Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 435 - State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Chapter 20 - Physical Therapists and Assistants
Subchapter 3 - Licensure of Physical Therapists and Assistants
Section 435:20-3-1.1 - Training outside the U.S
Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 435:20-3-1.1
Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) Pursuant to requirements set out in Title 59 O.S. §887.6, a foreign-educated physical therapist whose native language is not English shall submit evidence of having passed the:
(1) Test
of:
(A) English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
with a score of at least 560 or 220 computer equivalent; and
(B) Spoken English (TSE) with a score of at
least 50; and
(C) Written English
(TWE) with a score of at least 4.5 or
(2) Test of English as a Foreign Language
Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) with a total score of at least 89 and:
(A) a score of at least 24 on the Writing
section
(B) a score of at least 26
on the Speaking section
(C) a score
of at least 21 on the Reading section
(D) a score of at least 18 on the Listening
section.
(b) A foreign-educated physical therapist applying for licensure in the State of Oklahoma shall submit verification of the equivalency of the applicant's education to that attained by entry-level graduates training the United States at the time of graduation.
(c) Assessment of equivalency may be performed by a professional education credentials service approved by the Board using the following standards:
(1)
Graduation on or before May 31,
2001:
(A) The minimum equivalent
education credentials of a foreign educated physical therapist should be a
bachelor's degree in physical therapy with all credits being earned at an
institution of higher learning that confers at least a bachelor's degree in
physical therapy which is approved by the country's Ministry of
Education/Health.
(B) The minimum
number of semester hour credits should be one-hundred-twenty (120). A semester
hour credit is equal to fifteen (15) hours of classroom instruction per
semester. For courses with laboratory component, a semester hour credit is also
equal to thirty (30) hours of laboratory instruction per semester. For clinical
courses, a semester hour credit is equal to forty-eight (48) hours of clinical
instruction per semester.
(i) Fifty (50)
semester hour credits shall be the minimum number required in general
education.
(ii) The applicant has
the opportunity to meet the objective of one hundred twenty (120) semester hour
credits by utilizing additional elective credits in either general or
professional education beyond the minimal requirements.
(iii) Sixty (60) semester hour credits shall
be the minimum required in professional education. A grade of "C" or better
will be required in each professional education course.
(2)
Graduation after May 31,
2001:
(A) The minimum equivalent
education credentials of a foreign educated physical therapist should be a
master's degree in physical therapy with all credits being earned at an
institution of higher learning that confers at least a master's degree in
physical therapy which is approved by the country's Ministry of
Education/Health.
(B) The minimum
number of semester hour credits should one-hundred-seventy (170). A semester
hour credit is equal to fifteen (15) hours of classroom instruction per
semester. For courses with laboratory component, a semester hour credit is also
equal to thirty (30) hours of laboratory instruction per semester. For clinical
courses, a semester hour credit is equal to forty-eight (48) hours of clinical
instruction per semester.
(i) Ninety (90)
semester hour credits shall be the minimum number required in general
education.
(ii) The applicant has
the opportunity to meet the objective of one-hundred-seventy (170) semester
hour credits by utilizing additional elective credits in either general or
professional education beyond the minimal requirements.
(iii) Eighty (80) semester hour credits shall
be the minimum required in professional education. A grade of "C" or better
will be required in each professional education course.
(3)
Minimum course
requirements.
(A)
General
education. A minimum of one semester course must be successfully
completed in each category of general education unless otherwise noted.
(i) Humanities
(I) English
(II) English composition
(III) Speech or oral communication
(IV) Foreign language (other than native
language)
(V) Literature
(VI) Art
(VII) Music
(ii) Physical science: A one semester course
in chemistry and a one semester course in physics must be successfully
completed.
(I) Chemistry with laboratory
(Organic or Inorganic)
(II) Physics
with laboratory
(III)
Geology
(IV) Astronomy
(iii) Biological science
(I) Biology
(II) Anatomy
(III) Physiology
(IV) Zoology
(V) Kinesiology
(VI) Neuroscience
(VII) Genetics
(iv) Social science
(I) History
(II) Geography
(III) Sociology
(IV) Economics
(V) Government
(VI) Religion
(v) Behavioral science
(I) Psychology
(II) Anthropology
(III) Philosophy
(IV) Ethics
(vi) Mathematics
(I) Statistics
(II) Algebra
(III) Pre-calculus
(IV) Calculus
(V) Trigonometry
(VI) Geometry
(B)
Professional education.
(i) Basic health sciences: A minimum of one
semester course is required in each of the following topics.
(I) Human anatomy (specific to physical
therapy)
(II) Human physiology
(specific to physical therapy)
(III) Neurological science
(IV) Kinesiology or functional
anatomy
(V) Psychology
(VI) Pathology
(ii) Clinical sciences: The essential element
of physical therapy education is teaching the student to assess and treat
appropriately across the spectrum of age. Therefore any education course work
should contain all of the following:
(I)
Clinical medicine pertinent to physical therapy. This should include but not be
limited to: neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatrics.
(II) Physical therapy course work to include
but not limited to: physical agents, musculoskeletal assessment and treatment,
neuromuscular assessment and treatment, cardiopulmonary assessment and
treatment.
(iii)
Clinical education: Clinical education must include physical
therapist-supervised demonstrated application of physical therapy theories,
techniques, and procedures. The applicant must have a minimum of two (2)
clinical affiliations of no less the 800 hours total which are supervised by a
physical therapist.
(iv) Related
professional course work: A minimum of three (3) semester courses are required
from the following topics in related professional course work - professional
ethics, administration, community health, research, education techniques, and
medical terminology.
(d) Pursuant to 59 O.S. §887.6, foreign-educated physical therapists applying for licensure must submit verification of having successfully completed an eight-hundred (800) hour (at least 120 days) interim supervised clinical practice period under the continuous and immediate supervision of an Oklahoma licensed physical therapist. The Board will issue an interim permit to the applicant for the purpose of participating in the supervised clinical practice period. The time period of an initial interim permit shall not exceed six (6) months.
(1) The interim supervised clinical practice
period must be completed in Oklahoma at a facility that serves as a clinical
education facility for students enrolled in an accredited program education
physical therapists or physical therapist assistants in Oklahoma.
(2) The supervising physical therapist shall
submit an evaluation of the applicant's performance at the end of four-hundred
(400) hours of supervision. A final report will be submitted at the end of the
second four-hundred (400) hours of supervision. These reports will be submitted
on forms or evaluation tools determined by the Board.
(3) If the applicant's performance is
unsatisfactory during the supervision period, or the applicant ceases working
at the training facility for any reason, the supervising physical therapist
must notify the Board in writing within five (5) working days.
(4) If the interim supervised clinical
practice period is not satisfactorily completed within a six-month period, the
Board may issue a second interim permit for an additional six month period. A
third permit will not be issued.
(e) The interim supervised clinical practice period may be waived for foreign-educated physical therapists at the discretion of the Board, if:
(1) the applicant for
licensure is able to verify the successful completion of one (1) year of
clinical practice in the United States or the District of Columbia,
or
(2) the applicant is able to
document exceptional expertise acceptable to the Board in the fields of
research, education, or clinical practice.
(f) The interim supervised clinical practice period may be shortened for foreign-educated physical therapists at the discretion of the Board.
Added at 15 Ok Reg 43, eff 9-10-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 2026, eff 5-26-98; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2641, eff 7-12-01; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1098, eff 5-11-06; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2248, eff 6-25-07
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oklahoma may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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