended to be effective November 6, 1995, 20 TexReg 8794; amended to be effective May 8, 1996, 21 TexReg 3709; amended to be effective July 12, 1996, 21 TexReg 6079; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3589; amended to be effective October 29, 1997, 22 TexReg 10508; amended to be effective April 19, 1999, 24 TexReg 2936; amended to be effective October 21, 1999, 24 TexReg8977; amended to be effective February 18, 2001, 26 TexReg 1338; amended to be effective August 15, 2001, 26 TexReg 6021; amended to be effective October 13, 2002, 27 TexReg 9327; amended to be effective March 29, 2004, 29 TexReg 3175; amended to be effective March 15, 2006, 31 TexReg 1299; amended to be effective September 18, 2006, 31 TexReg 8000; amended to be effective May 30, 2007, 32 TexReg 2862; amended to be effective May 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 3643; amended to be effective December 14, 2009, 34 TexReg 8967; amended to be effective April 4, 2011, 36 TexReg 2127; amended to be effective May 27, 2012, 37 TexReg 3831; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 43, October 23, 2020, TexReg 7587, eff. 11/1/2020