Ariz. Admin. Code § 4-24-203

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section R4-24-203 - Foreign-educated Applicant Requirements

A. A foreign-educated applicant shall meet the requirements in A.R.S. § 32-2022(B) and the following:

1. The applicant shall comply with the requirements in R4-24-201.

2. The applicant shall ensure that a document required by R4-24-201 or this subsection is:

a. Submitted to the Board in English; or

b. Accompanied by an original English translation by a qualified translator if the document is submitted to the Board in a language other than English and includes an affidavit of accuracy by the qualified translator affirming:

i. The qualified translator has translated the entire document,

ii. The qualified translator has not omitted anything from or added to the translation, and

iii. The translation is true and accurate.

3. To meet the requirements in A.R.S. § 32-2022(B)(4), the applicant shall state on the application form whether the applicant's practice as a physical therapist was limited in the country where the professional education occurred. If the applicant's practice was limited in the country where the professional education occurred, the applicant shall submit to the Board documentation of the limitation, or arrange to have documentation of limitation sent directly to the Board, that includes:

a. The name, address, and telephone number of the entity that limited the applicant's practice of physical therapy;

b. A description of the action or lack of action that led to the limitation on the applicant's practice as a physical therapist;

c. A description of the limitation on the applicant's practice of physical therapy; and

d. If the limitation is based on citizenship requirements of the country in which the professional education was obtained, the applicant shall provide the Board with the legal reference for the restriction in the laws of the country in which the professional education was obtained, a copy of the referenced laws, and an English translation of the laws that meets the standards in subsection (A)(2)(b).

4. If English is not the native language of the foreign-educated applicant, to meet the requirements in A.R.S. § 32-2022(B)(6), the applicant shall take and pass either of the following tests no more than 18 months before the date on which the application submitted under R4-24-201 is administratively complete and ensure that the test scores are sent directly to the Board by the testing entity:

a. The TOEFL. An applicant who takes the TOEFL passes with the following:

i. A score of 560 or more if a paper-based test or a score of 220 or more if a computer-based test;

ii. Test of Spoken English with a score of 50 or more; and

iii. Test of Written English with a score of 4.5 or more; or

b. The iBT. An applicant who takes the iBT passes with an overall test score of a minimum of 100 and a:

i. Writing section with a minimum score of 25,

ii. Speaking section with a minimum score of 25,

iii. Reading section with a minimum score of 25, and

iv. Listening section with a minimum score of 25.

5. To demonstrate that the applicant meets uniform criteria for educational requirements according to A.R.S. § 32-2022(E)(3), the applicant shall undergo a credential evaluation to determine that the applicant meets the requirements in the course evaluation tool and arrange to have a credential evaluation report, prepared within 18 months from the date of the application, sent directly to the Board by the credential evaluation agency.

6. To meet the requirements in A.R.S. § 32-2022(B)(5), the applicant shall obtain a work visa to reside and seek employment in the United States issued by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and submit a copy of the work visa to the Board.

B. After receiving a credential evaluation report from a credential evaluation agency, the Board:

1. If the credential evaluation report does not establish that the education obtained by the foreign-educated applicant is substantially equivalent to the education required of a physical therapist in an accredited education program, may require the applicant to:

a. Complete one or more university or college courses and obtain a grade of C or better in each course;

b. Complete a college level examination program; or

c. If an applicant for a license, complete one or more continuing competence courses; and

2. Shall issue, within the time-frames stated in Table 1, an interim permit to complete a supervised clinical practice to the applicant if:

a. The applicant was required to meet one or more of the requirements in subsection (B)(1) and completes the requirements; or

b. The credential evaluation report establishes that the education obtained by the foreign-educated applicant is substantially equivalent to the education required of a physical therapist in an accredited education program; and

c. The applicant has passed the national examination and jurisprudence examination; and

d. The applicant meets the requirements in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 19 and R4-24-201.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R4-24-203

Adopted effective June 3, 1982 (Supp. 82-3). Amended subsection (B) effective April 10, 1986 (Supp. 86-2). Amended effective March 14, 1996 (Supp. 96-1). Section repealed; new Section adopted by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 2399, effective June 9, 2000 (Supp. 00-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 2401, effective August 5, 2006 (Supp. 06-2). Amended by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 3418, effective October 4, 2008, (Supp. 08-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 18 A.A.R. 841, effective May 11, 2012 (Supp. 12-1).