IPHREHAB
If you are a Foreign PT (physiotherapist) seeking career in USA
Here is the process of starting your career as a physical therapist in USA:
1. Just sit quietly and give yourself sometime and think which STATE you are planning to work in as a PT.
2. Decided? Now let's move ahead.
3. Apply to one of the Credential evaluation agencies to find out if your education is equivalent to USA entry level education.
You can apply to one of these agencies depending upon the state you are interested in:-
a) www.fccpt.org
b) www.cgfns.org
c) www.ierf.org
FCCPT COVERS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS.SO FOR LONG TERM APPLYING WITH THIS AGENCY IS BENEFICIAL.LIKE IF IN FUTURE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR SOME OTHER STATE'S EVALUATION,THERE IS NO NEED OF REQUESTING YOUR DOCUMENTS AGAIN FROM YOUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, AS FCCPT KEEPS YOUR PAPERS WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
IERF DOES NOT HAVE VISA SCREENING SERVICE SO THOSE WHO NEED WORK PERMIT OR H1, ITS BETTER TO GO FOR CGNFS OR FCCPT.
4) Credential evaluation can take a long time upto 6-7 months .All depends on the agency you choose and the time your academic institutions take to send over your documents to USA.(better use fedex account )
5)while you have applied for educational evaluation,don't waste time:- you have three choices:-
i) If u need H1,better start preparing for "TOEFL".And get done with it.The score requirements differ with states so better check with agencies not with state boards because TOEFL is required only for Visa Screening not for PT license.
ii) Few country PT always get some deficiency in general credits like INDIA.(i know this because I am an Indian).So giving few Clep exams won't hurt.i did the same.this will save time in future.Don't go for lab courses as you don't know which compulsory lab course will u get.So better opt for English.Science etc.
iii) Read the reference books for NPTE as u won't get time for them later.I mentioned in my earlier post regarding the reference books.
6) If u do not have a social security number u have to apply for a alternate identification number(AIN) which will b required when u register for the NPTE.This can be applied here:-
http://www.fsbpt.org/download/AINApp_20090105.pdf
7) Apply to required state board of education.And fill their application for PT License.
u can send them application even now as u apply to one of the agencies (fccpt,ierf,cgfns).they will again open a file for u and keep and as soon as they receive doc or report from the agency ,they will give you a green signal to appear for NPTE.this 7th step can differ a bit depending upon the state.
8) After TOEFL, start preparing for NPTE so that as soon as evaluation is complete and state board sends u approval letter ,u can apply to fsbpt for a ATT(approval to test).This will give a 2 months eligibility period starting frm around the date u apply,so apply for att only once sure of giving the exam within coming 2 months.
Also after this 2 months eligibility period u have to agian apply for another Att n pay the fees again.The site is www.fsbpt.org
5) Once Att letter is in ur hand register for a date with prometric.they have centres all around.u can choose which suits u according to the available day and date.And all the best for the exam.
So thats all ...the process looks very lengthy n confusing but dont worry...just apply for credential evaluation for now..the rest will take no time. In fact a few will be done while waiting for evaluation to be complete.
Have patience !
Hope this helps......
If you are a Foreign PT (physiotherapist) seeking career in USA
Here is the process of starting your career as a physical therapist in USA:
1. Just sit quietly and give yourself sometime and think which STATE you are planning to work in as a PT.
2. Decided? Now let's move ahead.
3. Apply to one of the Credential evaluation agencies to find out if your education is equivalent to USA entry level education.
You can apply to one of these agencies depending upon the state you are interested in:-
a) www.fccpt.org
b) www.cgfns.org
c) www.ierf.org
FCCPT COVERS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS.SO FOR LONG TERM APPLYING WITH THIS AGENCY IS BENEFICIAL.LIKE IF IN FUTURE YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR SOME OTHER STATE'S EVALUATION,THERE IS NO NEED OF REQUESTING YOUR DOCUMENTS AGAIN FROM YOUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION, AS FCCPT KEEPS YOUR PAPERS WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
IERF DOES NOT HAVE VISA SCREENING SERVICE SO THOSE WHO NEED WORK PERMIT OR H1, ITS BETTER TO GO FOR CGNFS OR FCCPT.
4) Credential evaluation can take a long time upto 6-7 months .All depends on the agency you choose and the time your academic institutions take to send over your documents to USA.(better use fedex account )
5)while you have applied for educational evaluation,don't waste time:- you have three choices:-
i) If u need H1,better start preparing for "TOEFL".And get done with it.The score requirements differ with states so better check with agencies not with state boards because TOEFL is required only for Visa Screening not for PT license.
ii) Few country PT always get some deficiency in general credits like INDIA.(i know this because I am an Indian).So giving few Clep exams won't hurt.i did the same.this will save time in future.Don't go for lab courses as you don't know which compulsory lab course will u get.So better opt for English.Science etc.
iii) Read the reference books for NPTE as u won't get time for them later.I mentioned in my earlier post regarding the reference books.
6) If u do not have a social security number u have to apply for a alternate identification number(AIN) which will b required when u register for the NPTE.This can be applied here:-
http://www.fsbpt.org/download/AINApp_20090105.pdf
7) Apply to required state board of education.And fill their application for PT License.
u can send them application even now as u apply to one of the agencies (fccpt,ierf,cgfns).they will again open a file for u and keep and as soon as they receive doc or report from the agency ,they will give you a green signal to appear for NPTE.this 7th step can differ a bit depending upon the state.
8) After TOEFL, start preparing for NPTE so that as soon as evaluation is complete and state board sends u approval letter ,u can apply to fsbpt for a ATT(approval to test).This will give a 2 months eligibility period starting frm around the date u apply,so apply for att only once sure of giving the exam within coming 2 months.
Also after this 2 months eligibility period u have to agian apply for another Att n pay the fees again.The site is www.fsbpt.org
5) Once Att letter is in ur hand register for a date with prometric.they have centres all around.u can choose which suits u according to the available day and date.And all the best for the exam.
So thats all ...the process looks very lengthy n confusing but dont worry...just apply for credential evaluation for now..the rest will take no time. In fact a few will be done while waiting for evaluation to be complete.
Have patience !
Hope this helps......
Hi I have few doubts. Hope you can help me out.
ReplyDeleteI have applied for Type 1 credntial review in FCCPT. I expect to get the results soon. But I have not chose the state. Does credits vary in different states?
What i Thought is, once FCCPT gives me the general report, I'll do that then while I apply for a re evaluation I shall mention the state so that they can send the report to FSBPT. Am I on the right track?