64B17-4.001: Licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant by Examination
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the rule amendment for consideration of use of the Federation PTA educational criteria tool.
SUMMARY: The use of the Federation PTA educational criteria tool will be placed in the rule.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: A Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost has been prepared and is available by contacting Allen Hall, Executive Director, at the address listed below. The following is a summary of the SERC:
The proposed change would only affect PTA applicants who are foreign educated.
There has not been an avenue for licensure in Florida for foreign educated PTAs, therefore, the specific number of foreign educated PTAs that will apply for licensure is unknown.
The only costs incurred by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance are rule-making costs.
No effect on state or local revenue is expected.
The proposed change is not expected to impact small business, small counties or small cities.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 486.025, 486.102 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.017, 486.102(3), 486.104 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Allen Hall, Executive Director, Board of Physical Therapy Practice, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C05, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
64B17-4.001 Licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant by Examination.
Every physical therapist assistant who applies for licensure by examination shall file DOH Form #DH-MQA 1142 Application for Licensure, Revised 2/09 12/08, incorporated by reference, which is available through www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa, and demonstrate to the Board that the applicant:
(1) No change.
(2) No change.
(3) Education
(a) Has received a degree as a physical therapist assistant from an institution that, has been approved for the training of physical therapist assistants by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), at the time of graduation., or
(b) Has graduated from a school giving a course for physical therapist assistants in a foreign country; and:
1.(4) For foreign graduates, Hhas received a determination that the credentials are equivalent to education required for licensure as a physical therapist assistant in the United States. Educational credentials equivalency shall be determined by the Foreign Credentialing Committee on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) or any other Board Approved credentialing agency that meets at least the following criteria:
a. Has a comprehensive, standardized orientation and training program for all reviewers who must be experienced and knowledgeable in the area of physical therapist assistant education.
b. Has an audit and quality assurance or review committee that regularly meets to monitor the evaluation process and to provide random audits of the credentials reviews.
c. Uses the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) coursework evaluation tool, that reflects the educational criteria in place at the time of graduation.
d. Employs full time staff support including an international expert in fundamental studies, applied science, and technical education credential equivalency and analysis.
e. Has an updated, current, and comprehensive resource document library available for reference.
f. Is recognized to perform visa screening by the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the federal government.
g. Uses two independent physical therapists or physical therapist assistants to perform the professional education component of the credentials reviews.
h. Uses original documentation from the institution with institutional seals and signatures and does not permit notarized copies of transcripts or course descriptions for credentials reviews.
2. The report from the board approved credentialing agency, in which the educational expert, physical therapist, or physical therapist assistant evaluator is not affiliated with the institutions or individuals under review, interpreting the foreign credentials in terms of educational equivalency in the United States, shall, at a minimum, contain the following information:
a. A clear and definitive statement as to whether the education is equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist assistant educational program.
b. Whether the institution is accredited by any governmental agency, and if so, which agency.
c. A list of courses in fundamental studies, applied science, and technical education.
d. All opinions contained in the report shall be substantiated by reference to the source materials which form the basis for the opinion.
3. Evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination if English was not the language of instruction as evidenced by a minimum total score of 89 on the TOEFL as well as accompanying minimum scores in the tests four components of: 24 in writing; 26 in speaking; 21 in reading comprehension; and 18 in listening comprehension.
(5) Has attained and submitted to the Board the following:
(a) Until and including December 31, 2006, evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination if English was not the language of instruction as evidenced by a minimum score of 220 on the computer based test or 560 on the paper test version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and 4.5 on the test of written English (TWE) and 50 on the test of spoken English (TSE).
(b) Effective January 1, 2007, evidence of successful completion of a Board approved English proficiency examination if English was not the language of instruction as evidenced by a minimum total score of 89 on the TOEFL as well as accompanying minimum scores in the tests four components of: 24 in writing, 26 in speaking, 21 in reading comprehension, and 18 in listening comprehension.
(c) A report from a Board approved credentialing agency, in which the educational expert or physical therapist evaluator is not affiliated with the institutions or individuals under review, interpreting the foreign credentials in terms of educational equivalency in the United States.
(d) At a minimum, the report shall contain the following information:
1. A clear and definitive statement as to whether the education is equivalent to a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist assistant educational program.
2. Whether the institution is accredited by any governmental agency and, if so, which agency.
3. A list of courses in general education and professional education with the United States post-secondary equivalent course indicated.
4. All opinions contained in the report shall be substantiated by reference to the source materials which form the basis for the opinion.
Rulemaking Authority 486.025, 486.102 FS. Law Implemented 456.017, 486.102(3), 486.104 FS. HistoryNew 8-6-84, Amended 6-2-85, Formerly 21M-10.20, Amended 5-18-86, Formerly 21M-10.020, 21MM-4.001, Amended 3-1-94, Formerly 61F11-4.001, Amended 12-22-94, 4-10-96, Formerly 59Y-4.001, Amended 1-23-03, 4-9-06, 9-19-06, 5-21-09,_________.
