TITLE 16             OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 20     PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

PART 9                 EDUCATION CRITERIA FOR FOREIGN-EDUCATED APPLICANTS

 

16.20.9.1               ISSUING AGENCY:  New Mexico Physical Therapy Board.

[11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.1 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.9.1, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.2               SCOPE:  All individuals who wish to practice physical therapy in the State of New Mexico.

[11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.2 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.9.2, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.3               STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Section 61-12-10 NMSA 1978.

[03-29-83 . . .11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.3 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.3, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.4               DURATION:  Permanent.

[11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.4 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.4, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.5               EFFECTIVE DATE:  December 15, 1997, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[03-29-83 . . 11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97, A, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.5 NMAC - Rn &A, 16 NMAC 20.9.5, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.6               OBJECTIVE:  The objective of Part 9 of Chapter 20 is to establish regulations for foreign educated applicants applying for licensure and to establish educational criteria providing proof of competency to practice as a physical therapist in the State of New Mexico.

[11-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.6 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.6, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.7               DEFINITIONS:

                A.            “Foreign-educated applicant” means a physical therapist that graduated from any physical therapy educational program outside the fifty states, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, or U.S. territories.

                B.            “Substantially equivalent” means the applicant meets criteria as set forth in 16.20.9.8 NMAC.

[Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.7 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.7, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.8               EQUIVALENT:  The foreign-educated applicant must have graduated from a physical therapist educational program that prepares the applicant to practice without restriction in the United States.  This includes coursework in those elements of practice that are necessary for autonomous practice such as determining a patient’s diagnosis for physical therapy and managing a patient’s care within healthcare systems found in the United States.  The coursework content should be substantially equivalent to coursework completed by graduates of accredited programs in the United States.  Substantially equivalent means the applicant has satisfied or exceeded the minimum number of credits required in general and professional education needed for a U.S. first professional degree in physical therapy.  Substantial equivalency in coursework content, as well as, required semester credits is determined by a board-sanctioned credentials review using the appropriate coursework evaluation tool (CWT) adopted by the federation of state boards of physical therapy (FSBPT).  The appropriate CWT means the latest edition CWT that applies to the time the foreign educated physical therapist graduated from his or her physical therapy program.

[03-29-83; 02-19-88; 01-28-93; 06-30-94; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.8 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.9.8, 08-31-00; A, 02-15-04; A, 01-12-08; A, 09-30-14]

 

16.20.9.9               CREDENTIAL EVALUATION:  Foreign-educated applicants must submit a credential evaluation from an educational credentialing evaluation service that uses a course work evaluation tool approved by the board.

                A.            The minimum educational credentials of a foreign-educated physical therapist should be a degree in physical therapy with all credits being earned at an institution of higher learning.

                B.            The board will accept final credential reports only from the credentialing service and only if the credential evaluation has been prepared within one year prior to the application date.

                C.            The credentialing agency must identify and list those courses which would not transfer to the U.S. as a “C” or above or “pass” or “credit” in accordance with the most current version of the national association for foreign student affairs handbook on the placement of foreign graduate students.  The agency must omit any of these courses that are required physical therapy courses when evaluating the equivalency of the credentials to a U.S. degree in physical therapy.

                D.            Should the foreign-educated applicant’s credential evaluation fail to demonstrate equivalency according to standards of accredited physical therapy programs in the United States, upon a request by the applicant for reconsideration, the board will reconsider whether the applicant has substantially met the requirements of 16.20.9.8 NMAC.

[03-29-83; 08-01-89; 05-08-91; 09-30-95; Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.10.11, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.9 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.9, 08-31-00; A, 02-15-04; A, 1-12-08]

 

16.20.9.10             CURRENT LICENSE:

                A.            Foreign-educated applicants must show evidence of an active, valid license in good standing, without limitation, or other current authorization to practice physical therapy from an appropriate authority in the country where the foreign-educated applicant was educated or eligible for licensure.  Original documentation must be sent directly to the board by the licensure authority in the country of education (documents handled by a courier service or third party will not be accepted).  All documentation must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.

                B.            Foreign-educated applicants who have been licensed and have practiced in good standing for a minimum of one year in another state, in the United States, will not be required to provide proof of a license from their country of education.  Proof of licensure will be required from each state in which the applicant has been licensed.  Such proof of licensure must be received by the New Mexico board directly from the state boards where currently and previously licensed.

[1-28-93; 06-03-94; 09-30-95; 11-30-95; Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.10 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.10, 08-31-00; A, 03-02-06; A, 09-30-14]

 

16.20.9.11             VERIFICATION OF EDUCATION:  Foreign-educated applicants must provide the board with original transcripts submitted directly from the educational institution in the country of origin; (documents handled by courier service or third party will not be accepted), signed only by the university registrar, physiotherapy school director or dean of the college.  All documentation must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.

[Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.11 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.11, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.12             VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT:  Foreign-educated applicants must provide the board with a letter from the applicant’s most recent employer verifying the applicant’s position and dates of employment in the field of physical therapy.  This letter must be received by the board directly from the employer.  (Documents handled by courier service or third party will not be accepted).

[09-30-95; Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.12 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.12, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.13             CORRECTION OF EDUCATIONAL DEFICIENCIES:  Applicants may correct educational deficiencies by completing any of the following requirements.

                A.            College level examination program (CLEP) scores may be applied towards college credit.  The conversion of CLEP scores to college credits must be provided by a board approved credentialing agency.

                B.            An applicant may obtain college-level credits in the deficient areas.

                C.            Complete other course work as approved by the board.

[03-29-83; 09-30-95; Rn, 16 NMAC 20.10, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.13 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.9.13, 08-31-00]

 

16.20.9.14             CERTIFICATION:  The documentation required in 16.20.9.8 NMAC through 16.20.9.12 NMAC does not have to be submitted if the applicant provides a notarized copy of a type I comprehensive credential evaluation certificate for the physical therapist from the foreign credentialing commission of physical therapy (FCCPT) that is required for all applicants who received their education outside the United States to verify that the applicant’s education is substantially equivalent to a US degree in physical therapy, that the applicant satisfies the FCCPT’s English proficiency requirements, and that the license or authority to practice obtained in the applicant’s country of education is unencumbered.

[03-29-83; R, 12-15-97; 16.20.9.14 NMAC - Rn & N, 16 NMAC 20.9.14, 08-31-00]

 

HISTORY of 16.20.9 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC History:  The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with State Records and Archives:

Rule 83-7, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 3-29-83

Rule 88-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 2-19-88

Rule 89-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 8-1-89

Rule 91-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 5-8-91

Rule 92-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 9-3-92

Rule 92-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 1-28-93

Rule 94-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 6-3-94

Rule 95-6, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 7-28-95

Rule 95-6, Education Criteria for Foreign Trained Applicants, filed 9-18-95, 11-17-95

 

History of the Repealed Material:  [RESERVED]

 

Other History:

16 NMAC 20.10, Education Criteria for Foreign-Trained Applicants, filed 11-17-95 renumbered and amended to 16 NMAC 20.9, Education Criteria for Foreign Educated Applicants, filed 12-1-97.

16 NMAC 20.9, Education Criteria for Foreign Educated Applicants, filed 12-1-97 renumbered, reformatted, and amended to 16.20.9 NMAC, effective 8-31-00.