Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part LIV - Physical Therapy Examiners
Subpart 1 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 1 - Physical Therapists and Physical Therapists Assistants
Subchapter D - Foreign-Educated Graduates
Section LIV-141 - Guidelines for Board-approved Education Credentialing Entities

A. The credentialing entity will review all of an applicant's postsecondary education credentials earned outside of the US. The applicant must have completed, with a passing grade of A, B, C, Pass or Credit, 60 semester hours credit or the equivalent in general education courses from an accredited institution of higher learning. This general education requirement may be met by credits earned at U.S. colleges or universities, by College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits, or Advanced Placement (AP) according to standards of the American Council on Education. The number of credits earned by CLEP or AP may not exceed 12 semester credits.

B. The credentialing entity must attest that the institution attended by the applicant was accredited by the Ministry of Education or the equivalent in that country.

C. All foreign PT applicants must demonstrate the ability to communicate in English by achieving no less than the minimum score accepted by the board on board-approved English proficiency tests. For graduates of entry-level physical therapy programs in other foreign countries, the board may grant an exception to the English Proficiency test if the applicant holds a current license in physical therapy in another state and has been licensed in the U.S. for no less than 10 years prior to application.

D. The credentialing entity must attest that the applicant is, or was, licensed or authorized to practice in the country in which the entry-level degree in physical therapy was granted. If there is no licensure or official authorization in such country, the applicant must be eligible for unrestricted practice there. The board may waive this requirement for an applicant who is not licensed in the country of education due to a citizenship requirement of that country.

E. The credentialing entity must attest that the applicant has successfully completed an educational program substantially equivalent to U.S. programs accredited by CAPTE and has earned the equivalent of no less than 90 semester hours of professional physical therapy education.

F. If the degree awarded is substantially equivalent to a degree in physical therapy as awarded by CAPTE-accredited programs in the US, the credentialing entity must use the Coursework Evaluation Tool for Foreign Educated PTs (CWT), as developed by the FSBPT when evaluating an applicant's credentials. The version of the tool used must correspond at minimum to the year the entry-level degree was awarded. Education deficiencies must be identified and must indicate the subjects and credit hours necessary to satisfy the requirements of the CWT. If the degree received by the applicant is 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.