201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 22:070

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 22:070 - Requirements for foreign-educated physical therapists and physical therapist assistants

RELATES TO: KRS 327.050, 327.060, 327.310

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 327.040(11) authorizes the Board of Physical Therapy to promulgate and enforce reasonable administrative regulations for the effectuation of the purposes of KRS Chapter 327. KRS 327.040(13) authorizes the board to promulgate and enforce reasonable administrative regulations regarding certification, limitations of activities, supervision, and educational qualifications for physical therapist assistants. KRS 327.060(3) authorizes the board to approve services to provide an evaluation of a foreign-educated physical therapist applicant's educational credentials. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements a foreign-educated physical therapist shall satisfy to become credentialed in the state of Kentucky.

Section 1. A foreign-educated physical therapist applicant shall be credentialed if the applicant:

(1) Complies with the requirements of KRS 327.060(1)(b);

(2) In accordance with KRS 327.060(1)(b), meets the following requirements:

(a) Furnishes the board a favorable educational credentials evaluation report from a credentialing agency that uses the appropriate edition of the "Coursework Tool" (CWT) copyrighted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). An academic deficiency in general education coursework identified by the CWT shall be satisfied by the applicant through submission of evidence identifying one (1) of the following:

1. Completion of appropriate coursework at a regionally accredited academic institution;

2. Continuing education in a course approved by the board; or

3. Submission of a portfolio including a detailed resume and description of relevant work experience approved by the board;

(b) Shows proof of English Language Proficiency by:

1. A score of not less than fifty (50) on the Test of Spoken English (TSE);

2. Verification that the applicant has achieved the following minimum scores for each category of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFLE Internet-based test (TOEFL IBT):

a. Writing, twenty-two (22);

b. Speaking, twenty-four (24);

c. Listening, twenty-one (21);

d. Reading, twenty-two (22); and

e. With an overall score of not less than eighty-nine (89); or

3. Verification that English is the native language of the country of origin;

(c) Submits a satisfactorily-completed application and appropriate fee as required by 201 KAR 22:020 and 201 KAR 22:135;

(d) Completes the Jurisprudence Exam;

(e) Obtains a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The requirements of 201 KAR 22:020, Section 2(3) shall be applicable to examination candidates; and

(f) Has successfully completed a minimum of three (3) months and no more than six (6) months of practice under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist credentialed under KRS Chapter 327 at a Kentucky facility previously approved by the board that satisfies the following requirements:

1. The supervised practice shall be a minimum of 390 hours in a three (3) month period, in a facility that is serving as a clinical education site for students enrolled in a program in physical therapist education accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE);

2. The applicant shall furnish the board a favorable evaluation of on-site supervision performed by a clinical supervisor who utilizes the "Performance Evaluation Tool for Foreign Educated Therapists Completing a Supervised Clinical Practice in the United States" copyrighted by FSBPT. The clinical supervisor shall submit the evaluation to the board after three (3) months of practice, and if required, after the sixth (6th) month, when the required score denoting clinical competency shall have been reached;

3. The supervising physical therapist shall, within the three (3) years prior to serving as a supervisor, have previously acted as clinical supervisor for a physical therapist student as part of a CAPTE accredited program; and

4. The supervisor shall countersign all of the candidate's physical therapy records within fourteen (14) days; and

(3) Submits to the Board a completed nationwide criminal background check as required by KRS 327.310 with the background investigation completed no later than six (6) months prior to the date of the filing of the application.

Section 2. Temporary Permits for Foreign-educated Physical Therapist Applicants.

(1) An applicant who has not satisfactorily completed three (3) months of supervised practice as a physical therapist shall be issued a temporary permit to complete Section 1(2)(f) of this administrative regulation if the applicant has:

(a) Completed the requirements of Section 1(2)(a) through (e) of this administrative regulation; and

(b) Submitted an approved Supervisory Agreement for Physical Therapists Educated in a Foreign Country.

(2) The temporary permit shall be revoked if the applicant has not satisfactorily completed the supervised practice within a six (6) month period.

Section 3.

(1) A foreign-educated physical therapist assistant applicant shall be credentialed if the applicant has:

(a) Completed the application process;

(b) Provided written proof that the education institution in which the applicant received his or her education to be a physical therapist assistant is recognized by its own ministry of education;

(c) Provided proof of legal authorization to reside and seek employment in the United States or its territories;

(d) Provided proof of authorization to practice as a physical therapist assistant without limitations in the country where the professional education occurred;

(e) Furnished the board a favorable educational credentials evaluation report from a credentialing agency that uses the appropriate edition of the "Coursework Tool" (CWT) copyrighted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). An academic deficiency in general education coursework identified by the CWT shall be satisfied by the applicant through submission of evidence identifying one (1) of the following:

1. Completion of appropriate coursework at a regionally accredited academic institution;

2. Continuing education in a course approved by the board; or

3. Submission of a portfolio including a detailed resume and description of relevant work experience approved by the board;

(f) Shows proof of English Language Proficiency by:

1. A score of not less than fifty (50) on the Test of Spoken English (TSE);

2. Verification that the applicant has achieved the following minimum scores for each category of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFLE Internet-based test (TOEFL IBT):

a. Writing, twenty-two (22);

b. Speaking, twenty-four (24);

c. Listening, twenty-one (21);

d. Reading, twenty-two (22); and

e. With an overall score of not less than eighty-nine (89); or

3. Verification that English is the native language of the country of origin;

(g) Submits a satisfactorily-completed application and appropriate fee as required by 201 KAR 22:020 and 201 KAR 22:135;

(h) Completes the Jurisprudence Exam;

(i) Obtains a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE); and

(j) Completes the requirements of Section 1(3) of this administrative regulation.

(2) To be eligible for a temporary permit, a foreign-educated Physical Therapist Assistant applicant shall complete the requirements of 201 KAR 22:020, Sections 4 and 5.

Section 4. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The "Supervisory Agreement for Physical Therapists Educated in a Foreign Country", August 2017, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Board of Physical Therapy, 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 102, Louisville, Kentucky 40222, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(3) This material is also available on the board's Web site at pt.ky.gov/Forms/Pages/Foreign-Educated-Applicant-.aspx.

201 KAR 22:070

2 Ky.R. 79; eff. 9-10-1975; 7 Ky.R. 310; 443; eff. 11-6-1980; 11 Ky.R. 419; eff. 10-9-1984; 12 Ky.R. 1353; eff. 3-4-1986; 13 Ky.R. 1710; eff. 5-14-1987; 18 Ky.R. 336; eff. 9-24-1991; 19 Ky.R. 450; 868; eff. 10-8-1992; 22 Ky.R. 615; 1975; eff. 11-15-1995; 27 Ky.R. 1324; 1768; eff. 1-15-2001; 28 Ky.R. 1450; 1796; eff. 2-7-2002; 31 Ky.R. 814; 1068; eff. 1-4-2005; 1438; eff. 4-22-2005; 33 Ky.R. 1431; 2274; eff. 3-1-2007; TAm eff. 2-5-2008; 35 Ky.R. 2127; eff. 6-5-2009; 37 Ky.R. 779; 1419; eff. 12-15-2010; 38 Ky.R. 1365; 1551; eff. 3-21-2012; TAm eff. 12-6-2012; 42 Ky.R. 1287; 1712; eff. 12-16-2015; 43 Ky.R. 2022; 44 Ky.R. 17; eff. 7-17-2017; 44 Ky.R. 560, 920; eff. 11-15-2017; 44 Ky.R. 2259, 2487; eff. 6-20-2018; 45 Ky.R. 2161, 2862; eff. 5-3-2019; 48 Ky.R. 2503; eff. 7/20/2022.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 327.040(1), (11), (13), 327.060(3), 327.310