Yesterday, I posted a blog about the problems of having an inflexible TOEFL requirements in AZ and another state. Then, I emailed the AZ APTA about this issue and our emails went as follow:
Thank you so much for your response. I do believe that the passing score is too strict for foreign applicants. Also, there aren't any exemptions in place for applicants like myself who have been practicing in US for quite sometime now.
Most universities just require a cumulative score of 80 for one to be accepted in a program. And it's understandable as schools need to know if a foreign applicant will be successful in case they get accepted in the program.
In our case as PTs, we passed NPTE which is in English. Not to mention jurisprudence exams and oral exams in some states. What is there to prove?
I was against taking TOEFL from the beginning but I did it due to personal reasons.
I believe 2-3 years experience is adequate to prove that a clinician can practice and communicate effectively as a Physical therapist.
Having a shortage in PT in most states and with the trend of DPT, I strongly believe that we should consider foreign grads to fill the needs instead of making it hard for every foreign grad to apply.
I wish you all the best and hopefully we can change this system to accomodate foreign grads in AZ.
Yours truly,
Ronald Samaniego, PT
On Wed, 6/3/09, Heidi Herbst Paakkonen <info@aptaaz.org> wrote:
> From: Heidi Herbst Paakkonen <info@aptaaz.org>
> Subject: RE: AZ PT
> To: "'ronald samaniego'" <ronald456@yahoo.com>
> Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 4:38 PM
> Dear Mr. Samaniego,
>
> Thank you for your inquiry. At a recent AzPTA Membership
> Meeting one of our
> members did offer a motion asking the AzPTA to adopt the
> position that the
> passing score requirement for the iBT for a foreign
> educated physical
> therapist is too high and that the score should be adjusted
> to reflect what
> other states require. The AzPTA membership voted instead on
> an amendment to
> the motion that directs the matter to AzPTA Board of
> Directors for purposes
> of studying the issue and report back to the membership.
> The AzPTA Board of
> Directors may address this on its July 16 Board meeting
> agenda, but nothing
> formal or official has yet occurred relative to this
> matter.
>
> I recommend you check back with me in August as I may have
> updates for you
> at that time in terms of whether the AzPTA is going to take
> a position on
> the law in Arizona as it related to the iBT passing score
> requirements for
> foreign-educated physical therapists.
>
> Regards,
> Heidi
>
> Heidi Herbst Paakkonen, M.P.A., Executive Director
> Arizona Physical Therapy Association
> 1843 East Southern Avenue, Suite 4
> Tempe, AZ 85282
> 602.569.9101 1.800.264.2782
> 480.603.4141 - facsimile
> mailto:info@aptaaz.org
> www.aptaaz.org
I strongly believe that foreign PT grads can fill a lot of needs in every state. Especially with trend of DPT as entry level requirement. I hope every foreign grad will support this as we will all benefit from the results if ever it went into our favor. Email Heidi Herbst Paakkonen. Her information is listed above. I will keep in touch with her regarding this matter. It's time for a change, everyone. We can't be passive anymore. We have to exercise our rights to practice without too much restrictions from each state. We'll start with this.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Foreign physical therapist against toefl
Recently, I called the Arizona and Texas board about licensure being a foreign grad. I told both offices that I've been practicing since 2003 and passed the NPTE. Both states stated that I have to take an English exam, TOEFL, which I think is a waste of time and money because I'm already communicating over the phone. So, I did take the TOEFL and scored out of 30 in each 4 sections as follows: Reading 21/30, Speaking 27/30, Listening 25/30, Writing 28/30, total of 101, AZ requires 100.
I emailed the state board of AZ and here's the reply: "Hi Ron, no unfortunately, your Listening score is too low. You must attain a score of at least 25 in each of the 4 categories."
I'm totally frustrated with the response. Just because I'm a foreign grad, they required me to take an English exam when I can clearly speak in English. Hence, the results in the speaking and writing. Most foreign grads fail in these categories. I don't believe that TOEFL scores that AZ is requiring reflects my capacity to communicate. It will not determine if I'm going to be a good therapist. I am a good PT and I have been doing it since I got my license.
Basically what their saying is, "you're a foreign grad so we'll make it hard for you". Huh? How many foreign MDs who are now practicing have to take TOEFL and required to score this high? Some of them can't even speak straight English. But of course, they're doctors so there's an exemption. But PTs, having a weak system, every state has to have their own rules. Even though there's a national exam in place, that will not guarantee practice in different states.
Let me give you an example: In Texas that kind of TOEFL score is more than enough to get started as a foreign PT. They just want you to score 26 on the speaking part which is understandable as some foreign grads can't really speak English well. But to offer NO EXEMPTIONS is just plain ridiculous. If you do that with African-Americans, Italian-Americans, Latino-Americans, etc., let see what the results would be. "Well, since you're black or Filipino, I will require you to take an English exam." It does not sound right, eh? Well, let me rephrase it, "Well, since you're a foreign grad and you're all the same if you're not from Canada or US, I will require you to take an English exam." Does it sound right now?
How can we unite PTs in US when we don't even have a national rule in place? Every state has their own rules. But I guess, if you're a foreign grad, most of state will not care about you. I doubt that PT organizations care about foreign PTs who are now practicing in the US.Not all foreign grads are equal, which applies the same to local US grads.
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